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James understood his historic streak of scoring in double figures was at risk. In that crucial moment, however, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision was to pass the ball – so he did. Consequently, his remarkable run was over.

LeBron's staggering streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season games with 10+ points ended during a recent game, when the league's career points king had only eight total points during the Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He provided the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James said in response about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Play Secures the Win

He might have tried to secure the contest – and extended his record – with the last shot, instead, he decided to make the extra pass to Rui on the wing. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron exulted with his hands in the air.

You have to play basketball the right way. Make the right play,” James noted. “That’s just been my M.O.. That is the way I was instructed to play. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

“LeBron is fully cognizant of his point total he's scored during a game,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick. He made the play as he has done throughout his career.”

The Run's End Game

James re-entered the contest one last time at just over five minutes left, the result and the streak up for grabs. His tally was only six points from a 3-for-15 performance at that juncture.

He managed a basket with 1:46 left to knot the score and missed a shot with 1:01 left that might have pushed him into double figures.

He avoided taking one more attempt – but could have. A teammate found him as time wound down, yet LeBron opted to dish it off instead.

“The basketball gods, if you do it the right way, they often bless you,” Redick stated.

Reflecting on a Monumental Run

The record started back in January 2007. It stood as the longest such streak the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list at 575.

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” noted teammate Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing hoops. He had the opportunity but due to who he is on the court and just who he is as a person, he made the team play, passed it to Rui and claimed the victory.”

Reaching double digits was usually a formality long before the final period. Over the course of the record, he had reached the 10-point mark entering the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

However, two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters had occurred just days before: He had nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, and then had six going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it finished – but he still rejoiced regardless.

“I always just make the right play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James declared. If you make the smart play, the basketball gods are always rewarding me.”