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The Lakers star knew his monumental streak of scoring in double figures was at risk. In that crucial moment, though, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the ball – so he did. Following that play, his remarkable run was over.

LeBron's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season outings scoring at least ten was snapped this past Thursday, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader was limited to eight points during the Lakers' 123-120 victory over Toronto. He provided the decisive pass, finding Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot as time expired.

“None,” James replied in response regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Play Secures the Win

James could have tried to secure the contest – and extended his record – with the last shot, yet he opted to dish the ball to Hachimura in the left corner. Rui connected, with LeBron raised his arms immediately.

You have to play basketball the right way. You always make the right play,” James noted. “That’s just been my M.O.. That is the way I was taught to play. I've played that way throughout my career.”

“LeBron is very conscious of how many points he has during a game,” commented the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play as he has done countless times.”

The Run's Final Moments

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

He managed a basket at under two minutes remaining to tie the game and missed a mid-range jumper with 1:01 left that would have gotten him to ten points.

He avoided taking one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves passed him the ball with a few seconds left, but James chose to make the pass instead of shooting.

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

A Look Back at a Monumental Streak

This incredible run began back in January 2007. It was, by far the greatest streak of its kind in professional basketball: MJ had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list at 575.

He is such a team-oriented player,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but due to the player he is and just who he is off the court, he chose the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and secured the game.”

Getting to ten points had typically been a formality early in the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had attained ten points by the beginning of the final quarter on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

Yet two of those unusual games below ten points through three quarters had occurred in the last week: He recorded nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, then had six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

He succeeded in preserve the record against the Suns. The very next outing, it concluded – but he still rejoiced anyway.

I only ever make the correct play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James declared. “You make the smart play, the sports deities consistently returning the favor.”