MINNEAPOLIS — Coach JJ Redick acknowledged after Monday’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, a game in which the Lakers were without all of their main ball handlers outside of Austin Reaves, that some of his players had been put in “tough” spots in light of the team being short-handed.
But even with backup center Jaxson Hayes making his return to the court, the Lakers dealt with similar circumstances against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night, making adapting a necessity in the face of adversity – which Redick hopes will help his team in the long run.
So on Wednesday, it was fourth-year forward Jake LaRavia who helped fill the gaps for the Lakers created by health issues the team is dealing with, with LaRavia scoring 27 points in the Lakers’ 116-115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.
The Lakers squandered all of a 20-point lead, but Austin Reaves swished the 12-foot game-winner in the lane as time expired. Minnesota had taken the lead with a late 14-2 run.
Despite subpar shooting efficiency (9 for 24), Reaves once again stepped up to carry a heavier offensive load. He had a team-best 28 points and a career high-tying 16 assists to go with a pair of steals.
And his final two points were the most crucial, with the floater over Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert securing the win for the Lakers.
Before Reaves’ last bucket as the game clock expired, the Timberwolves went on a 9-0 run surge for a 115-114 lead after Julius Randle (33 points, six assists) made a layup with 10.2 seconds left.
The Lakers led 95-75 late in the third before Minnesota took control of the game in the final quarter.
Deandre Ayton finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers. Rui Hachimura added 17 points, while Dalton Knecht scored 15 points off the bench.
The scoring total from LaRavia, who signed with the Lakers during the offseason as a free agent, was the most of his brief time with the Lakers.
LaRavia finished five points short of the career-high 32 points he scored on April 10, 2024, while he was with the Memphis Grizzlies.
The star power of the game was considerably diminished with Luka Doncic and LeBron James sidelined for the Lakers and Anthony Edwards out for the Wolves. Reaves, who had a career-high 51 points in a win over Sacramento on Sunday and 41 points in defeat by Portland on Monday, has had something to say with his play about that.
Jaden McDaniels had 30 points and seven rebounds for the Timberwolves.
The Lakers will conclude their two-game trip against the Grizzlies on Friday.
More to come on this story.