LBJ's Legendary Scoring Streak Ends, But Lakers Secure Win Over Toronto.

James understood his incredible streak of putting up 10+ points was at risk. At the decisive instant, though, it was not his focus.

The right decision was to pass the ball – so he did. Consequently, the legendary streak was over.

James's astounding run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season outings scoring at least ten ended on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only a mere eight points during the Lakers' 123-120 win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the clutch helper, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“None,” James replied when asked about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Choice Secures Victory

James could have tried to secure the contest – while also extending the streak – with the last shot, instead, he decided to pass to his teammate stationed in the corner. Rui connected, prompting James celebrated with his hands in the air.

“Just playing basketball correctly. Make the right play,” James noted. That has always been my philosophy. It's how I was taught to play. I've played that way for two decades.”

He is fully cognizant of how many points he has at any point,” stated the team's head coach the coach. “He did it just as he has throughout his career.”

The Streak's Final Moments

James re-entered the contest for the final time with 5:23 remaining, the result and his personal record on the line. His tally was only six points from 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He got a bucket at under two minutes remaining to knot the score and missed a mid-range jumper with 1:01 left that would have pushed him into double figures.

He avoided taking one more attempt – but could have. A teammate found him as time wound down, however, James decided to make the pass instead.

“The basketball gods, if you do it correctly, they tend to bless you,” the coach concluded.

Reflecting on an Unparalleled Run

James's streak commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It was easily the greatest such streak in professional basketball: MJ had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787 such games, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list of 575 games.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” remarked Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. He could have shot but due to his nature as a player and just who he is as a person, he executed the team play, dished to Hachimura and secured the game.”

Reaching double digits had long been an afterthought early in the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had attained double figures entering the fourth 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

But two such single-digit games after three periods had occurred recently: He recorded nine points going into the fourth against Dallas last week, and then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

He succeeded in preserve the record in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it was over – yet he was celebrating anyway.

I only ever make the correct play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James affirmed. When you make the right play, the game gods are always returning the favor.”