The Top 10 Performances Of LeBron James’ 20-Point Streak

Portland’s win over the Heat on Thursday night claimed two casualties: That Miami is going to be a good road team this year and LeBron James‘ 54-game streak where he’s scored at least 20 points. Before Miami plays the four remaining games in its 7-8 road trip so far, it’s a good time to look back at the superlative performances during James’ 54-game streak, one that just edges his 49-game 20-point streak from Dec. 14, 2007 to March 26, 2008 as a personal best. Let’s recap all the “bests” that happened during that streak.

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10. DOUBLE ALLEY-OOP
His 31 points, 10 boards and nine assists spoke for themselves from Miami’s win over New York on Dec. 6, but his double alley-oop was the capstone.



9. SERIES-CLINCHING RUNNER
Three days after his streak began against New York, James closed out the Heat’s first-round series win by pulling off this nearly impossible runner over Tyson Chandler. He had 27 in this game, though no bucket was prettier or harder to pull off than the one finished despite Chandler yanking on half of LeBron’s body.



8. LEBRON VS. THE MAGIC
If 2012 was the best year of LeBron’s professional career, his near triple-double on New Year’s Eve in Orlando was a fitting end to his Olympic gold, NBA title and Finals MVP. He had 36 points, 11 dimes and eight rebounds and made up for a horrendous 1-of-6 night from three by getting to the line 16 times — and making 15 of the attempts. Miami was almost outrebounded by Nikola Vucevic by himself in this game, but LeBron’s eight were a team high.



7. ABOVE THE HAWKS AND THE RIM
Twenty-seven points, seven boards, six assists and 62 percent shooting is nothing to dismiss, but when you watch the video from his alley-oop in that game, it almost makes the rest of it disappear. Watch out, Horford.



6. WINNING TIME
It was like Atlanta was taunting James on Nov. 9 by putting DeShawn Stevenson on him during the final possession. James hadn’t hit a field goal in the entire fourth quarter as the game entered the final minute, the time he’s been haunted by the most in his career. The next-day stories would all be about how he’d disappeared at the time his team needed him most. Instead he sunk it, no problem, to just get him past the 20-point mark with 21 points, 11 boards and nine assists.



5. DUNKING ON CHRISTMAS
An NBA Finals rematch on Christmas Day should have been a game that ended his streak. Matched up with either Thabo Sefolosha, Kevin Durant and sometimes doubled by Russell Westbrook, James still found his way around their length to get 29 points, eight boards, nine assists and shoot 60 percent from the field. One of his best plays of the game was a tip-dunk so explosive it looked like it came from James running at full speed. No, he was actually flat-footed, waiting for the rebound.


4. TAKING OVER HOUSTON
His overall line was the stuff 95 percent of the NBA would dream about putting up: 38 points — 32 in the second half — and 10 boards, six assists, zero turnovers, 54 percent shooting and 5-of-8 from the field in a 113-110 win. James also was clutch, hitting a layup with 18 seconds to go that gave Miami the lead it would never give up. And, also, a huge alley-oop for good measure.



3. GAME 4, NBA FINALS
He was hobbling down the court like he had a stiff rod in one of his legs. It was Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Oklahoma City and Miami were tied, and momentum was about to lurch back to the Thunder. Instead, James stumbled downcourt to hit a three-pointer dead-on, part of his 26 points, nine boards and 12 assists. Game 5, and a title on Miami’s home court, became a formality.



2. GAME 5, NBA FINALS
LeBron’s performance in Game 4 to return from injury and hit a game-changing three felt like the end of the series for OKC but wasn’t. No, that final dagger belonged to LeBron in Game 5 with his triple-double of 26 points, 13 boards and 11 dimes.



1. BOSTON
You knew this was coming. Game 6 of Boston was a month after his streak began but felt like we were seeing a brand-new LeBron. Talk about superlative: 45 points, 15 boards, five assists and a .731 shooting night from the field. Forget about saving his streak, that game saved the season from heading over the brink in just the Eastern Conference Finals.

What do you remember most?

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