WASHINGTON, December 4, 2019. – LeBron James’ streak of 1,297 games with at least 10 points ended Thursday in Toronto in the Lakers’ 120-123 win over the Raptors, while the Golden State Warriors fell 99-98 to the Philadelphia 76ers after rallying from a 24-point deficit in a frustrating comeback.
James, who had little success with his shot, remained at 8 points, ending a streak that had accompanied him for nearly 19 years, since January 2007. However, LeBron distributed 11 assists, including the one that enabled Rui Hachimura to score the hat-trick at the buzzer that sealed the victory for Los Angeles.
The Lakers star could have shot the ball himself to hold the line, but after shooting 4-of-17 from the field (23.5%), he chose to hand over to Hachimura.
The real hero for the Lakers, who did not have Luka Doncic, was Auten Reeves, with 44 points – 22 in the third quarter – 10 assists and 5 rebounds.
The Lakers are in second place in the West with a 16-5 record, behind the tough Oklahoma City Thunder (21-1).
As for the Raptors (15-8), Scottie Barnes recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists, while Brandon Ingram finished with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists.
The 76ers (12-9) won the first quarter 30-10 and maxed out +24 (43-67) in the third.
However, they saw how the Warriors (11-12), without Jimmy Butler or Stephen Curry, responded with a 27-55 run until they led by four points (98-94) and the wind was in their favor with 1 minute and 12 seconds remaining.
But with 0.9 seconds left, Bahamas rookie VJ Edgecombe scored the basket that restored the lead for the 76ers, while Tyrese Maxey flew to the other side of the court to lay down a crucial block on former teammate De’Anthony Melton and save the game.
“It wasn’t supposed to come to this,” Edgecombe said after the game, happily acknowledging that tonight’s shot was the first game-winning shot of his career.
The Boston Celtics (13-9) crushed the Washington Wizards (3-18) with a resounding score of 101-146. The second half score was 42-80.
Derrick White scored 30 points for the first time this season, in addition to 7 rebounds and 9 assists. Jordan Walsh scored 22 and Payton Pritchard 20.
Spanish rookie Hugo Gonzalez had the best game of his short NBA career, with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting from field goals, including 2-of-2 on a three-pointer, 5 rebounds and a block in 17 minutes, 40 seconds on the court.
Gonzalez played the entire fourth quarter with the rest of the substitutes, when Joe Mazzola had already declared the game won.
Jordi Fernandez’s Brooklyn Nets also played on Thursday, having just won for the first time this season. The Nets lost 110-123 to the Utah Jazz after retreating in the fourth quarter, in which they conceded a 20-42 lead.
In New Orleans, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 116-125 thanks to 28 points by Julius Randle.