With both LeBron James and Luka Dončić sidelined due to injury, the Lakers once again needed to lean on one Austin Reaves. And Reaves, who looks to be in the early stages of a year-five breakout, was up to the task. While it wasn't his best shooting night—9-for-24 from the field and 3 of 11 from three-point range—Reaves was at his best when the Lakers needed him the most: in the fourth quarter.
Reaves scored eight of his 28 points in the game's final period, helping Los Angeles stave off a furious comeback from the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team who eliminated them from the postseason this past year.
