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James understood his monumental streak of putting up 10+ points was threatened. When it mattered most, however, it didn't concern him.

The correct basketball play was to pass the ball – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, his remarkable run was over.

James's staggering run of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points was snapped on Thursday night, as basketball's greatest scorer was limited to a mere eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the clutch helper, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-pointer to win the game.

“Nothing,” James stated in response on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

A Selfless Play Secures the Win

James could have attempted to win the game – while also extending his record – with the last shot, but he chose to pass to his teammate stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, and James exulted immediately.

It's about playing basketball correctly. You always make the correct play,” James remarked. That is my philosophy. That’s how I was taught to play. I’ve done that my whole career.”

He is acutely aware of his point total he's scored at any point,” said Lakers coach the coach. “He did it like he’s done throughout his career.”

The Run's End Game

LeBron checked back into the contest one last time with under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and his personal record both hanging in the balance. At that stage, he had six points from 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He managed a basket at 1:46 left to level the contest and missed a 14-footer at one minute to go which could have pushed him to ten points.

He avoided taking one more attempt – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves found him in the waning seconds, however, James decided to make the extra pass instead.

“The basketball gods, when you play it the right way, they will repay you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at a Monumental Record

James's streak began on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the most extended such streak in NBA history: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and Karl Malone recorded of 575 games.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” noted Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing the sport. The chance was there but given the player he is and his personality as an individual, he made the pass, found Rui and claimed the victory.”

Reaching double digits had typically been an afterthought early in the final period. Over the course of the record, he had reached the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth on the vast majority of occasions before this game.

But two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters took place recently: He had nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

James managed to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it was over – and he celebrated anyway.

My focus is to make the best play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James declared. When you make the unselfish play, the sports deities are always rewarding me.”