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

The smart move meant distributing the rock – and he executed. Following that play, the unprecedented record came to an end.

James's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances was snapped this past Thursday, as the league's career points king finished with eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the game-winning assist, feeding Rui Hachimura for a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James stated when asked about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Selfless Play Seals the Win

James could have tried to secure the contest – while also extending the streak – with the last shot, yet he opted to dish the ball to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Rui connected, prompting James raised his arms with his hands in the air.

“Just playing the game the right way. Always make the correct play,” James remarked. “That’s just been how I operate. It's how I learned to play. I’ve done that throughout my career.”

“LeBron is acutely aware of his point total he has during a game,” stated the team's head coach the coach. “He did it as he has done so many times.”

The Run's Final Moments

He returned to the game for the final time with 5:23 remaining, the outcome and the streak up for grabs. At that stage, he had six points from 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He got a bucket with 1:46 left to tie the game and missed a shot with 1:01 left that would have pushed him to ten points.

He passed up one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. A teammate found him as time wound down, however, James opted to dish it off instead.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it the right way, they tend to repay you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at a Monumental Run

The record commenced back in January 2007. It stood as the greatest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman recorded of 575 games.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. He could have shot but because of who he is on the court and just who he is as an individual, he executed the team play, found Rui and claimed the game.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been a guarantee long before the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had reached the 10-point mark entering the fourth 1,266 times before this game.

But two such single-digit games after three periods took place recently: He had nine entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, and then had six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

James managed to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it finished – but he still rejoiced regardless.

I only ever make the right play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James declared. If you make the right play, the game gods are always giving back to me.”