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LeBron James was aware his monumental run of scoring in double figures was at risk. At the decisive instant, though, it didn't concern him.

The right decision meant distributing the ball – and he executed. Consequently, his remarkable run finished.

LeBron's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances concluded on Thursday night, when the league's career points king was limited to eight total points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He provided the clutch helper, feeding Rui Hachimura for a triple to win the game.

“Zero,” James stated when asked regarding the conclusion of his run. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Choice Seals the Win

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the contest – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to make the extra pass to his teammate in the left corner. Hachimura made the shot, with LeBron exulted immediately.

It's about playing basketball the proper way. Make the right play,” James remarked. That has always been my philosophy. That’s how I learned the game. I’ve done that throughout my career.”

“LeBron is acutely aware exactly how many points he's scored at any point,” stated Lakers coach the coach. He made the play like he’s done so many times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the game for the final time at just over five minutes left, the outcome and his personal record both hanging in the balance. His tally was only six points on 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He managed a basket at under two minutes remaining to level the contest and missed a shot with one minute to go that might have gotten him to ten points.

He didn’t take one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball as time wound down, but James decided to make the pass instead of shooting.

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

A Look Back at a Staggering Record

This incredible run started over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the greatest streak of its kind in NBA history: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run at 575.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” noted Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing hoops. The chance was there but given his nature as a player and just who he is as an individual, he executed the pass, dished to Hachimura and we won the game.”

Getting to ten points had typically been a formality long before the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had achieved double figures by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

However, two of those unusual single-digit games after three periods had occurred recently: He recorded nine entering the final quarter against Dallas on 28 November, then had six going into the fourth versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to preserve the record against the Suns. In the following contest, it concluded – yet he was celebrating anyway.

I only ever make the best play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James said. When you make the smart play, the basketball gods forever rewarding me.”