Rui Hachimura fulfilled a long-held ambition on Dec. 4 by sinking his first career buzzer-beater, a corner three that sealed the Los Angeles Lakers’ 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena.
With the score tied and the final seconds ticking away, Austin Reaves drew a double-team near midcourt and kicked the ball to LeBron James on the left wing. James drove toward the paint, forcing Raptors forward Brandon Ingram to help, and spotted Hachimura unguarded in the right corner. The forward’s shot dropped as the horn sounded, launching the Lakers to a win that opened their three-game road swing.
“I think I’ve never had a buzzer-beater like that, so it was one of those plays every basketball player dreams of,” Hachimura told NBA on X. “It was a great feeling.”
Hachimura added that the moment was set up before the inbounds pass. “Bron told me right before it, he said, ‘I got you; it’s gonna come to you,’” he recounted to Spectrum SportsNet.
The dramatic finish came two nights after Hachimura went scoreless on just one shot attempt. Against Toronto, improved ball movement placed him in position to capitalize, and he finished with the decisive basket. The 28-year-old is shooting 46.8 percent from three-point range this season, putting him on track for a third consecutive year above the 40 percent mark.
James, who could have attempted the final shot himself and preserved his streak of double-digit scoring games, again opted for the pass that gave Los Angeles its 13th win of the campaign.
The Lakers continue the trip later this week with stops in Boston and Philadelphia.
Source: Lakers Nation
