Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, drives past the Toronto Raptors’ Jamison Battle during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Toronto Raptors’ Brandon Ingram drives between the Lakers’ Austin Reaves, left, and Rui Hachimura during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, handles the ball as the Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes defends during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Toronto Raptors Brandon Ingram, left, drives as Lakers rookie Adou Thiero defends during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers center Deandre Ayton gets to the basket for a layup in front of the Toronto Raptors’ Ja’Kobe Walter (14) and Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes looks to make a play as Lakers center Jaxson Hayes defends during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James drives to the basket as the Toronto Raptors’ Brandon Ingram defends during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
Lakers wing Dalton Knecht takes a 3-point shot as the Toronto Raptors’ Immanuel Quickley defends during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors’ Immanuel Quickley handles the ball as Lakers star LeBron James defends during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves drives as the Toronto Raptors’ Ja’Kobe Walter defends during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, fouls the Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers star LeBron James handles the ball as the Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes (4) and Immanuel Quickley (5) defend during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Toronto Raptors’ Brandon Ingram gets to the basket for a layup in front of Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (7) passes the ball as he falls in front of the Toronto Raptors’ Jamal Shead (23) during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Toronto Raptors’ Jonathan Mogbo protects the ball from Lakers star LeBron James during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Toronto Raptors’ Jonathan Mogbo protects the ball from the Lakers’ LeBron James, left, and Dalton Knecht (4) during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers guard Nick Smith Jr. drives past the Toronto Raptors’ Gradey Dick during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes protects the ball as Lakers guard Gabe Vincent defends during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes, right, intercepts a pass intended for Lakers center Jaxson Hayes during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes reacts after a missed shot during the second half of their game against the Lakers on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers star LeBron James handles the ball as the Toronto Raptors’ Immanuel Quickley defends during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors’ Ja’Kobe Walter looks to pass the ball as the Lakers’ Gabe Vincent (7) and LeBron James defend during the first half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers star LeBron James drives to the basket to shoot as the Toronto Raptors’ Sandro Mamukelashvili, left, defends during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James, right, drives to the basket as the Toronto Raptors’ Sandro Mamukelashvili defends during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes celebrates after a basket during the second half of their game against the Lakers on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) blocks a shot by the Toronto Raptors’ Collin Murray-Boyles during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, battles for the ball against the Toronto Raptors’ Immanuel Quickley during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James reacts after a foul call during the second half of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes looks to pass the ball over Lakers star LeBron James, right, during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves shoots the ball as the Toronto Raptors’ Immanuel Quickley (5), Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) and Jamal Shead (23) defend during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura takes the game-winning 3-point shot as the Toronto Raptors’ Brandon Ingram defends during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, left, celebrates with center Deandre Ayton after making the game-winning 3-point shot as time expired in their 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, front left, celebrates with teammates Austin Reaves, back left, and Jake LaRavia, right, after making the game-winning 3-point shot as time expired in their 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) celebrates with, from top left, teammates Austin Reaves, Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton after making the game-winning 3-point shot as time expired in their 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James, right, celebrates with teammate Deandre Ayton after their 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James, center, celebrates with teammate Deandre Ayton, left, after their 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
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Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, drives past the Toronto Raptors’ Jamison Battle during the second half on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
TORONTO — For nearly 1,300 consecutive games of scoring in double figures – and the entirety of his playing career – LeBron James has preached the importance of playing the game of basketball the right way. And he has backed it up with his actions, even when those decisions weren’t viewed as the popular ones.
And that didn’t change for James on Thursday night, even with his legendary double-digit scoring streak on the line, as James assisted Rui Hachimura on a buzzer-beating, game-winning 3-pointer to secure a 123-120 win for the Luka Doncic-Lakers over the Toronto Raptors.
“LeBron is acutely aware of how many points he [had] at that point,” Coach JJ Redick said. “He’s done so many times in his career, and I remember him getting ridiculed for it early on when he would make the right play and his teammate would shoot the game-winner, he did it like he’s done so many times. And just knew it was good as soon as it left Rui’s hands. And just a big-time play.”
Austin Reaves once again stepped up in light of Doncic being away from the team for personal reasons to help put the Lakers, and James and Hachimura, in position to help secure the victory at Scotiabank Arena.
Entering Thursday with averages of 40 points, 10 assists and 5.3 rebounds in the three games he played when Doncic wasn’t available earlier this season, Reaves led the Lakers (16-5) with 44 points, 11 assists and five rebounds against the Raptors, once again showing that he will raise his level of play to even higher levels when needed to.
And it was Reaves who helped set up the late-game heroics.
After Brandon Ingram knocked down a midrange jumper to put the Raptors ahead 120-118 with 49.2 seconds remaining, Reaves raced up the court with the ball in his hands, blowing by Jamal Shead and converting a 3-foot jumper over multiple Raptors defenders to tie the score at 120-all with 41.2 seconds left.
And after the Lakers got a late defensive stop, the Raptors double-teamed Reaves during his isolation on Shead as the game clock ticked down. Reaves passed to James above the 3-point arc with a semi-open lane in front of him as Immanuel Quickley made the help rotation.
As Quickley came over into the paint, James fired a pass to Hachimura in the left corner for the game-winning 3-pointer as time expired.
“Just playing the game the right way,” James said. “You always make the right play. That’s just been my M.O. That’s how I was taught the game. I’ve done that my whole career. There was not even one second-guessing that. Once they doubled AR and the ball got swung to me, I know it’s a numbers game. We got a four-on-three advantage and was just trying to put the ball on time, on target and right into Rui’s socket, in his shot pocket. And he knocked it down.”
James, the NBA’s career scoring leader, finished with eight points, ending his streak of 1,297 consecutive double-digit regular-season scoring games.
James threw his hands in the air in celebration as the shot fell through the net.
“I remember everything has been negatively said about me and my game throughout my career,” James said. “That aspect was always one of the most foolish things I’ve ever heard as far as making the right pass, making the right play. We are in the business of winning basketball games. My whole life, I’ve just played the game that way. I was taught the game that way and I’ve won at every single level I’ve played at by playing the game that way. So there was no reason for me to ever change once I got to this level. It doesn’t change. Basketball is basketball.”
And on Thursday night, James’ decision once again paid off.
“Bron told me right before this, ‘I got you. It’s going to come to you,’” Hachimura said in a televised on-court interview after the game.
The streak ended, but the win was all that evidently mattered.
“None,” James responded when asked if he had any feelings about the streak ending. “We won.”
James once again struggled with his shot-making, shooting 4 for 17 from the field, the third consecutive game he’s shot worse than 40%. He missed all five of his 3-point attempts, didn’t attempt a single free throw and couldn’t find a rhythm inside the 3-point arc, either.
The four-time league MVP missed six of his 10 shot attempts inside the paint, including going 3 of 8 inside the restricted area but his assist to Hachimura was his 11th.
“I’m still getting in a rhythm,” James said. “This is my what, sixth? Sixth game. It is obviously well-documented; I’ve never missed a whole training camp and a whole preseason before. Or missed the first 14 games of a regular season. So I’m still figuring out my rhythm, figuring out everything as far as offensively. Knowing I can still make an impact on the floor when I’m out there.”
Thursday was the first time since Jan. 5, 2007 that James didn’t score at least 10 points in a game. The team James played for at the time, the Cleveland Cavaliers, also won the previous time James finished in single-digit scoring, beating the Milwaukee Bucks in a game when James also finished with eight points.
It was, by far, the longest such streak in NBA history: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was third best at 787 games, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run at 575.
“I won’t make that a habit, though,” James quipped. “But listen, you guys have been around me for eight years: I always just make the right play. That’s all that matters. Win, lose or draw, make the right play. The game’s god’s always giving back to me, no matter if it was a win or loss, whatever. That’s just how I was raised and that’s how I always played the game.”
James checked back into the game for the final time Thursday with 5:23 left, the outcome and the streak hanging in the balance.
He had six points on 3-of-15 shooting at that point. He scored with 1:46 left to tie the game and missed a 14-footer with 1:01 left that would have gotten him to double digits.
He didn’t take another shot – but could have, opting for the winning assist.
“You tip your hat to a guy who just cares about winning and making the right play,” Reaves said. “That’s what he’s done his whole career.”
Teammate Jake LaRavia agreed.
“He’s such an unselfish player,” LaRavia said of James. “He’s just playing the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but because of the player he is and just who he is as a person, he made the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and we won the game.”
Reaves, who scored 22 of his points in the third quarter, finished 13 for 21 from the field (5 for 11 from 3-point range) and 13 for 15 at the free-throw line as the Lakers improved to 9-2 on the road.
Deandre Ayton finished with 17 points, LaRavia had 14 points off the bench, and Hachimura and Nick Smith Jr. each had 12 as the Lakers bounced back from Monday’s home loss to Phoenix to win for the eighth time in their past nine games.
Scottie Barnes scored 23 points and Brandon Ingram had 20 for the Raptors (15-8). JaKobe Walter scored 17 points, and Sandro Mamukelashvili and Immauel Quickley each had 13.
UP NEXT
The Lakers continue their road trip in Boston on Friday at 4 p.m. PT.