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LeBron James was aware his historic streak of reaching double digits was in danger. When it mattered most, though, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the rock – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, the legendary streak came to an end.

LeBron's staggering streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season games with 10+ points was snapped on Thursday night, as basketball's greatest scorer had only a mere eight points in the Lakers' close triumph versus Toronto. He made the clutch helper, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura for a triple to win the game.

“Zero,” James said when asked about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Choice Secures the Game

James could have tried to secure the game – while also extending the streak – on the final possession, yet he opted to pass to Rui in the left corner. Rui connected, prompting James raised his arms triumphantly.

It's about playing basketball the right way. Always make the correct play,” James explained. “That’s just been how I operate. It's how I was instructed the game. I’ve done that throughout my career.”

James is fully cognizant of how many points he's scored during a game,” commented the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it like he’s done so many times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the game one last time at 5:23 remaining, the result and his personal record on the line. At that stage, he had only 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 shot at one minute to go that might have taken him into double figures.

He didn’t take another shot – even though he had a chance. A teammate gave James the ball in the waning seconds, but James opted to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, when you play it the right way, they tend to bless you,” Redick stated.

The History of a Staggering Streak

This incredible run began on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the greatest double-digit streak in NBA history: MJ had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787, and The Mailman recorded of 575 games.

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

“He’s just playing the sport. He had the opportunity but given his nature as a player and just who he is as an individual, he chose the pass, dished to Hachimura and claimed the victory.”

Reaching double digits was usually a guarantee early in the final period. During James’s streak, he had achieved double figures by the beginning of the final quarter on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

Yet two such games below ten points after three periods had occurred recently: He had nine points going into the fourth against Dallas last week, followed by six points going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

He succeeded in preserve the record against the Suns. In the following contest, it was over – but he still rejoiced all the same.

My focus is to make the best play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James affirmed. When you make the smart play, the sports deities forever rewarding me.”