Austin Reaves delivered when it mattered most. Tonight, he was the hero yet again, marking the latest elite performance in a string of impressive games. With the Lakers trailing late, the 26-year-old guard buried the game-winning jumper to lift Los Angeles past the Minnesota Timberwolves, 116-115. Playing without LeBron James and Luka Doncic, the Lakers leaned on their backcourt duo of Reaves and Jake LaRavia, who combined for 55 points in the upset victory.
AUSTIN REAVES WINS IT FOR THE LAKERS IN MINNESOTA 😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/qftaDRTenE
— ESPN (@espn) October 30, 2025
The shot came on the outer edges of the paint, a floater from Reaves after he cut through two defenders. It was a perfectly timed and well-executed play that sealed the win to cap off a brilliant night. In 39 minutes, without the help of LeBron or Luka, Reaves led the Lakers to another victory with 28 points, one rebound, and a career-high 16 assists. Fans and players went wild after the game, demanding an apology from the doubters who had questioned his status.
“I genuinely will never understand NBA scouts watching him carry a sorry Oklahoma Sooners team and letting him go undrafted,” wrote a Lakers fan in disbelief.
The biggest surprise of the night came from Jake LaRavia, who went off for 27 points, eight rebounds, and two assists on 90.9% shooting. It was well above his career averages and far more than you’d expect from someone making $6 million per year. Still, his performance gave the Lakers the spark they needed to pull out the win.
“Austin Reaves is doing all this sh*t we’re seeing through the 1st five games of the season while only making $13.9M this season,” wrote one fan on X. “You’re talking about a guy playing like the best SG ITL right now making $13.9M.”
In the frontcourt, the Lakers got help from Deandre Ayton with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists on 72.7% shooting. Rui Hachimura also stepped up with 17 points, five rebounds, and four assists on 50% shooting.
“Austin Reaves holy sh*t,” wrote a fan in review. “These are straight up Luka/LeBron type numbers. When healthy, Lakers could be a force this season imho.”
The Timberwolves, who were without Anthony Edwards, shot 50% from the field but still could not secure the victory. Julius Randle led the way with 33 points, five rebounds, and six assists, while Jaden McDaniels added 30 points, seven rebounds, and one assist on 57.9% shooting in the loss.
Despite early injuries, the Lakers have managed to stay strong. It is still early enough in the season that they can hold things together until one or both of their stars return.
Right on cue, Reaves is picking up the slack. Between his 41-point game on Sunday, his 51-point game on Monday, and tonight’s brilliant display of playmaking, it is clear he has reached another level of greatness.
The question now is how long he will remain with the Lakers. With his star on the rise, he will almost certainly opt out of his current contract to pursue a bigger deal in 2026. If the Lakers do not pay up, they risk losing him for good.
Eventually, the Lakers will have to make a decision about their future, and it may require some hard sacrifices. For now, they are rallying behind Reaves as he puts together what might be his best season yet.
Austin Reaves has officially arrived. What started as a feel-good story of an undrafted guard proving himself has turned into one of the best development stories in the league. With each performance, he is proving that he belongs among the NBA’s elite. The Lakers have found a new leader in their backcourt, and as long as Reaves keeps playing at this level, Los Angeles will always have a fighting chance.
