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LeBron James was aware his historic run of scoring in double figures was threatened. In that crucial moment, though, it was not his focus.

The smart move was to pass the ball – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, the legendary streak was over.

James's astounding run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season games with 10+ points was snapped on Thursday night, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close triumph versus Toronto. He delivered the game-winning assist, feeding Rui Hachimura to hit a triple at the buzzer.

“None,” James replied after being questioned about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Team-First Play Secures the Game

He might have tried to secure the game – while also extending his record – with the last shot, yet he opted to pass to Hachimura on the wing. Hachimura sank it, prompting James raised his arms triumphantly.

You have to play basketball correctly. Always make the right play,” James explained. That is how I operate. It's how I learned to play. That's what I've done my whole career.”

He is fully cognizant exactly how many points he's scored at all times,” commented Lakers coach JJ Redick. He made the play as he has done countless times.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

He returned to the floor one last time with just over five minutes left, the win and the streak up for grabs. His tally was only six points from 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He scored at under two minutes remaining to knot the score and missed a 14-footer with 1:01 left that would have taken him to ten points.

He passed up another shot – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves found him with a few seconds left, yet LeBron chose to dish it off instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, if you do it correctly, they will repay you,” Redick stated.

Reflecting on a Monumental Streak

James's streak commenced back in January 2007. It was easily the greatest such streak in NBA history: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run with 575.

He is such a pass-first superstar,” remarked Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He simply plays the game of basketball. He could have shot but due to his nature as a player and his personality off the court, he executed the team play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Getting to ten points had typically been an afterthought well before the final period. During James’s streak, he had achieved double figures by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

Yet two of those unusual single-digit games after three periods had happened recently: He had nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, and then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

He succeeded in preserve the record against the Suns. One game later, it was over – and he celebrated anyway.

“I always just make the best play. That is instinctive, win, lose or draw,” James said. “You make the right play, the basketball gods are always rewarding me.”