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The Lakers star knew his incredible run of scoring in double figures was threatened. When it mattered most, though, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move was to pass the basketball – and he executed. Following that play, the legendary streak was over.

James's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season double-digit scoring performances ended during a recent game, as the league's career points king finished with eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the decisive pass, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple to win the game.

“None,” James said after being questioned on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Decision Secures the Win

James could have attempted to win the contest – while also extending his record – on the final possession, instead, he decided to dish the ball to Rui stationed in the corner. Rui connected, prompting James raised his arms immediately.

It's about playing the game the proper way. Always make the correct play,” James noted. That is how I operate. That’s how I learned the game. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

He is acutely aware exactly how many points he has at all times,” stated the team's head coach the coach. “He did it as he has done throughout his career.”

The Run's Final Moments

He returned to the contest one last time at under five and a half minutes to go, the win and the streak on the line. He had a mere six points from 3 for 15 from the field then.

He managed a basket with 1:46 left to tie the game but then missed a 14-footer with one minute to go that would have taken him to ten points.

He passed up a subsequent shot – but could have. A teammate gave James the ball with a few seconds left, yet LeBron decided to dish it off instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you approach it the proper way, they tend to repay you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at a Monumental Run

James's streak commenced over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the most extended streak of its kind the league has ever seen: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run with 575.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” noted teammate Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the sport. He could have shot but due to who he is on the court and just who he is as a person, he chose the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and secured the victory.”

Getting to ten points was usually an afterthought long before the final period. Over the course of the record, he had reached ten points entering the fourth over twelve hundred times prior to Thursday.

But two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters took place just days before: He had nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas on 28 November, and then had six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it concluded – yet he was celebrating all the same.

My focus is to make the right play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James affirmed. “You make the smart play, the basketball gods are always giving back to me.”