Basketball fans were treated to a rollercoaster Wednesday in the NBA — a night that had it all. Austin Reaves’ buzzer-beating floater lifted the Los Angeles Lakers past the Timberwolves, Anthony Davis exited with another injury scare for the Mavericks, Trae Young went down with a knee sprain, and Zach LaVine received a hero’s welcome in his Chicago homecoming.
Reaves’ Star Continues to Rise
In Minneapolis, Austin Reaves was once again the man of the moment. The undrafted guard capped off an unforgettable week by sinking a floater at the buzzer to hand the Los Angeles Lakers a 116–115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It was his third straight electrifying performance after scoring 51 points against the Kings and 41 against Portland. Reaves ended the night with 28 points and 16 assists, showing veteran calm despite the pressure of closing seconds.
With 6.6 seconds left on the clock, Reaves took a sideline pass, sliced through Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert, and arced a floater over Donte DiVincenzo as the horn sounded. The Lakers bench erupted as the ball dropped through the net.
“I kind of blacked out after the shot,” Reaves said. “All I knew was that we’d won.”
The victory felt personal. The last time the Lakers played in Minnesota — during the 2025 playoffs — Reaves missed a potential game-tying shot. “That one felt good,” he smiled. “Last time here, I missed the one to tie it. You don’t forget that feeling.”
Coach JJ Redick praised Reaves’ leadership as the Lakers continue to play without LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Marcus Smart and others. “He’s fearless,” said Redick. “He’s been our leader while our stars are healing, and he just keeps showing up.”
The Lakers climbed above .500 to 3–2, powered by Reaves and solid contributions from Jake LaRavia (27 points on near-perfect shooting), Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura (17 each), and Dalton Knecht (15).
Anthony Davis Injury Adds to Mavericks’ Woes
In Dallas, Anthony Davis’ night ended early after he left the Mavericks’ 107–105 win over the Indiana Pacers with soreness in his left lower leg.
The 32-year-old center, who joined Dallas last season in the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade, appeared to tweak his leg after a basket in the first quarter. He crouched near the bench before heading to the locker room and was ruled out at halftime.
“He tried to return — but we didn’t want to take any chances,” coach Jason Kidd said. “We’ll see how he feels moving forward.”
Davis has battled injuries since arriving in Dallas, missing much of last season with adductor and abdominal strains. His latest setback comes as the Mavericks navigate a growing injury list that includes Kyrie Irving (torn ACL), Daniel Gafford (ankle sprain), and Dereck Lively II (knee sprain).
Despite the challenges, Dallas eked out a narrow win, improving to 2–3 while awaiting updates on their new big man.
Zach LaVine’s Emotional Return to Chicago
Over in Chicago, emotions ran high as Zach LaVine returned to the United Center for the first time since being traded to the Sacramento Kings.
“I love Chicago,” LaVine said after scoring 30 points in the Kings’ 126–113 loss to the Bulls. “I grew my family here. I became a man here. Through ups and downs, it’ll always feel like home.”
The Bulls played a tribute video during the first quarter, earning LaVine a standing ovation from fans who once watched him grow into a two-time All-Star. “I know I did a lot of good in Chicago,” he said. “I just wish I could have won more here.”
Chicago fans didn’t just welcome him — they also saw their team extend a perfect start to the season. Matas Buzelis led the Bulls with 27 points as they improved to 4–0 for the first time since 2021–22.
LaVine’s return ended with hugs and smiles with old teammates like DeMar DeRozan and coach Billy Donovan. “He’s an amazing role model,” said Buzelis. “He’s my first superstar teammate.”
Trae Young Avoids Major Injury Scare
In Brooklyn, the Atlanta Hawks survived a scare after Trae Young went down with a right knee sprain in their 117–112 win over the Nets.
Young appeared to hyperextend his knee when teammate Mouhamed Gueye fell into him after being shoved by Brooklyn’s Noah Clowney. He limped off but briefly returned before coach Quin Snyder pulled him out.
“The most important thing is it’s not his ACL,” Snyder confirmed. “He’s going for scans, but we’re hopeful.”
The Hawks — who added Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the offseason — will now likely be without Young for a few games as he recovers. “Anytime a player of Trae’s caliber goes down, you have to adjust,” Snyder said. “Everyone has to step up and move the ball.”
A Night That Had It All
From Reaves’ buzzer-beating brilliance to Davis’ early exit, LaVine’s heartfelt reunion and Young’s narrow escape from serious injury — the NBA’s 2025 season is already serving up storylines that remind fans why they love the game.
For Reaves, it’s another chapter in an underdog story that keeps getting better. For others, it’s a test of resilience. And for fans across the league, it was one of those nights where basketball once again proved it can deliver magic, heartbreak, and hope — all in a single evening.
