A legendary streak has finally come to an end. LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers saw his historic run of scoring in double figures snapped at 1,297 consecutive regular-season games, but his team still found a way to win in dramatic fashion on Friday morning, Philippine time.
Buzzer-Beater Seals Victory, Ends an Era
With the game tied at 120-120 and the clock winding down, LeBron James drove and drew the defense before firing a pass to a wide-open Rui Hachimura in the corner. Hachimura drained the three-pointer as time expired, giving the Lakers a thrilling 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. This game-winning assist, however, came on a night where James managed only eight points, halting the longest such streak in NBA history.
The 20-year veteran struggled with his shot all night, making just 4 of his 17 attempts from the field and missing all five of his three-point tries. He did not attempt a single free throw. His feed to Hachimura for the winner was his 11th assist of the contest.
Reaves Carries the Load in Doncic's Absence
With Luka Doncic sidelined for personal reasons, the scoring burden fell to others, and Austin Reaves answered the call spectacularly. Reaves exploded for a career-high 44 points, including 22 in a dominant third quarter. He also dished out 10 assists and was nearly perfect from the free-throw line, hitting 13 of 15 attempts.
The Lakers' victory was a collective effort. Deandre Ayton contributed 17 points, while Jake LaRavia added 14. Hachimura and Nate Smith Jr. each finished with 12 points, with Hachimura's only basket of the fourth quarter being the decisive shot. The win improved the Lakers' road record to an impressive 9-2 and marked their eighth victory in their last nine outings.
For the Raptors, Scottie Barnes led the way with 23 points. Brandon Ingram added 20, but it was his missed layup with 23 seconds left that set the stage for the Lakers' final possession.
Around the League: Edgecombe's Heroics for 76ers
In other NBA action, the Philadelphia 76ers escaped with a nail-biting 99-98 win over the short-handed Golden State Warriors. Rookie VJ Edgecombe tipped in a missed shot with just 0.9 seconds remaining to put Philadelphia ahead. Tyrese Maxey, who scored 35 points, then sprinted back to block De'Anthony Melton's last-second attempt to secure the victory.
The Warriors mounted a furious comeback from 24 points down despite missing Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, and losing Draymond Green to an injury. Melton, in his season debut after an ACL injury, scored 14 points for Golden State.
Other results included:
- Boston Celtics routing the Washington Wizards 146-101.
- Utah Jazz defeating the Brooklyn Nets 123-110.
- Minnesota Timberwolves topping the New Orleans Pelicans 125-116.
