LeBron’s scoring streak ends spectacularly
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JJ Redick left LeBron James in during the Los Angeles Lakers’ blowout loss against the Phoenix Suns on Monday, seemingly to allow LeBron to extend his historic streak of double-digit scoring games. James cobbled together the four extra points he needed to get to 10, and the streak extended to 1,297 games.
That’s 431 games more than the second-longest streak in NBA history, held by Michael Jordan. In Thursday night's tightly contested matchup between the Lakers and Raptors, LeBron’s streak was in legitimate peril. With a few minutes left in the fourth quarter, he had six points on 3-of-15 shooting.
It was looking bleak. He got a bucket, then got blocked by Scottie Barnes on a jump shot. The Lakers had to keep feeding Austin Reaves (44 points on 13-of-21 from the field) to try to win the game. With the score tied at 120 and LeBron sitting on eight points, the Lakers had the final possession. The Raptors threw an extra defender at Reaves to get the ball out of his hands. LeBron was that outlet.
He drove the lane, was cut off by a defender and had a decision to make: try to extend the streak by winning the game on his own or kick it to Rui Hachimura in the corner.
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LeBron made “the right play” there. And not to sound too cynical, but it was also the most low-stakes play possible. If Hachimura makes the shot,(he did!) the Lakers win. If he misses, James would have had five more minutes to get two points. No-brainer. The streak ended, but in a poetic way.
The streak is both impossibly long and seemingly unmatchable in every way. The fact that it extends five-plus seasons beyond second place on the list shows nobody is ever going to approach this.
You may be thinking, “Yeah, but what about …” Let me cut you off right there. It ain’t happening. And with the way LeBron has looked, dealing with sciatica as he plays in his record 23rd season? This streak was going to end soon. He just doesn’t have the bounce or the quickness right now. He can get it back, but not without rest and proper training, which is tough to do in-season. And he turns 41 on Dec. 30.
It also perfectly distracts from the uncomfortable position Redick might face. It’s only been five games, but the Lakers are getting shredded when LeBron, Reaves and Luka Doncic are on the court together. They’re being outscored by 9.5 points per 100 possessions.
LeBron’s passing is still top-notch, as he proved throughout the win over Toronto, not just on the last play. But his body can’t catch up to his mind right now, and he’s a massive liability defensively. He needs time to work his way back, but that’s tougher to do at his age — he turns 41 on Dec. 30 — coming off an injury. Even for him.
Redick might have to sit LeBron in key situations. Or maybe he just rolls the dice out of respect and because LeBron’s mind is still quicker at processing than anybody else’s and just hopes James’ body will catch up? Regardless, the Lakers found the perfect way for the streak to end. It was pretty damn cool.
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