A historic run meets an unselfish finish
LeBron James walked into Toronto on Thursday with one of the longest statistical streaks in NBA history still intact. Since Jan. 6, 2007, he had scored at least ten points in every regular season game he played — a run that spanned 1,297 games, 6,907 days, and nearly two decades of league evolution.
But with the Los Angeles Lakers and Raptors tied at 120-120, and only three seconds remaining, James made the play that ultimately ended that streak. Instead of forcing a shot to reach ten points, he swung the ball to a wide open Rui Hachimura in the left corner. Hachimura buried the three, sealing a win and bringing James’ double digit scoring streak to an end at age 39.
The play that broke the streak
James entered the moment sitting on eight points after an unusually cold shooting night, hitting just four of seventeen attempts and missing all five from long range. With the Lakers shorthanded, the stage was set for him to extend his run. Instead, he chose a different route.
“You always make the right play,” James said afterward. He finished with 11 assists, and described the sequence as a simple numbers decision: once Austin Reaves drew a double team, the ball swung to James with a four-on-three advantage.
His pass to Hachimura echoed countless moments across his career when he has been criticized — and praised — for choosing the smart basketball play over personal accolades. This time, it cost him a historic streak, but delivered a victory.
A streak that defined an era
To understand the scale of what ended Thursday night, consider context: the last time James failed to score in double digits, Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg had been alive just 15 days. Michael Jordan’s second-longest streak of 866 games was surpassed long ago.
James, now in his 23rd season and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, had even survived multiple close calls this year, including a blowout loss Monday where he stayed in long enough to reach 13 points, and an 11 point outing in his season debut after recovering from sciatica.
Lakers coach JJ Redick praised the play as “the right decision,” noting that James has always faced scrutiny for trusting teammates in big moments. “The basketball gods, if you do it the right way, they tend to reward you,” Redick added.
The legacy continues
Even with the streak now closed, the moment reinforced the identity James has built across his career: an elite scorer who still prioritizes team success and basketball fundamentals.
One record may have ended, but another reminder of James’ longevity, awareness, and unselfishness took its place.
