LBJ's Legendary Point-Scoring Streak Ends, However Lakers Secure Victory Against Toronto.

James understood his monumental run of reaching double digits was in danger. At the decisive instant, however, it was not his focus.

The smart move was to pass the rock – and he executed. Following that play, the unprecedented record finished.

James's astounding run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season games with 10+ points ended during a recent game, when the league's career points king was limited to a mere eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura for a triple at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James said after being questioned about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Choice Seals the Game

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the contest – while also extending his record – with the last shot, yet he opted to dish the ball to his teammate in the left corner. Rui connected, prompting James celebrated immediately.

You have to play basketball the right way. Make the right play,” James explained. That is my philosophy. It's how I was instructed to play. I’ve done that my whole career.”

James is acutely aware of how many points he's scored at any point,” commented Lakers coach the coach. He acted just as he has throughout his career.”

The Streak's Final Moments

LeBron checked back into the game one last time at under five and a half minutes to go, the result along with the historic run up for grabs. His tally was six points on a 3-for-15 performance then.

He got a bucket with under two minutes remaining to knot the score and missed a 14-footer with 1:01 left that might have gotten him to ten points.

He avoided taking another shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves passed him the ball as time wound down, yet LeBron chose to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you do it the proper way, they often reward you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at a Staggering Run

The record started back in January 2007. It was, by far the most extended streak of its kind in professional basketball: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and Karl Malone recorded with 575.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” said Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. He could have shot but due to who he is on the court and his character off the court, he chose the team play, found Rui and secured the victory.”

Getting to ten points had typically been a formality long before the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had reached double figures by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times prior to Thursday.

Yet two of those unusual single-digit games through three quarters had happened recently: He had nine entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, and then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

LeBron was able to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it was over – and he celebrated regardless.

“I always just make the best play. That comes naturally, no matter what,” James said. “You make the smart play, the basketball gods consistently giving back to me.”