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The Lakers star knew his incredible run of putting up 10+ points was at risk. At the decisive instant, though, it didn't concern him.

The right decision meant distributing the ball – so he did. Consequently, his remarkable run came to an end.

LeBron's staggering run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season games with 10+ points ended on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader was limited to a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He provided the decisive pass, finding Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot to win the game.

“Zero,” James replied after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Decision Secures the Win

He might have attempted to win the contest – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to pass to his teammate on the wing. Rui connected, prompting James exulted triumphantly.

It's about playing the game the proper way. Always make the smart play,” James noted. That has always been my philosophy. It's how I learned the game. I’ve done that for two decades.”

James is fully cognizant of his point total he's scored at any point,” stated the team's head coach the coach. He acted like he’s done countless times.”

The Streak's Final Moments

LeBron checked back into the contest for the final time with 5:23 remaining, the win and the streak on the line. His tally was six points from 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

He scored at 1:46 left to knot the score but then missed a 14-footer at 1:01 left that would have taken him to double digits.

He avoided taking one more attempt – even though he had a chance. A teammate passed him the ball as time wound down, yet LeBron chose to make the pass instead.

“The basketball gods, if you do it correctly, they often reward you,” Redick stated.

Reflecting on a Staggering Record

This incredible run started over eighteen years ago. It was easily the longest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and The Mailman recorded of 575 games.

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

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but due to who he is on the court and his character as an individual, he chose the team play, passed it to Rui and claimed the game.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a guarantee well before the final period. During James’s streak, he had reached ten points by the start of the fourth 1,266 times coming into the contest.

But two such single-digit games after three periods had happened in the last week: He had nine entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, followed by six going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it was over – but he still rejoiced all the same.

My focus is to make the right play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James declared. If you make the right play, the basketball gods forever rewarding me.”