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LeBron James was aware his incredible streak of putting up 10+ points was in danger. When it mattered most, though, it didn't concern him.

The smart move was to pass the ball – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, the unprecedented record came to an end.

LeBron's staggering streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season games with 10+ points was snapped on Thursday night, as basketball's greatest scorer finished with eight total points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 win against the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the clutch helper, setting up Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot as time expired.

“Nothing,” James stated after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “We won.”

A Selfless Choice Secures the Game

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the game – and extended his record – with the last shot, yet he opted to make the extra pass to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, prompting James raised his arms immediately.

It's about playing basketball the right way. Make the smart play,” James remarked. “That’s just been my M.O.. That is the way I was instructed the game. That's what I've done for two decades.”

“LeBron is acutely aware of how many points he has at any point,” commented Lakers coach JJ Redick. He acted just as he has countless times.”

The Streak's End Game

He returned to the contest one last time at just over five minutes left, the outcome along with the historic run both hanging in the balance. His tally was only six points from 3 for 15 from the field then.

He scored at 1:46 left to knot the score then missed a mid-range jumper at 1:01 left that would have taken him into double figures.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves found him in the waning seconds, but James opted to dish it off instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, if you do it the right way, they often repay you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at a Staggering Run

The record began over eighteen years ago. It was easily the longest streak of its kind in NBA history: Michael Jordan had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone recorded of 575 games.

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

“He’s just playing hoops. He could have shot but due to his nature as a player and his character as a person, he executed the pass, passed it to Rui and claimed the victory.”

Reaching double digits had typically been a guarantee long before the final period. During James’s streak, he had achieved double figures by the beginning of the final quarter on the vast majority of occasions before this game.

Yet two such single-digit games after three periods had happened just days before: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, and then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

James managed to extend the streak against the Suns. In the following contest, it concluded – yet he was celebrating all the same.

My focus is to make the correct play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James declared. If you make the unselfish play, the sports deities consistently rewarding me.”