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LeBron James was aware his historic streak of reaching double digits was in danger. At the decisive instant, however, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision involved passing the basketball – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, the unprecedented record was over.

James's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten ended this past Thursday, when basketball's greatest scorer finished with eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus Toronto. He provided the clutch helper, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple at the buzzer.

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

A Team-First Decision Delivers the Win

James could have attempted to win the contest – while also extending the streak – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to pass to Hachimura in the left corner. Rui connected, with LeBron exulted with his hands in the air.

“Just playing the game correctly. Make the smart play,” James explained. That is my philosophy. That’s how I was instructed to play. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

“LeBron is very conscious exactly how many points he has at any point,” commented Lakers coach JJ Redick. He made the play as he has done throughout his career.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the floor for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the win and the streak on the line. At that stage, he had six points from 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to level the contest and missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go that might have pushed him into double figures.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – but could have. A teammate gave James the ball with a few seconds left, but James chose to make the extra pass instead.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it the right way, they often bless you,” Redick added.

Reflecting on a Staggering Streak

James's streak started on Jan. 6, 2007. It was easily the most extended double-digit streak the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and The Mailman recorded of 575 games.

LeBron is such an unselfish player,” noted Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He simply plays the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but given who he is on the court and his character as an individual, he chose the unselfish play, found Rui and claimed the game.”

Reaching double digits had typically been a guarantee early in the final period. During James’s streak, he had achieved the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

But two of those rare single-digit games through three quarters took place recently: He recorded nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, and then had six points going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it was over – yet he was celebrating all the same.

I only ever make the correct play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James declared. “You make the smart play, the sports deities are always rewarding me.”