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James understood his historic run of reaching double digits was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, it didn't concern him.

The right decision was to pass the basketball – and he executed. Consequently, the unprecedented record finished.

LeBron's astounding run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season outings scoring at least ten ended during a recent game, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with a mere eight points in the Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He provided the clutch helper, setting up Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James said after being questioned about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

A Selfless Decision Delivers the Game

He might have sought to clinch the game – and extended his record – with the last shot, but he chose to pass to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, and James raised his arms immediately.

It's about playing basketball the proper way. Make the smart play,” James explained. “That’s just been my M.O.. It's how I was taught the game. I've played that way for two decades.”

He is very conscious of how many points he has at any point,” commented the team's head coach the coach. “He did it just as he has countless times.”

The Record's End Game

James re-entered the floor 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 from 3 for 15 from the field then.

He got a bucket with 1:46 left to level the contest and missed a 14-footer at 1:01 left that might have taken him into double figures.

He avoided taking one more attempt – even though he had a chance. A teammate found him as time wound down, however, James chose to dish it off instead.

The basketball deities, if you approach it the right way, they will reward you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Streak

James's streak began on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the most extended streak of its kind the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and The Mailman recorded at 575.

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” said Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He simply plays hoops. The chance was there but due to his nature as a player and just who he is off the court, he executed the team play, dished to Hachimura and we won the victory.”

Getting to ten points had long been a formality well before the fourth quarter began. Throughout his run, he had reached double figures by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

Yet two such single-digit games through three quarters had happened just days before: He had nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, and then had six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

He succeeded in preserve the record in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it concluded – and he celebrated all the same.

My focus is to make the right play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James declared. “You make the smart play, the game gods are always returning the favor.”