In a stunning twist during a nail-biting finish in Toronto, the Los Angeles Lakers' victory celebration was tinged with the end of one of professional basketball's most incredible individual records. When Rui Hachimura sank a corner three-pointer as the final buzzer blared, securing a 123-120 win for the Lakers, it was his teammate LeBron James who made the decisive pass—a move that also concluded James's legendary streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games with double-digit scoring.
The Buzzer-Beater That Broke a Historic Run
The Lakers faced the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday night in a tightly contested matchup. With the score tied at 120 and under 17 seconds remaining, Austin Reaves found himself double-teamed. He dished the ball to LeBron James near the top of the key. With a clear path to the basket, James, who had a quiet scoring night, made the unselfish play. He fired a pass to a wide-open Rui Hachimura in the corner, who drained the game-winning three-point shot as time expired.
That assist was James's 11th of the evening, but it came in a game where he finished with only 8 points and 6 rebounds. This modest point total marked the official end of a scoring streak that began on January 7, 2007. To put its longevity into perspective, when the streak started, flip phones were common, Twitter was in its infancy, and the iPhone had not been launched. The run spanned nearly 19 years and three franchises: the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers.
Context of the Streak and What Remains
The sheer scale of LeBron James's consistency is almost incomprehensible. Only 24 players in the entire history of the NBA have even played 1,297 games in their careers. James scored at least 10 points in every single one of those games consecutively. While this remarkable record has now concluded, James still holds another that seems virtually unbreakable. The next longest active streak belongs to Kevin Durant, at 267 games. To tie James, Durant would need to play 1,031 more games while maintaining his scoring output—a task that underscores James's unparalleled durability and excellence.
Priorities Shift: Rings Over Records
The end of the streak is perhaps most notable for what it signifies about the 39-year-old superstar's evolving role. No longer the primary scoring force every single night, James is embracing the part of a veteran facilitator. With young stars like Luka Dončić leading the league in scoring and teammates like Austin Reaves (who exploded for 44 points against the Raptors) stepping up, James is comfortably transitioning into a "supercharged third option" who controls the game's flow without always carrying the scoring load.
When questioned about the significance of his streak ending, James's response was succinct and telling: "We won." This attitude highlights where his focus lies as his career progresses. With ten NBA Finals appearances already—more than the total number of single-digit scoring games in his career—LeBron James is now chasing a final, legacy-cementing goal: a fifth championship ring.
The historic night in Toronto, therefore, was not about a record falling but about a team winning. It showcased a legendary player making the winning play, even if it meant the end of a personal milestone that may never be seen again in the sport.
