The King's Record-Setting Scoring Run Concludes, However Los Angeles Claim Triumph Against Toronto.

The Lakers star knew his historic streak of reaching double digits was in danger. In that crucial moment, though, it didn't concern him.

The correct basketball play involved passing the ball – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, the unprecedented record finished.

LeBron's unprecedented streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points was snapped on Thursday night, as basketball's greatest scorer had only eight total points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close triumph versus Toronto. He made the clutch helper, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-pointer to win the game.

“Nothing,” James replied when asked about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Team-First Play Secures the Win

James could have attempted to win the contest – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, but he chose to make the extra pass to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, and James celebrated immediately.

“Just playing basketball the right way. You always make the correct play,” James explained. “That’s just been how I operate. That’s how I was instructed to play. I've played that way for two decades.”

“LeBron is very conscious of his point total he's scored at any point,” said Lakers coach the coach. “He did it like he’s done so many times.”

The Run's End Game

He returned to the game one last time with under five and a half minutes to go, the win along with the historic run up for grabs. His tally was a mere six points from 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

He got a bucket with under two minutes remaining to tie the game then missed a shot at one minute to go that might have taken him to double digits.

He passed up a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves found him with a few seconds left, yet LeBron chose to make the pass instead.

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

The History of a Staggering Streak

The record began back in January 2007. It was, by far the longest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787 such games, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list with 575.

He is such a pass-first superstar,” noted Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He simply plays the sport. The chance was there but given his nature as a player and just who he is as an individual, he chose the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a guarantee well before the final period. Throughout his run, he had achieved the 10-point mark entering the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

However, two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters had happened just days before: He had nine going into the fourth against Dallas last week, and then had six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

He succeeded in extend the streak in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it finished – and he celebrated all the same.

“I always just make the right play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James affirmed. If you make the right play, the sports deities forever giving back to me.”