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James understood his incredible run of scoring in double figures was threatened. At the decisive instant, though, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the basketball – so he did. Following that play, the unprecedented record came to an end.

LeBron's astounding streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points ended this past Thursday, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader was limited to eight total points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over Toronto. He delivered the game-winning assist, setting up Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James stated when asked on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Decision Delivers the Win

LeBron had the chance to tried to secure the game – while also extending his record – with the last shot, instead, he decided to make the extra pass to Rui on the wing. Rui connected, and James raised his arms with his hands in the air.

“Just playing basketball the right way. Always make the right play,” James remarked. That is my M.O.. That’s how I was taught to play. I've played that way my whole career.”

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

The Streak's Final Moments

LeBron checked back into the floor for the final time with 5:23 remaining, the win and the streak both hanging in the balance. At that stage, he had a mere six points from 3-of-15 shooting then.

He scored with 1:46 left to level the contest and missed a 14-footer with 1:01 left that would have gotten him to ten points.

He avoided taking one more attempt – but could have. Austin Reaves gave James the ball as time wound down, yet LeBron chose to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you approach it the right way, they will bless you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Run

This incredible run started back in January 2007. It stood as the longest such streak in NBA history: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” noted Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing hoops. He had the opportunity but due to the player he is and just who he is as a person, he executed the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and secured the game.”

Reaching double digits was usually a formality long before the final period. During James’s streak, he had attained double figures by the start of the fourth 1,266 times before this game.

But two of those unusual single-digit games through three quarters had occurred recently: He had nine points going into the fourth against Dallas on 28 November, followed by six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to preserve the record against the Suns. The very next outing, it concluded – but he still rejoiced all the same.

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