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LeBron James was aware his historic run of scoring in double figures was at risk. When it mattered most, however, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision involved passing the basketball – so he did. Following that play, his remarkable run finished.

LeBron's unprecedented streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season outings scoring at least ten concluded on Thursday night, as basketball's greatest scorer finished with eight total points in the Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus Toronto. He made the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.

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

A Selfless Decision Delivers the Win

LeBron had the chance to tried to secure the contest – while also extending his record – on the final possession, but he chose to pass to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura sank it, and James raised his arms immediately.

It's about playing basketball correctly. Make the smart play,” James explained. That has always been my philosophy. That’s how I learned to play. I’ve done that for two decades.”

“LeBron is very conscious of his point total he's scored at any point,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted like he’s done countless times.”

The Run's End Game

He returned to the floor one last time with under five and a half minutes to go, the result and the streak up for grabs. He had only six points from a 3-for-15 performance then.

He got a bucket with 1:46 left to knot the score then missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go that would have gotten him into double figures.

He passed up a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves passed him the ball in the waning seconds, yet LeBron opted to dish it off instead.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it the right way, they will bless you,” the coach concluded.

Reflecting on a Staggering Record

James's streak started back in January 2007. It stood as the longest such streak in professional basketball: Michael Jordan had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787 such games, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list at 575.

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

He focuses on playing hoops. He could have shot but because of who he is on the court and his character off the court, he made the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and claimed the victory.”

Getting to ten points had typically been a guarantee long before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had reached double figures by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times prior to Thursday.

But two of those unusual games below ten points after three periods had happened just days before: He had nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas on 28 November, and then had six points going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

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

“I always just make the best play. That is instinctive, regardless of outcome,” James said. “You make the unselfish play, the game gods forever giving back to me.”