Imago
Image Credits: Imagn
Imago
Image Credits: Imagn
In a thrilling game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Toronto Raptors, the unthinkable finally happened. LeBron James’ historic 10-point scoring streak, which began in January 2007, came to an end tonight. However, according to teammate Rui Hachimura, who scored a game-winning, buzzer-beating shot off his assist, this might’ve been intentional.
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“He said, it’s going to come to you,” James told Hachimura, according to the Japanese forward in the post-game interview. “I knew it was going to come to me. So I was ready. I had to imagine how we were going to shoot or whatever, but it was exactly what I felt.”
LeBron James makes the extra pass to Rui Hachimura, who hits the game-winner to beat the Raptors. If you’re going to snap a 1,297 game streak with at least 10 points, that’s how you do it. Rui told @MikeTrudell afterwards that LeBron told him to expect the extra pass. pic.twitter.com/2yN9GqpbtG
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) December 5, 2025
Here’s how the wild final possession unfolded: Austin Reaves kicked the ball to LeBron at the top of the key, immediately triggering a hard double-team. Toronto fully expected him to take the last shot, which left Rui Hachimura wide open in the corner.
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But instead of driving or pulling up, LeBron — aware that any shot would push him into double figures — made the unselfish read. He swung it to Hachimura, who buried the go-ahead three and sealed the win.
LeBron passed up a personal milestone to make the right basketball play, a decision that has defined his career. For detail-oriented fans, this was just the second game-winning assist of his career; the first came in 2006 to Damon Jones, also against the Raptors.
Even in his record-setting 23rd season, the approach hasn’t changed. His legacy is settled, and he’s leaning fully into star leadership in his twilight years. LeBron finished with eight points and 11 assists in the Lakers’ 123–120 road win.
Buzzer-Beater Caps Wild Finish as Austin Reaves Erupts and LeBron James Chooses the Pass
With the game tied at 120, all eyes inside Scotiabank Arena watched a chaotic final sequence unfold. As Rui Hachimura drilled the corner three, LeBron James’ 1297-long 10-point scoring streak ended, but there was no hesitation, just the right basketball play.
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Mar 26, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
While the ending belonged to Hachimura, the night was owned by Austin Reaves. On a night without Luka Doncic, Reaves called his own number, recording 44 points and 10 assists, including two free throws to tie the game late and a floater to knot it again at 120 after the Raptors pulled ahead.
Head coach JJ Redick put the ball in his hands every time, and he always delivered with a timely answer.
The Raptors got everything they could’ve asked for from Scottie Barnes, who logged a near-triple-double with 23 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Jamison Battle nearly flipped the game with a late three, but with balanced scoring throughout the roster, including 17 from Deandre Ayton and 14 from Jake LaRavia, helped LA survive any swing the Raptors threw at them.
Without Doncic and Marcus Smart, Los Angeles got a buzzer-beater that says something more about what Redick’s squad want to be: not about personal stats, but all about wins.
Written by
Edited by
Tanay Sahai