LeBron James's Legendary Scoring Run Ends, However Lakers Secure Triumph Against Raptors.

LeBron James was aware his incredible streak of reaching double digits was threatened. When it mattered most, however, it was not his focus.

The smart move meant distributing the basketball – which is exactly what he did. With that selfless act, the legendary streak came to an end.

LeBron's astounding run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season games with 10+ points concluded on Thursday night, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with eight total points in the Lakers' 123-120 victory over Toronto. He provided the clutch helper, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer as time expired.

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

A Selfless Choice Secures the Game

James could have tried to secure the game – and preserved his record – on the final possession, but he chose to dish the ball to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron celebrated with his hands in the air.

“Just playing the game the right way. Always make the correct play,” James noted. “That’s just been how I operate. That is the way I learned to play. I've played that way for two decades.”

He is acutely aware of how many points he has at any point,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick. “He did it like he’s done throughout his career.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

He returned to the floor for the final time at 5:23 remaining, the result and the streak both hanging in the balance. His tally was a mere six points from 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He scored at 1:46 left to level the contest and missed a shot with 1:01 left which could have taken him to ten points.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. A teammate gave James the ball in the waning seconds, however, James opted to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it correctly, they often bless you,” Redick stated.

The History of a Monumental Streak

The record commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the longest streak of its kind the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787 such games, and Karl Malone recorded with 575.

“He’s such a pass-first superstar,” remarked teammate Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the sport. He could have shot but due to the player he is and his personality off the court, he chose the pass, dished to Hachimura and we won the victory.”

Getting to ten points had typically been a guarantee early in the final period. During James’s streak, he had reached ten points entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

But two of those unusual single-digit games through three quarters had occurred in the last week: He recorded nine entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, and then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

He succeeded in extend the streak in the Phoenix game. One game later, it was over – but he still rejoiced regardless.

My focus is to make the right play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James said. If you make the smart play, the game gods are always returning the favor.”