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LeBron James was aware his historic streak of scoring in double figures was at risk. In that crucial moment, though, it was not his focus.

The right decision was to pass the ball – and he executed. Following that play, the legendary streak came to an end.

LeBron's astounding streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season games with 10+ points ended on Thursday night, when basketball's greatest scorer had only a mere eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against Toronto. He delivered the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple to win the game.

“Zero,” James stated in response on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

A Selfless Decision Secures the Win

James could have sought to clinch the contest – and preserved his record – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to dish the ball to Hachimura in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, and James exulted with his hands in the air.

It's about playing the game the right way. You always make the right play,” James remarked. That is my philosophy. It's how I was taught the game. That's what I've done my whole career.”

James is fully cognizant of how many points he's scored at all times,” said the team's head coach the coach. He made the play just as he has throughout his career.”

The Run's Final Moments

James re-entered the contest one last time with 5:23 remaining, the win and his personal record on the line. He had a mere six points from 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He got a bucket with 1:46 left to knot the score then missed a mid-range jumper at 1:01 left that would have pushed him to double digits.

He passed up a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball with a few seconds left, but James opted to dish it off instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, if you do it the proper way, they tend to bless you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at a Staggering Record

This incredible run commenced over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the most extended double-digit streak the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list with 575.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” noted Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing hoops. He could have shot but because of his nature as a player and just who he is as a person, he executed the team play, dished to Hachimura and we won the game.”

Reaching double digits had typically been a guarantee long before the fourth quarter began. Throughout his run, he had attained ten points by the beginning of the final quarter on the vast majority of occasions before this game.

But two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters had happened just days before: He recorded nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, then had six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

James managed to preserve the record against the Suns. In the following contest, it was over – and he celebrated anyway.

“I always just make the correct play. That comes naturally, no matter what,” James said. “You make the right play, the game gods consistently rewarding me.”