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LeBron James was aware his historic streak of scoring in double figures was in danger. When it mattered most, though, it didn't concern him.

The smart move was to pass the basketball – and he executed. Following that play, his remarkable run was over.

James's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season outings scoring at least ten ended on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with eight total points in the Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He provided the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-pointer as time expired.

“Zero,” James stated when asked regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Choice Seals Victory

LeBron had the chance to tried to secure the game – while also extending his record – on the final possession, instead, he decided to make the extra pass to his teammate in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, and James raised his arms immediately.

You have to play the game correctly. Make the correct play,” James noted. That has always been how I operate. That is the way I was instructed the game. That's what I've done my whole career.”

He is fully cognizant of his point total he's scored during a game,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted like he’s done countless times.”

The Record's End Game

James re-entered the contest for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome along with the historic run on the line. At that stage, he had only six points from 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He got a bucket with under two minutes remaining to level the contest then missed a mid-range jumper with 1:01 left that would have pushed him to ten points.

He didn’t take one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. A teammate passed him the ball with a few seconds left, however, James chose to dish it off instead.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it the right way, they often repay you,” the coach concluded.

The History of a Staggering Record

James's streak started back in January 2007. It stood as the greatest streak of its kind the league has ever seen: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list at 575.

He is such an unselfish player,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing the sport. He had the opportunity but because of his nature as a player and his personality as a person, he chose the pass, found Rui and we won the victory.”

Getting to ten points had typically been a guarantee early in the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had attained double figures entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

But two of those unusual single-digit games through three quarters had happened just days before: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, then had six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

LeBron was able to extend the streak against the Suns. One game later, it finished – and he celebrated all the same.

“I always just make the best play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James affirmed. “You make the smart play, the sports deities are always giving back to me.”