One of the great LeBron James record streaks has come to an end — and he passed up the chance to extend it.
For the first time in nearly 19 years, James failed to score double digits in a regular season game, snapping a streak of 1,297 consecutive games with at least 10 points.
James scored 8 points in a 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors Thursday, Dec. 4. With the game tied at 120 and seconds left to play, James had the ball in his hands and drove through the middle of the paint. Rather than putting up a shot, however, James fired a pass to the left corner, where a wide open Rui Hachimura rattled home the game-winning 3-pointer.
“LeBron is acutely aware of how many points he has at that point,” Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters after the game. “And like he has done so many times in his career — and I remember him getting ridiculed early on, when he would make the right play and his teammate would shoot the game winner — he did it like he has done so many times.
“I knew it was good as soon as it left Rui’s hands.”
When asked what his reaction was to the streak ending, James shrugged it off.
“None,” James said, plainly. “We won.”
Seconds after the game ended, an ebullient James threw his hands up in the air before joining the rest of his teammates to celebrate the game-winning shot.
“The basketball gods — if you do it the right way — they tend to reward you,” Redick said.
The last time James scored fewer than 10 points in a game was Jan. 5, 2007. Since then, starting with his 19 points against the New Jersey Nets on Jan. 6 of that year, he embarked on his streak that touched five different presidential administrations.
Apple released its first generation iPhone in June 2007, meaning that James’ streak was older than the ubiquitous device. At the time the streak began, the No. 1 song atop the Billboard Hot 100 was “Irreplaceable” by Beyoncé. His son and current teammate, Bronny James, was two-and-a-half years old.
Michael Jordan is second on the list at 866 straight games with at least 10 points.
The new current longest active streak is 267 games by Kevin Durant. It’s another one of James’ records that won’t be broken for a long time.
James finished the game shooting 4-of-17 from the floor and failed to hit any of his five 3-point tries. He also dished out 11 assists and grabbed 6 rebounds as the Lakers improved to 16-5, which ranks second in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles was playing without Luka Dončić, who is away from the team because of a personal matter.
“Just playing the game the right way,” James said. “That’s just been my M.O. That’s how I was taught the game. I’ve done that my whole career. There was not even one second guess in that.”
LeBron James stats vs. Raptors
Points: 8
FG: 4-for-17 (0-for-5 from 3)
Free Throws: 0-for-0
Rebounds: 6
Assists: 11
Steals: 0
Blocks: 0
Turnovers: 0
Fouls: 1
Minutes: 36
Lakers vs. Raptors highlights
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