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The Lakers star knew his historic streak of putting up 10+ points was threatened. At the decisive instant, however, it didn't concern him.

The smart move meant distributing the basketball – and he executed. Following that play, the legendary streak finished.

LeBron's astounding streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season games with 10+ points ended on Thursday night, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader was limited to eight points in the Lakers' close win against Toronto. He made the clutch helper, setting up Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James stated when asked about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

An Unselfish Choice Seals Victory

James could have tried to secure the contest – while also extending his record – in the closing seconds, but he chose to pass to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura sank it, and James exulted with his hands in the air.

“Just playing the game the proper way. Always make the smart play,” James remarked. “That’s just been my M.O.. That is the way I was taught to play. I've played that way my whole career.”

“LeBron is acutely aware of his point total he's scored at all times,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play just as he has so many times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the floor one last time with 5:23 remaining, the outcome and his personal record up for grabs. He had six points from 3 for 15 from the field then.

He scored with under two minutes remaining to tie the game but then missed a 14-footer with 1:01 left which could have gotten him to ten points.

He avoided taking one more attempt – even though he had a chance. A teammate passed him the ball in the waning seconds, yet LeBron decided to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, when you play it the proper way, they often bless you,” Redick added.

Reflecting on a Monumental Streak

The record commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the greatest streak of its kind in professional basketball: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run at 575.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” remarked teammate Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing the sport. He could have shot but because of the player he is and his character as an individual, he chose the pass, dished to Hachimura and secured the game.”

Reaching double digits was usually an afterthought early in the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had achieved the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times prior to Thursday.

But two such games below ten points after three periods had occurred in the last week: He had nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, and then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

He succeeded in keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it was over – and he celebrated regardless.

“I always just make the right play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James said. “You make the unselfish play, the sports deities consistently rewarding me.”