The Los Angeles Lakers guard continues his hot start to the NBA season with a 12-footer against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Published October 30, 2025
Austin Reaves hits a driving jump shot at the buzzer and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-115 in Minneapolis.
Reeves finished Wednesday night with 28 points and 16 assists, leading Los Angeles to victory despite the injury absences of LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Jake LaRabia scored 27 points on 10-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range.
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Julius Randle led Minnesota with 33 points, five rebounds and six assists. Jayden McDaniels added 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting and 3-of-4 from deep.
The Timberwolves took a one-point lead when the Lakers lined up for an inbounds pass from just inside halfcourt with 6.6 seconds left.
LaRabia passed to Reaves, who briefly dribbled while McDaniels defended. Reeves weaved between McDaniels and Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert, ran toward the paint, and lifted from inside the free-throw line for a jump shot.
The shot missed as time expired, and Reeves’ teammates rushed to celebrate.
“It was special to get a chance to get a big win on the road, especially with so many people out,” Reeves said, recalling last spring’s first-round NBA playoff series, when he missed a corner shot at the buzzer on the same court and tied the game only to watch the Timberwolves hang on and eliminate the Lakers in Game 5. “We kept hooping and they kept encouraging me to do what I had to do.”
Injury-hit Lakers hold on
The Timberwolves almost staged an incredible comeback before Reaves rescued the Lakers. Minnesota trailed 114-106 with 2:30 left, but went on a 9-0 run to take a one-point lead.
Randle scored the go-ahead goal with 10.2 seconds left to end the run. McDaniels made a 3-pointer and a dunk during the Timberwolves’ rally.
The Lakers led 62-58 at the half.
In addition to playing without James (sciatica) and Doncic (left finger sprain, left leg contusion), the Lakers were also without Marcus Smart (right quadriceps strain), Gabe Vincent (left ankle sprain) and Maxi Kleber (abdominal strain).
Los Angeles’ Jackson Hayes returned after missing the past three games with a knee injury. Hayes had two points, two rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal in 13 minutes.
The Timberwolves remain without leading scorer Anthony Edwards, who missed his second consecutive game with right hamstring tightness. Edwards is expected to miss about two weeks with the injury.
Timberwolves forward Jalen Clark also missed his second consecutive game with left calf tightness. Clark was listed as questionable on the injury report before being ruled out.
