MINNEAPOLIS — With both rosters missing stars on Wednesday night, forward Jake LaRavia turned a lighthearted courtside question into a breakout performance that carried the Los Angeles Lakers to a 116-115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Oct. 30 matchup was already unconventional. LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent sat out for Los Angeles, while Anthony Edwards missed the game because of a hamstring strain. The absences opened the door for LaRavia, making his second consecutive start, to log extended minutes.
The 2022 No. 19 overall pick — originally selected by Minnesota before draft-night trades sent him to Memphis and later Sacramento — signed a two-year deal with the Lakers in July. On Wednesday, he delivered a 17-point third quarter, matching his personal best for points in any period, and finished with 27 points and eight rebounds.
Early in the fourth quarter, LaRavia’s corner three pushed Los Angeles ahead 105-89. A television microphone on the FanDuel Sports Network broadcast then picked up a Timberwolves fan asking, “Who is No. 12?” Edwards, seated on the bench, threw up his hands and shouted back, “That’s what I’m saying! I don’t know!”
LaRavia ultimately became the first Laker to score at least 25 points on 90% shooting since Pau Gasol achieved the feat in 2010, according to ESPN Research. Los Angeles secured the victory when Austin Reaves buried a game-winning shot in the final seconds.
The following afternoon, LaRavia leaned into the viral moment, posting the fan-and-Edwards exchange as the caption of an Instagram photo and adding a shrug emoji.
Source: ESPN.com
