In their matchup against the Timberwolves, the Lakers had plenty to cheer about. Fans learned LeBron James could return as soon as November 15, with Luka Dončić expected back in the next few games. But the real highlight came on the court: a heart-stopping 116-115 win sealed by Austin Reaves’ buzzer-beater, a shot that instantly went viral. The Lakers’ bench erupted, fans went wild, and NBA stars flooded social media, celebrating the clutch moment.

The Lakers had a wild Wednesday night in Minnesota. They were up against a tough Timberwolves squad, and to make things trickier, several of their key players were out due to injuries. But Austin Reaves seized the moment. He led the charge with 28 points and 16 assists. The rest of the Lakers also stepped up when it mattered. 

Jake LaRavia was a machine, hitting 27 points on 10-for-11 shooting, including an incredible 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves weren’t going down without a fight. Julius Randle dropped 33 points along with five rebounds and six assists, and Jaden McDaniels poured in 30 points on 11-for-19 shooting, hitting 3-of-4 from deep.

The game stayed tight all the way to the final seconds. With just 6.6 seconds left, the Lakers trailed by a single point. Jake LaRavia inbounded the ball to Reaves, who was immediately met by Jaden McDaniels and had Rudy Gobert looming in the paint. Reaves didn’t hesitate. He weaved between the defenders, drove toward the basket, and pulled up for a jump shot from inside the free-throw line. As the buzzer sounded, the ball swished through, and the Lakers’ bench erupted in celebration.

“To have that opportunity for a big road win, especially with a lot of people out, is special,” Reaves said afterward. He also reflected on a similar moment from last season, when he missed a game-tying shot against the Timberwolves in the playoffs. “We kept hooping, and they kept encouraging me to go do what I do.” It was a night where Reaves not only delivered on the scoreboard but also demonstrated leadership.

Head coach J.J. Redick summarized it perfectly: “The big thing is he’s established himself as the leader. That’s big time. That’s what we need from him.” Even though Reaves shot just 9-for-24 from the floor, he still tied his career-high with 16 assists. His play helped the Lakers build a 20-point lead late in the third quarter, which was crucial as the Timberwolves mounted a furious comeback. 

NBA stars react to Reaves’ clutch performance

Among the ones cheering were obviously the Lakers’ missing duo. Luka Dončić kept it simple, describing the performance with just one emoji: “🐐.” LeBron James, on the other hand, couldn’t hide his excitement, letting out a loud and joyful, “A-M———-R!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

WNBA legend Candace Parker had already foreshadowed this for the Lakers. She believed LeBron’s absence could “end up being great for the Lakers” as other players learned to take on more playmaking and ball-handling responsibilities. And she wasn’t wrong. The team has been battered by injuries—at one point, head coach J.J. Redick had only seven full-time players available against the Blazers—but despite all that, the Lakers still sit at a solid 3-2 record.

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Dwight Howard couldn’t hold back his excitement, posting, “AR15 omg,” while DeMarcus Cousins added, “AR!!! 🔥.” Reaves might not be a huge fan of Howard’s nickname shoutout, though he still appreciates the praise. The “AR-15” tag comes from his initials and his No. 15 jersey, but the violent undertone isn’t really his thing. Other than that, he’s all in for the support and honestly, he deserves it.

It’s been a record-breaking week for the Lakers guard. Reaves dropped a career-high 51 points in a win over Sacramento on Sunday and followed it up with 41 points in a loss to Portland on Monday. With those performances, he became the first Lakers player since Kobe Bryant, 20 years ago, to start a season with five consecutive games of 25-plus points.

Other NBA stars joined the chorus of praise for Reaves’ performance. Pau Gasol cheered, “Austin Reaves!!! Cold blooded ❄️ Keep hooping! #LakersFam @lakers,” while Isiah Thomas added, “Reeves really killing these boys !!!!” Patrick Beverley playfully shouted, “Brinks Truck AR asap sheesh,” and Alex Caruso kept it simple with, “AR cold lol.”

Reaves led the Lakers to their second win of the season over the Timberwolves, who had knocked L.A. out in last spring’s playoffs. That loss stuck with him, when L.A. had been the No. 3 seed and Minnesota the No. 6, and tonight he made sure everyone forgot about it.