If you had written a script on how the Lakers would beat the Raptors, it wouldn’t have been as perfect as what happened on Thursday night.
With the game even at 120 and LA with the ball, plenty was on the line. The Lakers were trying to start this road trip with a win. With LeBron James stuck at 8 points, he needed a basket to keep his double-digit scoring streak alive and secure the result.
Well, LeBron got the ball and was driving to the basket in the closing seconds, but he saw Rui Hachimura open in the corner, and he did what he’s always done during his basketball career: he made the right play.
James passed it to Rui, and while his double-digit scoring streak ended, the team got the win with Hachimura making his first-ever game-winner.
“I’ve never had a buzzer beater like this,” Hachimura said postgame. “It’s like one of those plays that every basketball player dreams. It was a great feeling.”
There’s beauty in how LeBron’s 1,297 streak of 10-plus points in a game came to an end. He made the right pass, and the basketball gods rewarded him with the game-clinching assist. And Hachimura now has a buzzer-beater on his resume.
The Lakers were as hyped as ever, seeing Rui make that shot. Deandre Ayton was dapping him up and Austin Reaves ran across the court and jumped on his back like he was a small child.
“It was awesome,” Reaves said. “I think I almost put him in a chokehold. Those are pure joy moments. We spend all year together, basically, as a team. You care for one another on a deeper level than just friends or whatever it is. You’re with each other 24/7. To see someone like that succeed, anyone on our team, is very cool.”
No one would’ve blamed LeBron for taking that last shot and either winning the game and extending his streak or having the contest head toward overtime. Also, no one would’ve blamed Reaves if he took the last shot.
Reaves pushed the ball up the court on the final possession and had a game-high 44 points. Reaves could’ve gotten selfish and thought that since he led the way, he should’ve gotten a chance to win it for LA.
Instead, both Reaves and LeBron played selfless basketball, and Hachimura and the Lakers reaped the benefits. This team plays the right way, and it’s why they are currently 16-5 and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
What a great moment this was for Hachimura. After essentially no one passed him the ball in the Lakers’ previous loss against the Suns, it was great to see him getting looks and knocking them down.
Hachimura is having a career year with the Lakers. He’s averaging a career best 13.9 points and shooting 46% from 3-point range, which is better than anyone on the roster. And now, he has the best highlight of his Lakers career with this buzzer-beater.
Hopefully, even grander moments are ahead for Hachimura in a purple and gold uniform.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.