On December 4, 2025, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the Los Angeles Lakers edged the Toronto Raptors 123-120 when Rui Hachimura drained an uncontested corner three at the buzzer. The decisive pass came from LeBron James, who had received the ball from Austin Reaves after the Raptors sent a late double-team at the guard with the teams knotted at 120-120.
James, sitting on eight points at the time, could have driven for a layup that would have extended his NBA-record streak of 1,297 consecutive games scoring in double figures. Instead, he swung the ball to Hachimura, drawing praise from teammates for prioritizing the victory.
“I’m gonna throw myself under the bus,” Reaves admitted on Spectrum SportsNet. “When Bron tossed it to me, I thought we were down one. He said ‘one shot,’ and I’m thinking, ‘What? We’re down one.’ I looked up—it was 120-120. I heard their coach yell for the double, so I tried to get Bron the ball. He’s been in that situation a million times.”
Reaves added that James has faced criticism throughout his career for passing in late-game moments. “If he’d shot, people would say he should’ve passed. If he passes, they say shoot. You tip your hat to a guy that just cares about winning and making the right play. Obviously the 10-point streak ends, but if you ask him, winning is more important than points.”
The Lakers improved to 16-7 with the victory, while the 40-year-old James reiterated postgame that ending the streak on a game-winning assist was “the perfect way” for it to conclude.
Source: Lakers Nation
