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LeBron James was aware his monumental streak of putting up 10+ points was in danger. When it mattered most, though, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision meant distributing the rock – so he did. Following that play, the legendary streak came to an end.

LeBron's staggering run of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances ended on Thursday night, as basketball's greatest scorer had only a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 win against the Toronto Raptors. He provided the decisive pass, setting up Rui Hachimura for a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James stated after being questioned about the streak ending. “We won.”

An Unselfish Play Secures the Game

LeBron had the chance to attempted to win the contest – while also extending the streak – with the last shot, but he chose to pass to Hachimura on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, and James raised his arms triumphantly.

You have to play the game the right way. You always make the correct play,” James remarked. That has always been how I operate. It's how I was instructed to play. That's what I've done my whole career.”

James is acutely aware of his point total he's scored at any point,” stated the team's head coach the coach. He made the play as he has done so many times.”

The Record's End Game

LeBron checked back into the game for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the result and the streak up for grabs. His tally was a mere six points on 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He scored at under two minutes remaining to tie the game then missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go that might have taken him to ten points.

He passed up a subsequent shot – but could have. A teammate gave James the ball in the waning seconds, yet LeBron chose to dish it off instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it the right way, they will repay you,” Redick added.

The History of a Staggering Run

This incredible run began over eighteen years ago. It stood as the greatest streak of its kind in NBA history: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list with 575.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” remarked teammate a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the sport. The chance was there but due to who he is on the court and his personality off the court, he made the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the victory.”

Reaching double digits had typically been a guarantee early in the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had achieved double figures by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times coming into the contest.

Yet two such single-digit games after three periods had happened in the last week: He had nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, and then had six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

James managed to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it finished – and he celebrated all the same.

I only ever make the right play. That is instinctive, win, lose or draw,” James said. When you make the smart play, the basketball gods forever rewarding me.”