MINNEAPOLIS — Austin Reaves managed to one-up himself once more Wednesday, capping a 28-point, 16-assist night time by hitting a floater on the buzzer to offer the Los Angeles Lakers a 116-115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Reaves continued his dream week, by which he lifted L.A. whereas Luka Doncic (left decrease leg contusion and left finger sprain) and LeBron James (sciatica) are sidelined by dropping a career-high 51 factors with 11 rebounds and 9 assists in a win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday and following that up with 41 factors towards the Portland Path Blazers on Monday.
Reaves’ successful rating Wednesday got here off a sidelines inbounds go close to middle court docket with 6.6 seconds left. He instantly break up a double staff by two gamers with All-Defensive staff credentials in Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert on the high of the important thing, then drove into the lane and tossed in a floater from 12 ft whereas contorting his physique to keep away from colliding with Wolves guard Donte DiVincenzo, who was setting as much as attempt to attract a cost.
Reaves stated he “blacked out” after the ball fell by the online, and he sprinted down the court docket towards the Lakers’ bench, the place he was mobbed by his euphoric teammates.
“That man goes to point out up within the large moments,” Lakers coach JJ Redick stated. “I am not shocked. He is carried out that many instances in his profession.”
Reaves’ 16 assists tied a profession excessive for the five-year veteran, and his game-winning shot saved the Lakers after the Wolves used a 14-2 run within the final 4 minutes to take the lead with 10.2 seconds left on a Julius Randle driving rating, erasing what was as soon as a 20-point, second-half lead for L.A.
“All people is me, and in these conditions, you must be calm, be assured and lead your guys by [it],” Reaves stated. “We had been up [by] 10 [points] or so late, they usually went on a run. … It is onerous to not form of crumble in these conditions. However you bought to maintain vitality excessive, you bought to maintain the spirit excessive.”
He secured L.A.’s second win of the season towards Minnesota, the staff that knocked the Lakers out of the primary spherical of the playoffs within the spring.
Reaves stated that postseason upset — L.A. was the No. 3 seed and Minnesota was No. 6 — was on his thoughts coming into the night time. The final time the Lakers performed at Goal Heart in April, Reaves missed a possible game-tying 3 from the best nook on the buzzer and L.A. fell down 3-1 within the sequence.
“That one felt good,” Reaves stated of his late-game heroics Wednesday. “I imply, for apparent causes, we received. However final time we had been on this constructing, I had the shot to tie it within the nook within the playoffs, in Recreation 4, and missed.
“Let me inform you, that feeling sucks.”
As dejected because the Lakers felt when their hopes of an prolonged postseason run had been dashed, Reaves’ run has infused this group with inspiration, climbing above .500 at 3-2 with not simply Doncic and James out, however Marcus Good (proper quad contusion), Gabe Vincent (left ankle sprain), Maxi Kleber (belly muscle pressure) and Adou Thiero (left knee surgical procedure restoration) additionally unavailable.
“I am so happy with this group proper now, truthfully,” Redick stated. “From the place we had been three weeks in the past, the place we’re discombobulated and guys are lacking coaching camp and guys are modified contributors, we’re beginning to come collectively. And I’ve requested loads. I’ve requested lots of these guys and I am asking lots of them whereas we’re undermanned they usually’re delivering.”
Reaves distributed his assists to a wide range of teammates, as 4 different Lakers scored in double digits, led by Jake LaRavia (27 factors on 10-for-11 taking pictures), Deandre Ayton (17 factors on 8-for-11 taking pictures) and Rui Hachimura (17 factors on 7-for-14 taking pictures) within the beginning lineup and Dalton Knecht (15 factors on 7-for-12 taking pictures) off the bench.
“We would not have been in that place [to win] if it wasn’t for everyone that chipped in tonight,” Reaves stated. “Jake was monstrous. I feel that is one of the best basketball sport I’ve seen him play since he is been within the league.”
LaRavia, who selected to signal with the Lakers as a free agent within the offseason partly due to his shut relationship with Reaves, stated the staff has no drawback taking its cues from Reaves whereas its All-Stars heal up.
“He is a canine, he is a pacesetter, he is a competitor,” LaRavia stated. “He helps rally us collectively in all of the powerful instances throughout a sport. And he is been main us these final couple video games that our gamers have been out and he will carry on doing that.”
And maintain including pages to his storybook basketball existence, having entered the league undrafted in 2021 and now, 4 years later, having scored the second-most factors out of any participant by the primary week of the season, trailing solely the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder’s reigning NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“I fell in love with the sport as a result of my brother beloved it, I acquired to spend so much of time with him. Each my dad and mom performed, too. It was form of … tt was meant to be,” Reaves stated, sharing how he declared on the ripe age of seven that he would play within the NBA sometime. “It has been a enjoyable week. However there’s lots of basketball to go.”