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James understood his historic streak of putting up 10+ points was threatened. At the decisive instant, though, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision involved passing the basketball – so he did. Following that play, his remarkable run was over.

LeBron's unprecedented streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten concluded on Thursday night, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with eight total points during the Lakers' 123-120 victory over Toronto. He made the decisive pass, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura for a triple as time expired.

“None,” James stated in response about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Play Secures the Win

LeBron had the chance to tried to secure the contest – and extended the streak – with the last shot, yet he opted to make the extra pass to his teammate in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron raised his arms triumphantly.

You have to play basketball the right way. You always make the correct play,” James explained. “That’s just been how I operate. It's how I was instructed to play. I've played that way my whole career.”

He is acutely aware of how many points he has during a game,” stated Lakers coach the coach. He acted as he has done so many times.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the game for the final time with 5:23 remaining, the result along with the historic run both hanging in the balance. He had a mere six points from a 3-for-15 performance then.

He scored at under two minutes remaining to knot the score then missed a mid-range jumper at 1:01 left that might have gotten him into double figures.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – but could have. A teammate found him with a few seconds left, but James decided to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

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

Reflecting on an Unparalleled Record

The record began back in January 2007. It stood as the most extended double-digit streak in professional basketball: MJ had 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787 such games, and The Mailman recorded with 575.

“He’s such a pass-first superstar,” said Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but due to the player he is and his character as a person, he executed the team play, found Rui and we won the game.”

Getting to ten points had long been an afterthought well before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had achieved ten points by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

However, two of those unusual single-digit games through three quarters had happened recently: He recorded nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, and then had six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

He succeeded in extend the streak in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it finished – but he still rejoiced all the same.

I only ever make the best play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James declared. “You make the right play, the game gods consistently giving back to me.”