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LeBron James was aware his monumental run of reaching double digits was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play was to pass the rock – which is exactly what he did. With that selfless act, the legendary streak was over.

James's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten was snapped on Thursday night, when basketball's greatest scorer finished with eight points in the Lakers' 123-120 victory over Toronto. He delivered the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-point shot to win the game.

“Zero,” James said after being questioned about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Choice Secures the Win

James could have sought to clinch the game – and extended his record – on the final possession, instead, he decided to pass to his teammate on the wing. Rui connected, with LeBron celebrated immediately.

“Just playing basketball the right way. Always make the right play,” James explained. “That’s just been my M.O.. That is the way I learned to play. I've played that way for two decades.”

“LeBron is acutely aware exactly how many points he's scored at any point,” said Lakers coach the coach. “He did it just as he has countless times.”

The Run's End Game

LeBron checked back into the floor one last time with 5:23 remaining, the win and the streak both hanging in the balance. At that stage, he had a mere six points from 3-of-15 shooting then.

He scored at 1:46 left to tie the game and missed a shot at one minute to go that might have pushed him into double figures.

He passed up a subsequent shot – but could have. Austin Reaves gave James the ball with a few seconds left, however, James chose to dish it off instead of shooting.

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

Reflecting on a Staggering Record

This incredible run began back in January 2007. It stood as the greatest such streak the league has ever seen: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list with 575.

“He’s such a pass-first superstar,” said Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the sport. He had the opportunity but given the player he is and just who he is as a person, he made the team play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Scoring in double figures had long been an afterthought well before the final period. During James’s streak, he had attained the 10-point mark entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

But two of those unusual games below ten points through three quarters had happened in the last week: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, followed by six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to keep the streak alive against the Suns. The very next outing, it was over – yet he was celebrating all the same.

I only ever make the best play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James said. When you make the unselfish play, the basketball gods forever giving back to me.”