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LeBron James was aware his historic run of putting up 10+ points was threatened. At the decisive instant, though, it didn't concern him.

The smart move meant distributing the rock – and he executed. With that selfless act, the unprecedented record was over.

LeBron's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances was snapped on Thursday night, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over Toronto. He delivered the clutch helper, setting up Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer to win the game.

“Zero,” James stated after being questioned on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Decision Delivers Victory

LeBron had the chance to attempted to win the contest – and preserved the streak – with the last shot, yet he opted to make the extra pass to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura sank it, prompting James raised his arms with his hands in the air.

It's about playing basketball correctly. You always make the right play,” James explained. “That’s just been how I operate. That’s how I was instructed to play. I’ve done that for two decades.”

He is acutely aware of his point total he's scored at any point,” stated Lakers coach JJ Redick. He acted just as he has so many times.”

The Record's End Game

He returned to the floor for the final time at just over five minutes left, the result and his personal record both hanging in the balance. He had only six points on 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He scored at under two minutes remaining to knot the score and missed a shot at 1:01 left which could have gotten him to ten points.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate passed him the ball in the waning seconds, however, James decided to make the extra pass instead.

The basketball deities, if you approach it the proper way, they tend to reward you,” Redick stated.

The History of a Staggering Run

James's streak began on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the most extended such streak in NBA history: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and The Mailman was fourth on the list with 575.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” noted Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing hoops. He had the opportunity but because of his nature as a player and his personality off the court, he made the team play, found Rui and claimed the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a formality early in the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had achieved double figures by the start of the fourth 1,266 times coming into the contest.

However, two of those rare single-digit games after three periods took place just days before: He recorded nine entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

He succeeded in extend the streak in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it concluded – yet he was celebrating regardless.

I only ever make the best play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James declared. “You make the unselfish play, the basketball gods consistently returning the favor.”