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James understood his historic run of scoring in double figures was at risk. At the decisive instant, however, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play involved passing the rock – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, the legendary streak finished.

LeBron's staggering run of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances concluded on Thursday night, when basketball's greatest scorer finished with a mere eight points during the Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the clutch helper, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple as time expired.

“Nothing,” James stated after being questioned about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Team-First Choice Seals Victory

He might have sought to clinch the game – while also extending his record – on the final possession, yet he opted to pass to his teammate in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, and James exulted with his hands in the air.

It's about playing basketball correctly. Always make the correct play,” James remarked. That is how I operate. It's how I learned to play. That's what I've done for two decades.”

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

The Streak's End Game

LeBron checked back into the contest for the final time at just over five minutes left, the result and his personal record both hanging in the balance. He had only six points on a 3-for-15 performance at that juncture.

He scored with 1:46 left to knot the score and missed a shot with 1:01 left that would have taken him to ten points.

He passed up another shot – but could have. A teammate found him in the waning seconds, but James opted to make the extra pass instead.

“The basketball gods, if you do it the proper way, they will reward you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Run

This incredible run commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the longest streak of its kind the league has ever seen: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787, and The Mailman recorded at 575.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He simply plays the sport. The chance was there but due to who he is on the court and his character off the court, he chose the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and secured the victory.”

Getting to ten points was usually a formality well before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had attained the 10-point mark entering the fourth 1,266 times coming into the contest.

But two of those rare games below ten points after three periods had happened in the last week: He had nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, followed by six going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

James managed to keep the streak alive against the Suns. In the following contest, it concluded – yet he was celebrating regardless.

I only ever make the best play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James affirmed. “You make the unselfish play, the basketball gods are always rewarding me.”