Wow. 

The Lakers, playing shorthanded in Toronto—no Luka Dončić (personal) and Marcus Smart (back)—against a 15--win Raptors squad, had to dig deep and stay resilient, and then ride some excellent performances to secure a big win, 123-120 on a game-winning triple from Rui Hachimura. 

The star of the game was clearly Austin Reaves, who dropped 44 points and added 10 assists. He once again was enormous in a game where Luka wasn't available, and not just offensively. Reaves drew two critical fourth quarter charges, as well. Jake LaRavia played his best game in a while, with 14 points and seven rebounds, and had a massive block at the rim on what looked like a sure Raptors bucket. In a game this tight, those are game-changers. Deandre Ayton (17/8), Hachimura (12 points) and Nick Smith Jr. (12 points) also finished in double figures. 

One guy who didn't? For the first time since 2007? LeBron James. 

The shooting continues to be problematic. James was 4-17 from the floor, and missed all five of his free throws. But sitting on eight points on the game's last possession, James found Hachimura in the corner for the game winner. A poetic way for the streak to end, with James making the right basketball play, as he said after the game he's done since he picked up a ball. 

With Boston looming Friday, and a lot of Lakers potentially on the sidelines—Luka is probably not going to be back yet, LeBron isn't yet cleared for back-to-backs, and it's hard to see Smart getting back—getting this win was huge. 

Big picture, the Lakers are still waiting for James to get more LeBron-like. At some point, some of the shots he's missing seem likely to go in, even if the days of James getting anywhere he wants on the floor might be over. (And the passing skills aren't eroding in the slightest.) But on this night, at least, there was a little poetry for James on the game's final play. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers win on a buzzer beater from Rui. Reaves dominates. 
SEGMENT 2: An incredible finish for LeBron's streak. 
SEGMENT 3: Tough weekend coming. 

 

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