Toronto — Lebron James Knew his record for double-digit scoring attempts was in jeopardy. And in that moment, he didn’t care.
The correct play was to pass the ball – so he did that. And with this his series ended.
James’ streak of 1,297 consecutive double-digit regular season scoring efforts ended Thursday night, when the NBA’s career points leader was held to eight points. Los Angeles Lakers‘Win 123-120 Toronto RaptorsHe had the game-winning assist, setting Rui Hachimura3-pointer as time expires.
Afterwards, he was asked what he thought about the streak ending.
“Nobody,” James said. “We won.”
James could have tried to win the game – and extend the streak – on the final possession, but he instead passed to Hachimura in the left corner. Hachimura connected, and James threw his hands in the air in celebration.
“Just playing the game the right way. You always play the right game,” James said. “That’s just been my MO, that’s how I was taught the game. That’s what I’ve done my entire career.”
“LeBron knows very well how many points he has at that point in time,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “He did it like he’s done it many times.”
James returned to the game for the final time Thursday with 5:23 left, with the outcome and the streak hanging in the balance. He had six points on 3-of-15 shooting at that point. He scored with 1:46 remaining to tie the score and missed a 14-footer with 1:01 remaining that would have put him in double figures.
He didn’t take another shot – but could have. Austin Reeves Gave the ball to James with a few seconds remaining, but James opted to pass instead.
“The basketball gods, if you do it the right way, they reward you,” Redick said.
James’ streak began on January 6, 2007. This was the longest streak ever in NBA history: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest with 575.
Among active players, you would need to add a streak of 11 players behind him to surpass his 1,297 consecutive games. Kevin Durant There are new active leaders in 267 consecutive games.
“He’s an unselfish player,” the Lakers center said. Jake Laravia Said. “He’s just playing the game of basketball. He had his opportunity but because of the player he is and who he is as a person, he made an unselfish play, passed it to Rui and we won the game.”
This was generally thought to be long before the beginning of the fourth trimester. During James’ streak, he reached the 10-point mark 1,266 times by the start of the fourth quarter as of Thursday.
But two of those single-point games through three quarters came last week or so: He had nine points against the fourth dallas On November 28, he had six points in the fourth match. surprise Monday night.
James managed to extend the streak against the Suns. After one game, it was done – and he celebrated anyway.
James said, “I always play the right game. It’s automatic, win, lose or draw.” “You play the game right – the gods of the game are always giving it back to me.”
The Associated Press and ESPN Research contributed to this report.
