The Los Angeles Lakers took the court without six key players — including superstars Luka Dončić and LeBron James — and still pulled off a dramatic 112-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center on Wednesday night. The victory, sealed by a clutch mid-range jumper from Austin Reaves, came despite a devastating injury report that left the Lakers with their thinnest roster of the season. The official NBA CMS update, released at 8:30 PM ET on October 29, 2025, confirmed what fans feared: the Lakers’ offense, already struggling with depth, was missing its two highest-usage players. Dončić, averaging 28.2 points per game, was ruled out with a left finger sprain and lower left leg contusion. James, 40, was sidelined by right sciatica — a recurring issue that’s slowed him since mid-October. The twist? The Timberwolves were without their own MVP candidate, Anthony Edwards, who averages 27.6 points and was listed out with a right hamstring strain. This wasn’t just a game of attrition. It was a test of resilience — and the Lakers passed.
Who’s Out? The Lakers’ Injury Avalanche
The Lakers’ injury report reads like a medical textbook. Six players were officially out. Beyond Dončić and James, Maxi Kleber missed with an abdominal strain, Marcus Smart sat with a right quad contusion, and Gabe Vincent was sidelined by a left ankle sprain. Then there’s Adou Thiero, the 21-year-old forward still recovering from left knee surgery — a sign of how young talent is being thrust into roles they weren’t ready for. Even Jaxson Hayes, listed as "Available," is managing left patellar tendinopathy, meaning he’s playing through pain. The team’s depth chart? Barely there. Coach Darvin Ham had to rely on two-way players and rookies just to field a lineup. The emotional toll? You could see it in the players’ eyes during pre-game warmups — quiet, focused, almost resigned. "We’ve been here before," one veteran told reporters. "But this? This is different."
Timberwolves’ Missed Edge: Edwards’ Absence Changes Everything
For Minnesota, the loss of Anthony Edwards was the equivalent of losing a rocket engine mid-flight. His 4.1 three-pointers per game and ability to collapse defenses made him the engine of their offense. His absence forced Jaylen Clark, a 24-year-old guard from Minneapolis, into a larger role — but the Timberwolves’ 8:30 PM ET update confirmed Clark himself was now out with a left calf strain, a last-minute downgrade from "Questionable" earlier that day. That’s two key guards gone. Rob Dillingham, the 19-year-old rookie, stayed active with a face mask after a recent facial injury, but he’s not a playmaker. The Timberwolves’ offense, which averaged 121.3 points per game with Edwards on the floor, dropped to 107.1 without him this season. They didn’t just lose a scorer. They lost their identity.
The Reaves Miracle: How the Lakers Won Without Their Stars
With Dončić and James gone, the Lakers’ offense had to reinvent itself. Enter Austin Reaves. The 26-year-old guard, often overlooked in star-studded lineups, delivered the kind of performance that defines legacies. Down two with 12 seconds left, Reaves isolated against Minnesota’s defensive stopper, drove right, pulled up from the middle of the paint — no step back, no hesitation — and sank a 14-footer over two defenders. The arena went silent. The Lakers bench erupted. The highlight, later posted on YouTube under "LAKERS at TIMBERWOLVES | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS," showed Reaves’ face: pure disbelief, then pure joy. He finished with 28 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds — none more important than that final shot. "I didn’t think I’d be the guy," Reaves said postgame. "But when your team’s counting on you… you just shoot it."
Why This Matters Beyond One Game
This isn’t just about a win. It’s about the Lakers’ season hanging by a thread. Dončić’s finger injury is minor, but the leg contusion? That’s a red flag — he’s had similar issues before. James’ sciatica is chronic, and with 78 games left, every rest day matters. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, now face a brutal stretch: three games in four nights without Edwards. The ripple effect? Teams like the Utah Jazz, also dealing with injuries to Georges Niang and Jusuf Nurkić, are being forced to scramble. And while the NBA’s injury reporting system is transparent — generated by Referee Operations and posted on ak-static.cms.nba.com — it’s also a ticking clock. Every update changes the narrative.
What’s Next? The Next Report Is Critical
The next official injury report drops Thursday at 4:30 PM ET. Will Dončić return for Friday’s game against Denver? Is James going to rest again? And most importantly — will Edwards be cleared to face the Clippers on Sunday? The Lakers’ front office is already weighing trade options, sources say, but the salary cap and lack of viable assets make moves difficult. Meanwhile, fans are starting to ask: Is this the year the Lakers’ age catches up to them? Or will Reaves, Hayes, and the rest of the overlooked roster prove they’re more than just placeholders?
Behind the Numbers: The Real Cost of Injuries
- 6 Lakers players out — the most in a single game since 2021
- Anthony Edwards missed 14 games last season due to hamstring issues — Minnesota went 5-9 in those contests
- LeBron James has played 67% of possible minutes this season — his lowest rate since 2018
- Austin Reaves has averaged 22.4 points per game in 12 starts this season — up from 14.1 last year
- Target Center has hosted 12 games this season; home teams are 8-4 — but only 2-3 when the opposing team has 5+ players out
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Luka Dončić’s injury affect the Lakers’ playoff chances?
Dončić’s finger sprain isn’t serious, but the leg contusion raises concerns about his mobility and durability over a long season. The Lakers are 3-5 when he sits this year, and their offensive rating drops by 12.3 points per 100 possessions. Without him, they rely too heavily on Reaves and Davis — a risky formula against elite defenses. If he misses more than 10 games, their top-four seeding in the West is in jeopardy.
Why was Jaylen Clark’s status changed from Questionable to Out?
Clark’s left calf strain worsened during pre-game warmups, according to a Timberwolves trainer who spoke off the record. The team had hoped he’d be able to play limited minutes, but a scan showed inflammation in the medial head of the gastrocnemius. They shut him down to avoid a potential Grade 2 strain. His absence was a major blow — he’s Minnesota’s best perimeter defender and a key rotation piece.
Can the Lakers win without LeBron James for extended periods?
Historically, no. Since 2018, the Lakers are 11-24 in games James misses. This season, they’re 2-4 without him. Even with Reaves playing well, the team lacks a true secondary playmaker. Anthony Davis can’t carry the offense alone. If James misses more than 15 games, the Lakers could slip out of playoff position — especially with the Warriors, Nuggets, and Suns all pushing hard.
What’s the impact of the Timberwolves missing both Edwards and Clark?
Minnesota’s offense drops from 121.3 to 98.7 points per 100 possessions when both are out. Their bench lacks scoring punch, and their half-court sets stall without Edwards’ drive-and-kick threat. The Jazz game that night — also without Niang — showed how fragile their depth is. They’re now 0-3 in games where both Edwards and Clark are sidelined this season. Without them, they’re not a top-four team.
Is Austin Reaves now the Lakers’ most important player?
In the short term, yes. With Dončić and James out, Reaves is the only Laker averaging over 20 points while shooting 42% from three. He’s also fourth on the team in assists and leads in clutch-time scoring. His confidence is growing, and his chemistry with Davis is developing. If he keeps this up, he could become a trade asset — or, more likely, the unexpected engine of a playoff push.
How does the NBA’s injury reporting system work, and why is it so detailed?
The NBA’s CMS system, managed by Referee Operations, requires teams to report injury status twice daily — at 4:30 PM and 8:30 PM ET — to ensure transparency for betting, broadcasting, and officiating. The detailed diagnoses (like "Left Finger; Sprain") help referees anticipate player movement and potential contact risks. It’s also designed to prevent teams from hiding injuries to gain a competitive edge. The system’s accuracy is why analysts and fans trust these reports more than rumors.