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Austin Reaves did it again. The Los Angeles Lakers won 116–115 against the Minnesota Timberwolves after he hit a game-winning shot right at the buzzer.
At 27 years old, Reaves is playing the best basketball of his life. He’s even beating big names like LeBron James and Luka Doncic when it comes to clutch moments. Whenever the game is on the line in the last few seconds, Reaves has been ice-cold and confident. He’s made 7 of his 9 shots in those moments, that’s almost 78 percent. In short, he’s the Lakers’ most dependable closer right now.
To see how crazy that is, look at this. LeBron, as a Laker, has made only about 23 per cent of those same types of shots. Luka, while with L.A., hasn’t made any. Reaves, on the other hand, just keeps delivering.
People are even comparing his breakout to “Linsanity,” when Jeremy Lin suddenly became a star with the New York Knicks back in 2012. During that wild stretch, Lin averaged around 25 points and 9 assists per game. Reaves is putting up even bigger numbers this season, 34 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, and nearly 2 steals per game through five matches.
With LeBron, Luka, and a few other players out because of injuries, coach JJ Redick has turned to Reaves to lead the team. He’s stepped up with full confidence, taking charge as both the scorer and the playmaker.
The Lakers now sit at 3–2 for the season. Their next test comes on Friday, October 31st, when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies, and all eyes will be on Austin Reaves to see if the magic continues.