Key Takeaways:
- Rui Hachimura secured victory for the Los Angeles Lakers over the Toronto Raptors with a buzzer-beating three-pointer
- LeBron James’ NBA-record run of 1,297 consecutive double-digit scoring games in the regular season ended after he finished with eight points
- Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 44 points and 22 in the third quarter as Los Angeles improved to 9-2 away from home
Late Drama in Toronto as Hachimura Strikes
Rui Hachimura delivered the decisive blow on Thursday night, sinking a three-pointer at the buzzer off a LeBron James assist, to propel the Los Angeles Lakers to a thrilling 123-120 win over the Toronto Raptors. The dramatic finish came after the Raptors’ Brandon Ingram missed a layup with 23 seconds remaining, allowing James to find Hachimura in the corner for what proved to be the match-winner. Remarkably, it was Hachimura’s lone basket of the final quarter.
LEBRON'S HISTORIC 10-PT STREAK HAS COME TO AN END 🤯 pic.twitter.com/QJbPvf5FyM
— ESPN (@espn) December 5, 2025
James’ Historic Scoring Streak Ends
The assist from James on the final play extended his influence in the game despite an atypical shooting night. James finished with eight points, going 4-for-17 from the field and 0-for-5 from beyond the arc, without attempting a free throw. As a result, his unprecedented streak of 1,297 consecutive regular season games scoring in double digits was halted. However, he notched 11 assists, including the game-winning pass.
Reaves Dominates in Doncic’s Absence
Austin Reaves took centre stage for Los Angeles, amassing 44 points, including 22 in a blistering third quarter. He was highly effective from the free throw line (13 of 15) and added 10 assists, converting 5 of his 11 three-point attempts. The Lakers overcame the absence of Luka Doncic, who missed the match due to personal reasons, and Marcus Smart, sidelined with lower back trouble.
| Lakers Key Contributors | Points |
|---|---|
| Austin Reaves | 44 |
| Deandre Ayton | 17 |
| Jake LaRavia | 14 |
| Rui Hachimura | 12 |
| Nate Smith Jr. | 12 |
Raptors’ Response and Injury Report
For Toronto, Scottie Barnes led with 23 points, followed by Brandon Ingram with 20. JaKobe Walter contributed 17 points, while Sandro Mamukelashvili and Immauel Quickley each scored 13. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles added 12 points, and Jamison Battle scored 10. The Raptors played without Jakob Poeltl (sore lower back), Ochai Agbaji (personal reasons), and RJ Barrett, who missed his sixth successive game due to a right knee issue.
| Raptors Key Contributors | Points |
|---|---|
| Scottie Barnes | 23 |
| Brandon Ingram | 20 |
| JaKobe Walter | 17 |
| Sandro Mamukelashvili | 13 |
| Immauel Quickley | 13 |
| Collin Murray-Boyles | 12 |
| Jamison Battle | 10 |
Road Success and Looking Ahead
With this victory, the Lakers bounced back from their defeat to Phoenix on Monday, recording their eighth win from their last nine fixtures and pushing their road record to 9-2. Los Angeles are set to travel to Boston for their next match on Friday, while Toronto will play host to Charlotte on the same evening.
