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LeBron James was aware his monumental run of reaching double digits was threatened. At the decisive instant, though, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play involved passing the rock – so he did. Following that play, the unprecedented record came to an end.

James's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten was snapped this past Thursday, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over Toronto. He provided the clutch helper, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James stated when asked on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Choice Delivers the Game

James could have tried to secure the game – 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, with LeBron exulted immediately.

“Just playing basketball correctly. Make the smart play,” James noted. That has always been how I operate. It's how I learned to play. I've played that way for two decades.”

James is fully cognizant exactly how many points he's scored at any point,” commented Lakers coach JJ Redick. “He did it like he’s done throughout his career.”

The Streak's End Game

James re-entered the game for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the win and the streak on the line. His tally was a mere six points from 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He got a bucket with under two minutes remaining to tie the game and missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go that would have gotten him into double figures.

He avoided taking one more attempt – but could have. Austin Reaves gave James the ball with a few seconds left, but James chose to dish it off instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, if you do it the proper way, they often bless you,” Redick stated.

The History of a Monumental Run

This incredible run began back in January 2007. It stood as the greatest double-digit streak in professional basketball: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run at 575.

LeBron is such an unselfish player,” remarked teammate a fellow Laker.

He simply plays hoops. He had the opportunity but due to the player he is and his character off the court, he executed the pass, passed it to Rui and secured the game.”

Getting to ten points had long been a guarantee long before the final period. During James’s streak, he had attained ten points by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

Yet two of those unusual single-digit games after three periods had happened recently: He recorded nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, followed by six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

James managed to keep the streak alive against the Suns. In the following contest, it was over – and he celebrated regardless.

“I always just make the best play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James affirmed. If you make the smart play, the game gods consistently rewarding me.”