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The Lakers star knew his monumental run of scoring in double figures was in danger. When it mattered most, though, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move involved passing the basketball – so he did. Consequently, his remarkable run was over.

LeBron's staggering streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season games with 10+ points was snapped on Thursday night, as basketball's greatest scorer finished with eight total points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He made the decisive pass, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple to win the game.

“None,” James stated when asked on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Play Seals the Win

He might have attempted to win the contest – and extended the streak – on the final possession, yet he opted to make the extra pass to Hachimura in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron exulted with his hands in the air.

It's about playing the game correctly. You always make the right play,” James noted. That has always been my philosophy. That’s how I was taught the game. That's what I've done for two decades.”

“LeBron is very conscious of how many points he has during a game,” commented Lakers coach JJ Redick. He acted just as he has countless times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

He returned to the game one last time at just over five minutes left, the outcome and his personal record on the line. At that stage, he had only six points on 3-of-15 shooting then.

He managed a basket with 1:46 left to tie the game then missed a mid-range jumper at 1:01 left which could have taken him into double figures.

He didn’t take one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. A teammate found him with a few seconds left, however, James chose to dish it off instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you do it the proper way, they tend to bless you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at a Staggering Streak

The record commenced over eighteen years ago. It was easily the longest such streak in NBA history: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787 such games, and The Mailman was fourth on the list with 575.

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

He simply plays hoops. He could have shot but given who he is on the court and his character as an individual, he made the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and secured the game.”

Scoring in double figures was usually a formality long before the final period. During James’s streak, he had attained the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth on the vast majority of occasions before this game.

However, two of those rare single-digit games after three periods took place recently: He had nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, then had six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

James managed to extend the streak against the Suns. In the following contest, it was over – and he celebrated regardless.

My focus is to make the correct play. That is instinctive, regardless of outcome,” James declared. “You make the right play, the sports deities consistently returning the favor.”