The Los Angeles Lakers opened a demanding three-games-in-four-nights road swing with a dramatic 123–120 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena. Forward Rui Hachimura sealed the outcome by draining a right-corner three-pointer as time expired, snapping the Raptors’ comeback bid and giving Los Angeles its first win of the trip.
LeBron James, who entered the contest having scored at least 10 points in every regular-season game since January 2007, finished with eight. The result ends his NBA-record double-digit scoring streak at 1,297 games. Missing co-stars Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart, the Lakers leaned heavily on Austin Reaves, who poured in 22 of his game-high points in the third quarter to steady the club.
Game flow
Reaves opened the night with back-to-back three-pointers, helping Los Angeles race to an 8-2 lead. Reserve Jake LaRavia added instant offense off the bench, and the Lakers led 31–26 after one. Rookie Adou Thiero delivered energy early in the second, while Reaves returned to push the halftime margin to 67–58.
Toronto erased that advantage in the third behind Brandon Ingram and briefly moved ahead after a Flagrant 1 foul on Gabe Vincent. Reaves responded with a series of acrobatic finishes, sending the Lakers to the fourth quarter up 100–98.
With Reaves resting, the Lakers offense stalled and the Raptors tied the score. Reaves re-entered and continued to attack despite taking a shot to the face from Ingram. A late three-point play by Toronto put the home team in front, but James knotted the game with a layup inside the final minute before assisting Hachimura’s game-winner.
Up next
The Lakers travel to Boston for a Friday showdown with the rival Celtics, then conclude the trip Sunday in Philadelphia against the 76ers.
Source: Lakers Nation
