LBJ's Historic Scoring Streak Ends, However Lakers Secure Victory Over Raptors.

LeBron James was aware his historic run of putting up 10+ points was in danger. When it mattered most, however, it didn't concern him.

The right decision involved passing the basketball – and he executed. Consequently, the unprecedented record finished.

LeBron's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten ended this past Thursday, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He provided the clutch helper, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-point shot to win the game.

“Zero,” James said in response on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

An Unselfish Play Seals the Game

He might have attempted to win the contest – while also extending the streak – on the final possession, yet he opted to make the extra pass to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Rui connected, and James celebrated immediately.

“Just playing basketball correctly. Always make the correct play,” James noted. “That’s just been my philosophy. That is the way I was taught the game. I’ve done that my whole career.”

James is acutely aware exactly how many points he's scored at all times,” commented the team's head coach the coach. He acted like he’s done throughout his career.”

The Streak's End Game

James re-entered the game one last time with 5:23 remaining, the outcome along with the historic run on the line. His tally was only six points from 3 for 15 from the field then.

He scored with under two minutes remaining to level the contest then missed a shot with one minute to go that might have gotten him into double figures.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate found him in the waning seconds, but James chose to dish it off instead.

“The basketball gods, if you do it correctly, they tend to repay you,” Redick added.

The History of a Monumental Streak

James's streak began back in January 2007. It was easily the greatest double-digit streak in NBA history: MJ had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run with 575.

He is such an unselfish player,” remarked teammate Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the sport. The chance was there but because of his nature as a player and his personality as an individual, he made the pass, found Rui and claimed the game.”

Scoring in double figures was usually a formality well before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had achieved double figures by the start of the fourth 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

But two of those rare single-digit games after three periods had occurred recently: He had nine points going into the fourth against Dallas on 28 November, followed by six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. One game later, it finished – yet he was celebrating all the same.

“I always just make the best play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James said. “You make the unselfish play, the game gods are always giving back to me.”