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LeBron James was aware his monumental streak of reaching double digits was at risk. In that crucial moment, however, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move meant distributing the ball – and he executed. Following that play, the unprecedented record was over.

James's astounding run of over 1,200 straight regular-season outings scoring at least ten was snapped on Thursday night, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 win against Toronto. He provided the decisive pass, finding Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-point shot to win the game.

“Zero,” James stated when asked regarding the conclusion of his run. “We won.”

An Unselfish Play Delivers the Game

James could have tried to secure the contest – while also extending the streak – in the closing seconds, but he chose to pass to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura sank it, prompting James raised his arms immediately.

“Just playing basketball correctly. You always make the smart play,” James explained. “That’s just been how I operate. That’s how I learned to play. I’ve done that my whole career.”

He is acutely aware of how many points he has at all times,” said the team's head coach the coach. He acted just as he has countless times.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the floor for the final time with just over five minutes left, the outcome and his personal record on the line. His tally was six points from 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He got a bucket with 1:46 left to knot the score then missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go which could have pushed him into double figures.

He avoided taking another shot – but could have. Austin Reaves found him in the waning seconds, but James decided to make the pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you approach it the right way, they tend to bless you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Run

James's streak started back in January 2007. It was, by far the longest such streak in professional basketball: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787 such games, and Karl Malone recorded at 575.

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” noted Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the sport. He had the opportunity but given who he is on the court and just who he is off the court, he chose the pass, dished to Hachimura and secured the game.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been a guarantee early in the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had achieved the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

Yet two such single-digit games through three quarters had happened in the last week: He had nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to extend the streak against the Suns. One game later, it was over – but he still rejoiced regardless.

My focus is to make the correct play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James said. If you make the smart play, the game gods forever giving back to me.”