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LeBron James was aware his historic streak of scoring in double figures was in danger. When it mattered most, though, it didn't concern him.

The smart move meant distributing the rock – so he did. Following that play, the unprecedented record came to an end.

James's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season double-digit scoring performances ended this past Thursday, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with eight points during the Lakers' close triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He made the clutch helper, feeding Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple as time expired.

“Nothing,” James replied when asked about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Decision Delivers Victory

LeBron had the chance to attempted to win the game – and preserved his record – with the last shot, yet he opted to make the extra pass to Rui on the wing. Hachimura sank it, and James raised his arms triumphantly.

It's about playing basketball the proper way. Always make the right play,” James remarked. “That’s just been my M.O.. That is the way I was instructed the game. I've played that way throughout my career.”

He is acutely aware of his point total he's scored during a game,” commented Lakers coach the coach. “He did it like he’s done throughout his career.”

The Streak's Final Moments

He returned to the floor one last time with under five and a half minutes to go, the result and his personal record both hanging in the balance. At that stage, he had six points on 3-of-15 shooting then.

He scored at under two minutes remaining to level the contest then missed a mid-range jumper at 1:01 left that might have gotten him to double digits.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. A teammate passed him the ball with a few seconds left, but James opted to make the pass instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, when you play it the right way, they will reward you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at a Monumental Streak

The record began over eighteen years ago. It stood as the longest streak of its kind in NBA history: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run at 575.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” noted teammate Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing hoops. The chance was there but because of who he is on the court and just who he is off the court, he chose the pass, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Getting to ten points had typically been a guarantee early in the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had attained ten points by the start of the fourth 1,266 times coming into the contest.

But two such single-digit games after three periods had happened in the last week: He had nine going into the fourth against Dallas last week, and then had six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

He succeeded in preserve the record in the Phoenix game. One game later, it was over – yet he was celebrating anyway.

I only ever make the correct play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James said. “You make the unselfish play, the basketball gods consistently returning the favor.”