LeBron James's Historic Point-Scoring Streak Comes to a Close, Yet Lakers Secure Win Against Raptors.

James understood his historic run of putting up 10+ points was in danger. At the decisive instant, however, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play involved passing the basketball – so he did. With that selfless act, his remarkable run came to an end.

James's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten ended during a recent game, when the league's career points king finished with a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the game-winning assist, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a triple at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James stated in response regarding the conclusion of his run. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Play Seals Victory

James could have tried to secure the game – while also extending the streak – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to make the extra pass to his teammate on the wing. Rui connected, and James exulted with his hands in the air.

You have to play basketball correctly. Always make the smart play,” James explained. That has always been my M.O.. It's how I was instructed the game. I've played that way my whole career.”

James is acutely aware exactly how many points he's scored at all times,” stated the team's head coach the coach. “He did it just as he has throughout his career.”

The Streak's End Game

LeBron checked back into the floor for the final time with just over five minutes left, the result and the streak on the line. He had only six points on a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He scored at 1:46 left to level the contest but then missed a 14-footer at one minute to go that might have gotten him to double digits.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – but could have. Austin Reaves found him in the waning seconds, however, James chose to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it the right way, they often reward you,” the coach concluded.

The History of a Monumental Streak

This incredible run started on Jan. 6, 2007. It was easily the longest such streak in professional basketball: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run at 575.

He is such a team-oriented player,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing the sport. He could have shot but due to the player he is and just who he is as a person, he executed the team play, dished to Hachimura and secured the victory.”

Getting to ten points had long been an afterthought well before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had achieved double figures by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

But two of those unusual games below ten points after three periods had occurred recently: He had nine entering the final quarter against Dallas on 28 November, then had six going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

He succeeded in extend the streak against the Suns. One game later, it was over – yet he was celebrating regardless.

My focus is to make the right play. That is instinctive, win, lose or draw,” James said. If you make the unselfish play, the basketball gods consistently giving back to me.”