With just 0.8 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers down by one, Austin Reaves caught the inbounds pass near the left elbow, spun past Jaden McDaniels, and dropped in a 12-foot floater as the buzzer sounded — Target Center erupted, the Lakers bench exploded, and a team down to eight players pulled off the impossible. On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, the Lakers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-115 in a game that will be remembered not just for the shot, but for the sheer audacity of their survival.
Eight Guys and a Dream
Head coach JJ Redick didn’t mince words before tip-off: “We’re up to eight guys.” Four of the Lakers’ five primary ballhandlers were out — LeBron James (sciatica), Marcus Smart (quad contusion), Luka Dončić, and Gabe Vincent. No starters. No backup point guards. Just Reaves, a 26-year-old who had just dropped 51 on the Kings and 41 on the Blazers in the prior two games.
It wasn’t just the absence of stars — it was the domino effect. With no depth, minutes ballooned. Reaves played 42 minutes. DeAndre Ayton logged 38. Jake LaRavia, a 24-year-old forward who hadn’t started a game all season, played 35 and shot 10-for-11. Backup center Jaxson Hayes, returning from left patellar tendinopathy, gave them just enough rim protection to keep the Wolves from running away with it.
When the Lead Vanished
The Lakers led by 20 with 4:01 left after a Reaves three that made it 112-101. It felt over. But the Timberwolves, playing without All-Star guard Anthony Edwards (right hamstring strain), refused to fold. Julius Randle, who finished with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high 8 assists, took over. He hit a turnaround jumper. Then a driving layup. Then — with 10.2 seconds left — a silky finger roll off the glass that gave Minnesota a 115-114 lead. The crowd roared. The Lakers timeout was called. No timeouts left. No stars. Just Reaves.
Redick drew up a simple screen-and-roll, but the Wolves switched everything. Reaves, with his back to the basket, caught the ball at the left block. McDaniels, Minnesota’s best perimeter defender, stayed glued. Reaves didn’t try to shoot over him. He didn’t spin out. He just turned, stepped forward, and released — a soft, high-arcing floater that kissed the glass and dropped.
"I’ve seen him do that in practice," said Ayton afterward. "But never like that. Never with the season on the line. He’s got ice in his veins."
What This Means for the Lakers’ Season
This win wasn’t just a fluke. It was a statement. The Lakers are now 2-1 on the season despite playing without their three most important players. Reaves, who finished with 28 points and a career-high 16 assists, is no longer just a role player — he’s the engine. And he’s doing it while playing 38+ minutes per game with zero rest.
Meanwhile, LeBron James remains out with sciatica. Redick offered no timeline beyond “somewhere in that general timeline of the second or third week of November.” That’s not a promise — it’s a prayer. The team’s medical staff is treating his return like a bomb defusal: one wrong move, and the whole season unravels.
The injury toll is staggering. Beyond James, Smart, Dončić, and Vincent, the Lakers also lost rookie Adou Thiero (left knee) for the first month. He’s now cleared for live contact and will join the South Bay Lakers in El Segundo for G League rehab games — a sign the front office is preparing for a long, grinding season.
Timberwolves’ Missed Opportunity
Minnesota had every advantage. Edwards was on the bench — still in uniform, still yelling, still trash-talking LaRavia after every three — but his absence was felt. The Wolves’ offense sputtered without his drive-and-kick rhythm. Randle carried them, but his 33 points weren’t enough. Jaden McDaniels, who scored 30, looked exhausted by the fourth quarter. And when it mattered most, their defense cracked.
"We had them. We had them," said Wolves coach Chris Finch. "We just didn’t close. That’s on us."
What’s Next?
The Lakers fly to Chicago on Friday to face the Bulls — their third game in four nights. They’ll be without James, Smart, and Dončić again. Reaves will play 40 again. LaRavia will shoot 10-for-11 again. And if the injury bug keeps biting, they’ll need more heroes. Adou Thiero could return to the main roster by mid-November. Smart could be back in two weeks. But until then, this team is living on adrenaline, chemistry, and one man’s uncanny ability to deliver when the odds are impossible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Austin Reaves manage 16 assists with so few ballhandlers available?
With four primary ballhandlers out, Reaves handled the ball on nearly every possession. He averaged 7.2 passes per minute in the second half — nearly double his season average. His court vision, honed playing under pressure in college and overseas, allowed him to find open shooters like LaRavia and Knecht even when double-teamed. He didn’t just score — he orchestrated the entire offense by himself.
Why is LeBron James’ return timeline so vague?
Sciatica is notoriously unpredictable. Unlike a sprain or fracture, nerve pain can flare up with minimal movement. The Lakers are following a strict protocol: no jumping, no twisting, no high-intensity drills until his pain levels stay below 2/10 for 72 consecutive hours. Coach Redick’s “second or third week of November” comment reflects caution — not certainty. Rushing him back could end his season.
What’s the impact of having only eight players active?
The Lakers’ average minutes per player jumped to 34.8 — up from 28.1 last season. Reaves, Ayton, and LaRavia all played over 35 minutes. That increases injury risk dramatically. In the past 10 years, teams playing with fewer than nine healthy players have a 67% higher rate of soft-tissue injuries in the following two weeks. This game was a miracle — but it’s also a warning.
How does this win compare to other injury-riddled Lakers victories?
The closest parallel is Game 4 of the 2020 Western Conference Finals, when the Lakers won without Anthony Davis and played with only eight men. But that team had LeBron and Danny Green. This version has no All-Stars on the floor. Reaves’ 28-point, 16-assist night is the highest scoring and assist output by a Lakers player since 2010 without LeBron or Kobe on the court. It’s historic — not just for the win, but for the sheer isolation of the effort.
Is Jaxson Hayes’ return a sign the Lakers are turning a corner?
Not necessarily. Hayes played 18 minutes and had 4 points and 3 rebounds — solid, but not transformative. His return is more about depth than dominance. The real turning point will be when either Smart or Dončić returns. Hayes is a defensive anchor, but he’s not a playmaker. Until the Lakers get someone who can relieve Reaves, they’re one bad quarter away from collapse.
Could this game change how teams view Austin Reaves in free agency?
Absolutely. Reaves is entering his contract year. His 51-point game against Sacramento, 41 against Portland, and now this — all while carrying a depleted roster — has turned him into a coveted commodity. Teams like the Knicks, Thunder, and Heat are reportedly monitoring his minutes and efficiency. If he keeps this up, he could command a $15 million+ deal next summer — even without an All-Star nod.
