On Thursday night, Austin Reaves delivered a standout performance, scoring 44 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a thrilling 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. The game was marked by a dramatic finish as Rui Hachimura sank a buzzer-beating three-pointer to secure the win for the Lakers.
Reaves not only contributed significantly as a scorer but also facilitated the game with 11 assists and five rebounds. His impressive performance became even more crucial given that the Lakers were without their star point guard, Luka Doncic, who stayed back in Los Angeles for personal reasons. The Lakers improved their season record to 16-5 with this win.
LeBron James, who is usually a dominating force, had a night to forget as he saw his record streak of 1,297 consecutive double-digit scoring games in the regular season come to an abrupt end. James managed to score only eight points during the game, shooting 4 for 17 from the field, and failed to hit any of his five attempts from beyond the arc. This marked the first time since January 5, 2007, that he scored fewer than 10 points in a game.
When questioned about his thoughts on the end of his scoring streak, James offered a sense of perspective, stating, "None. We won." His selfless play was evident in the final moments of the game when, instead of attempting to score and possibly extending his streak, he opted to pass the ball to Hachimura, who capitalized by hitting the game-winning shot from the corner.
In contrast, the Raptors, now with a season record of 15-8, saw strong performances from Scottie Barnes, who achieved a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds, alongside 9 assists. Brandon Ingram also contributed with 20 points, despite struggling with his shooting from three-point range. The Raptors displayed a depth in scoring, with seven players reaching double digits, yet they faced challenges with turnovers, racking up nine in the first half alone.
Notably, Ja'Kobe Walter stepped up for the Raptors, scoring a season-high 17 points as a starting player in place of RJ Barrett, who was sidelined with a sprained right knee. Additionally, Jakob Poeltl, typically the starting center for Toronto, rested due to lower back discomfort, reflecting the team's ongoing management of player health throughout the season.
The Lakers’ resilience shone through particularly in the third quarter, highlighted by Reaves’ outstanding 22-point effort during that stretch. This scoring spree outmatched all but Barnes on the Raptors, allowing the Lakers to maintain a competitive edge. However, the Raptors regrouped in the third quarter, managing to close the gap from a 13-point deficit and outscoring L.A. 40-33 during that period.
The game reached its climax when Hachimura successfully made the game-winning three-pointer from 24 feet away, with officials reviewing the shot to confirm it was released before the buzzer. The victory allowed the Lakers to continue building momentum as they prepared for their next challenges.
Up next, the Raptors will host the Charlotte Hornets, currently standing at 6-16, on Friday as they look to bounce back from this narrow defeat and improve their standing in the Eastern Conference.
