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James understood his monumental run of reaching double digits was threatened. When it mattered most, however, it was not his focus.

The right decision was to pass the ball – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, the unprecedented record finished.

LeBron's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season outings scoring at least ten ended this past Thursday, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader was limited to eight total points in the Lakers' close triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the clutch helper, setting up Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James said in response regarding the conclusion of his run. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Choice Seals the Win

James could have sought to clinch the contest – and extended his record – on the final possession, but he chose to dish the ball to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James raised his arms immediately.

It's about playing basketball the proper way. Make the correct play,” James explained. “That’s just been how I operate. That is the way I was taught to play. I've played that way throughout my career.”

“LeBron is acutely aware of how many points he has during a game,” commented Lakers coach the coach. He made the play just as he has so many times.”

The Streak's Final Moments

He returned to the game one last time with just over five minutes left, the win and the streak up for grabs. At that stage, he had six points from a 3-for-15 performance at that juncture.

He scored at under two minutes remaining to knot the score but then missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go that might have taken him into double figures.

He didn’t take another shot – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves found him with a few seconds left, but James chose to dish it off instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, if you do it correctly, they tend to reward you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at a Staggering Streak

James's streak began back in January 2007. It was easily the most extended double-digit streak the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and Karl Malone recorded of 575 games.

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but due to the player he is and just who he is off the court, he executed the unselfish play, found Rui and secured the victory.”

Getting to ten points had long been an afterthought long before the final period. Over the course of the record, he had reached the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

However, two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters had occurred recently: He recorded nine points going into the fourth against Dallas on 28 November, and then had six points going into the fourth versus the Suns on Monday night.

LeBron was able to extend the streak against the Suns. The very next outing, it concluded – yet he was celebrating regardless.

“I always just make the right play. That is instinctive, regardless of outcome,” James declared. When you make the unselfish play, the basketball gods consistently giving back to me.”