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James understood his monumental streak of scoring in double figures was in danger. In that crucial moment, though, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move meant distributing the basketball – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, his remarkable run came to an end.

James's astounding streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season games with 10+ points was snapped on Thursday night, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to eight points in the Lakers' close triumph versus Toronto. He made the clutch helper, feeding Rui Hachimura to hit a triple to win the game.

“Zero,” James replied when asked regarding the conclusion of his run. “We won.”

A Selfless Play Seals the Win

LeBron had the chance to attempted to win the contest – and extended his record – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to make the extra pass to Rui stationed in the corner. Hachimura made the shot, with LeBron celebrated triumphantly.

It's about playing the game correctly. You always make the right play,” James noted. That has always been my M.O.. That’s how I was taught to play. I've played that way throughout my career.”

James is acutely aware of how many points he has during a game,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play like he’s done countless times.”

The Streak's Final Moments

He returned to the game for the final time with just over five minutes left, the win and the streak both hanging in the balance. He had six points from a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He got a bucket with under two minutes remaining to level the contest and missed a mid-range jumper at 1:01 left which could have gotten him to ten points.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves gave James the ball as time wound down, but James decided to make the pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, when you play it the proper way, they often bless you,” Redick added.

The History of a Staggering Streak

This incredible run began over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the most extended streak of its kind the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem recorded 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run with 575.

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” remarked Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing hoops. He could have shot but given who he is on the court and just who he is as an individual, he made the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and secured the victory.”

Reaching double digits had typically been a formality well before the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had reached the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth 1,266 times before this game.

But two of those unusual games below ten points after three periods had occurred recently: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

James managed to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. One game later, it concluded – and he celebrated anyway.

I only ever make the correct play. That is instinctive, regardless of outcome,” James said. “You make the unselfish play, the game gods are always rewarding me.”