The Los Angeles Lakers registered a thumping 116-115 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves after Austin Reaves continued his dream run on Wednesday. Reaves came up with a 28-point, 16-assist performance to deliver the goods in the absence of injured Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
Earlier, Reaves scored a career-high 51 points with 11 rebounds and 9 assists in a win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, and backed it up with 41 points against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick was not surprised by Reaves’ match-winning show.
“That guy is going to show up in the big moments,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “I’m not surprised. He’s done that many times in his career.”
“Everybody is looking at me, and in those situations, you have to be calm, be confident and lead your guys through [it],” Reaves said. “We were up [by] 10 [points] or so late, and they went on a run. … It’s hard to not kind of crumble in those situations. But you got to keep energy high, you got to keep the spirit high.”
Reaves had missed a potential 3 at the Target Center in the previous season’s playoffs against the Timberwolves, but he was able to exorcise those ghosts.
“That one felt good,” Reaves said of his late-game heroics Wednesday. “I mean, for obvious reasons, we won. But last time we were in this building, I had the shot to tie it in the corner in the playoffs, in Game 4, and missed.
“Let me tell you, that feeling sucks.”
Meanwhile, Jake LaRavia (27 points on 10-for-11 shooting), Deandre Ayton (17 points on 8-for-11 shooting) and Rui Hachimura (17 points on 7-for-14 shooting) in the starting lineup and Dalton Knecht (15 points on 7-for-12 shooting) off the bench, played a key role in the win. Reaves lauded the collective effort of his team.
“We wouldn’t have been in that position [to win] if it wasn’t for everybody that chipped in tonight,” Reaves said. “Jake was monstrous. I think that’s the best basketball game I’ve seen him play since he’s been in the league.”
The Lakers will next take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
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