Austin Reaves put on an absolute show last night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With LeBron James and Luka Doncic both out, the Lakers needed someone to step up, and AR did exactly that. He dropped 31 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists in 41 minutes, completely in control from start to finish. Minnesota threw everything at him, yet he handled it all. Though he shot just 9-for-24 from the field, his playmaking and composure kept the Lakers’ offense flowing against relentless pressure.
It felt like a legacy game — one where Reaves showed just how valuable he’s become to the Purple and Gold. Even Brian Windhorst was impressed by the NBA on ESPN, praising his command and noting that the Wolves put their 6’10” stopper Jaden McDaniels on him. That’s star-level respect for a guy who once fought just to make the roster.