Austin Reaves delivered a season-best 44 points and Rui Hachimura hit a corner three at the horn as the Los Angeles Lakers edged the Toronto Raptors 123-120 on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena.
Los Angeles improved to 16-5 and moved to 9-2 on the road despite Luka Doncic being unavailable for personal reasons.
Hachimura’s winner came after LeBron James drove and found him in the corner, ending Toronto’s chance to force overtime. The pass gave James his 11th assist but also ended his NBA-record streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games with at least 10 points.
Reaves controlled the offense throughout the night, scoring 22 in the third quarter and finishing 13 for 21 from the field, 5 for 11 from deep and 13 for 15 at the line. He added 10 assists and five rebounds while committing five turnovers.
The Lakers got 17 points from Deandre Ayton, who shot 8 for 11 and grabbed eight boards. Jake LaRavia scored 14 off the bench, and Hachimura and Nick Smith Jr. each added 12.
Los Angeles shot 50% from the field and 42% from three, producing 31 points in the first quarter and 36 more in the second while holding off multiple Toronto runs.
Toronto, which entered at 15-8, leaned on Scottie Barnes’ 23 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Brandon Ingram scored 20 but shot 10 for 23 and missed a layup that could have given the Raptors the lead with 23 seconds left.
Ja’Kobe Walter supplied 17 points, and Sandro Mamukelashvili and Immanuel Quickley scored 13 apiece. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles chipped in 12, and Jamison Battle added 10.
The Raptors played without Jakob Poeltl (lower back), Ochai Agbaji (personal) and RJ Barrett (right knee). Toronto still created repeated pressure in the third quarter, outscoring the Lakers 40-33 behind Barnes’ activity and improved perimeter shooting.
Los Angeles regained control in the opening minutes of the fourth, but Toronto kept the gap tight. The game was tied at 120 before James found Hachimura for the decisive shot.
Reaves’ surge was critical with Dončić out and James struggling from the field. James went 4 for 17 and missed all five attempts from three while never reaching the free-throw line.
Both teams finished with 44 made field goals, but the Lakers’ edge came at the line, where they hit 22 free throws to Toronto’s 17.
Los Angeles heads to Boston on Friday for the second night of a back-to-back.
Toronto hosts Charlotte on Friday.
