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

The smart move was to pass the basketball – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, his remarkable run came to an end.

James's astounding run of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances ended on Thursday night, when the league's career points king finished with eight total points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the clutch helper, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-pointer to win the game.

“None,” James replied in response about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Play Seals Victory

He might have attempted to win the contest – and extended his record – with the last shot, but he chose to pass to Rui stationed in the corner. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James celebrated immediately.

“Just playing basketball the proper way. Always make the smart play,” James noted. That is how I operate. That is the way I was instructed the game. I've played that way my whole career.”

James is fully cognizant of his point total he's scored during a game,” said Lakers coach the coach. “He did it like he’s done so many times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the floor for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and his personal record up for grabs. He had a mere six points on 3-of-15 shooting then.

He managed a basket with under two minutes remaining to knot the score then missed a shot with 1:01 left which could have pushed him into double figures.

He passed up a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball in the waning seconds, but James opted to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, when you play it correctly, they will reward you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at a Staggering Record

James's streak began on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the most extended streak of its kind in professional basketball: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787 such games, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run at 575.

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” said teammate a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but due to who he is on the court and his personality off the court, he made the pass, found Rui and claimed the game.”

Scoring in double figures was usually a formality early in the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had attained the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

But two of those rare games below ten points after three periods took place in the last week: He recorded nine entering the final quarter against Dallas on 28 November, followed by six going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

LeBron was able to keep the streak alive against the Suns. In the following contest, it was over – but he still rejoiced anyway.

My focus is to make the best play. That is instinctive, win, lose or draw,” James affirmed. When you make the unselfish play, the sports deities consistently rewarding me.”