For 1,297 straight games, LeBron James scoring in double figures was one of the NBA’s few certainties. That streak stretched across 19 years, outlasting eras, teammates, coaches and even LeBron’s own style of play. But on Thursday in Toronto, that familiar rhythm quietly started to feel less secure as the Lakers fought to recover from their loss to the Suns.

With the game tied in the final seconds, the ball naturally found its way into LeBron’s hands. It looked like the perfect setup for one of his trademark drives, yet he chose a different path, spotting Rui Hachimura open in the corner and trusting him with the moment.

Hachimura buried the three, rescuing the Lakers in a game they couldn’t afford to drop. But that very play also set the stage for an unexpected twist, pushing one of L

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