With 0.7 seconds left and the Target Center on its feet, Austin Daye Reaves rose from the free-throw line extended, caught the inbounds pass, spun past a lunging defender, and dropped a 12-foot jumper that swished through the net just as the buzzer sounded. The Los Angeles Lakers had just completed one of the most improbable comebacks of the season — erasing a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter — to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-115 on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Target Center in Minneapolis. The shot wasn’t just clutch. It was legendary. Reaves finished with 28 points, six assists, and four rebounds, joining Magic Johnson and Jerry West as the only Lakers in history to post 35+ points and 5+ assists through their first five games of a season.
A 20-Point Lead Vanishes in 10 Minutes
For three quarters, the Lakers looked like a team in control. They led 97-77 with 9:45 left in the fourth, looking poised to extend their winning streak to three games. But then everything flipped. The Timberwolves, fueled by Anthony Edwards (29 points) and Rudy Gobert (18 rebounds, 4 blocks), unleashed a 29-19 run over the final 10 minutes. No timeouts. No mercy. Just relentless pressure. By the 1:12 mark, Minnesota had tied the game at 113-113 after a three-pointer from Mike Conley and a putback from Jaden McDaniels. The crowd erupted. The Lakers looked rattled.
Then came the turnover. With 28 seconds left and the shot clock off, Austin Reaves drove hard into the paint, drew two defenders, and kicked out to Nick Smith Jr. — the 21-year-old former Charlotte Hornets starter who had been thrust into the starting lineup due to injury. Smith missed the open three. The ball bounced off the rim, straight into the hands of Reaves, who had trailed the play. One dribble. A hesitation. A step-back. And the shot.
The Absence That Made Reaves a Star
This win didn’t just happen because of Reaves’ heroics. It happened because the Lakers were missing their second-point guard. Gabe Vincent, the team’s primary ball-handler and defensive spark, was sidelined with a sprained ankle that will keep him out for “a couple of weeks,” according to team sources. That meant Reaves had to carry more of the load — not just scoring, but initiating offense, managing pace, and making reads under pressure. He did it all. In the first five games of the season, he’s averaging 21.4 points and 5.8 assists. He’s not just filling in. He’s elevating.
“He’s got ice in his veins,” said Lakers head coach Darvin Ham after the game. “We knew he had this in him. But to do it on the road, against a team this good, with everything on the line? That’s not luck. That’s preparation.”
Timberwolves’ Collapse: A Pattern or a Moment?
The Timberwolves have now lost two straight after starting the season 2-0. They’ve shown flashes of brilliance — Edwards is an All-Star in the making, and Gobert remains one of the league’s most dominant rim protectors — but their inability to close out leads is becoming a theme. In their last three games, they’ve blown double-digit leads in the fourth quarter twice. Against the Lakers, they led by 11 with 3:30 left. Then came the collapse.
“We had it,” said Anthony Edwards, his voice low after the game. “We just… stopped playing. We thought it was over. And it wasn’t.”
Coach Chris Finch didn’t offer excuses. “We didn’t execute down the stretch. We didn’t guard. And we let them get into their rhythm. That’s on us.”
Standings Shifts and What’s Next
The win improved the Lakers to 3-2, moving them into second place in the Pacific Division — just one game behind the Golden State Warriors (4-1). They’ve won three straight, and Reaves’ emergence has given them a new offensive identity: less reliant on LeBron James’ isolation, more on movement, pace, and timely shot-making.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves fell to 2-3, still in fourth place in the Northwest Division — behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (5-0), Denver Nuggets (3-1), and Portland Trail Blazers (3-2). Their next game is Friday in Dallas, where they’ll face a Mavericks team that’s been playing with urgency.
Reaves’ Legacy in the Making
Before this season, Reaves was known as a solid rotation player — a guy who could knock down threes and play tough defense. Now? He’s becoming the kind of player who defines moments. He’s tied with Magic and West — two of the greatest Lakers ever — in a stat no one else has matched. And he’s doing it without the spotlight, without the hype, without the All-Star nod.
“They call me ‘AR,’” Reaves said postgame, smiling. “But tonight, I just wanted to be the guy who made the shot. Not the guy who got the assist. Not the guy who set the screen. The guy who made the shot.”
And in a league full of stars, sometimes that’s the most important thing of all.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Austin Reaves’ performance compare to other Lakers in history?
Through the first five games of the 2025-26 season, Austin Reaves became only the third player in Lakers history to record 35+ points and 5+ assists — joining Magic Johnson and Jerry West. No other Laker in the past 50 years has matched that stat line in the season’s opening week. His 28-point game against Minnesota was his third straight 25+ point outing, the longest such streak by a Lakers guard since Kobe Bryant in 2007.
Why is Gabe Vincent’s absence so critical to the Lakers’ rotation?
Vincent was the Lakers’ primary backup point guard and defensive stopper, averaging 7.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game before his ankle sprain. His absence forced Reaves into a primary playmaking role and increased minutes for rookie Nick Smith Jr., who had only started 12 games in his NBA career prior to this season. Without Vincent’s ball-handling stability, the Lakers’ offense became more reliant on Reaves’ ability to create in isolation — a shift that’s now paying off.
What does this loss mean for the Timberwolves’ playoff chances?
The Timberwolves’ 2-3 record puts them in danger of falling out of the top six in the competitive Northwest Division. They’ve now blown leads of 15+ points in three of their five games. While Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert remain All-Star caliber, their bench depth and late-game execution are concerns. If they can’t close out close games, they risk missing the playoffs despite having one of the NBA’s most talented starting lineups.
How has Nick Smith Jr. stepped up in Vincent’s absence?
Smith Jr., who started 18 games for the Charlotte Hornets over two seasons, logged 22 minutes against Minnesota, scoring 11 points and dishing out 5 assists with zero turnovers. His calm demeanor under pressure has been a surprise. In the final minute, his missed three-pointer led to Reaves’ game-winner — a play that could have broken him. Instead, he stayed composed. Coaches say he’s developing into the perfect complementary guard for Reaves and LeBron James.
What’s the significance of the Lakers’ 20-point comeback?
It was the Lakers’ largest comeback win since February 2023, when they erased a 21-point deficit against the Miami Heat. It’s also the largest fourth-quarter comeback by any team in the 2025-26 NBA season so far. The Timberwolves were 14-0 this season when leading by 15+ points after three quarters — a streak that ended abruptly. For the Lakers, it’s a sign they can win ugly — and that’s a trait championship teams often need.
When do the Lakers and Timberwolves play next?
The Lakers face the Sacramento Kings on Friday, November 1, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena, while the Timberwolves travel to Dallas to take on the Mavericks the same night. Both games are nationally televised. The Lakers’ next home game is Sunday against the Phoenix Suns, a matchup that could determine their position in the Pacific Division standings.