UPDATE: In a stunning finish, Austin Reaves sank a buzzer-beater floater to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 116-115 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 15, 2023. Reaves erupted for 28 points and 16 assists, continuing his remarkable week despite the absence of key players like Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
The Lakers have been on a roll, with Reaves stepping up in a major way. Earlier this week, he scored a career-high 51 points against the Sacramento Kings and followed that performance with 41 points against the Portland Trail Blazers. His game-winning shot on Wednesday capped off a thrilling night for the Lakers.
With just 6.6 seconds left on the clock, Reaves received an inbounds pass and executed a brilliant play, maneuvering past All-Defensive players Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert to score. After the shot, Reaves described his emotions: “I blacked out after the ball fell through the net,” he said, as he raced to celebrate with his teammates.
“That guy is going to show up in the big moments,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick. “I’m not surprised. He’s done that many times in his career.”
Reaves’ performance salvaged a game where the Wolves mounted a comeback, erasing a 20-point deficit to take the lead with only 10.2 seconds remaining. Julius Randle’s driving score had put Minnesota ahead, but Reaves remained composed under pressure, a quality he emphasized is crucial in such moments.
“Everybody is looking at me, and in those situations, you have to be calm, be confident and lead your guys through [it],” Reaves explained. His leadership has become vital as the Lakers navigate injuries to key players, including Marcus Smart, Gabe Vincent, and Maxi Kleber.
With this victory, the Lakers improve to 3-2 on the season, a significant morale boost for a team recovering from last season’s playoff disappointment against the Timberwolves. Reaves noted that the memory of their previous defeat weighed on him entering the game.
“That one felt good… last time we were in this building, I had the shot to tie it in the playoffs and missed,” Reaves said.
Reaves’ contributions were supported by a strong team effort, with Jake LaRavia leading with 27 points. Other notable performances included Deandre Ayton with 17 points and Rui Hachimura also adding 17 points. Reaves praised his teammates, emphasizing that their collective effort was crucial for the win.
“We wouldn’t have been in that position [to win] if it wasn’t for everybody that chipped in tonight,” Reaves stated.
As the Lakers look to build momentum, Reaves continues to be a key figure, having gone from an undrafted player in 2021 to one of the top performers in the league this season. He is currently second in points scored in the league, trailing only reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“It’s been a fun week. But there’s a lot of basketball to go,” Reaves concluded, indicating that the Lakers are ready to keep pushing forward.
Stay tuned for more updates as the NBA season progresses and the Lakers aim to capitalize on this momentum.
