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James understood his monumental run of putting up 10+ points was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, it didn't concern him.

The correct basketball play was to pass the basketball – so he did. Following that play, his remarkable run was over.

LeBron's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances ended on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with eight total points during the Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus Toronto. He made the decisive pass, feeding Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot to win the game.

“None,” James said when asked regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Choice Secures Victory

James could have attempted to win the game – and extended the streak – in the closing seconds, but he chose to make the extra pass to Hachimura in the left corner. Rui connected, and James celebrated triumphantly.

It's about playing basketball correctly. Always make the correct play,” James explained. “That’s just been my philosophy. It's how I was taught the game. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

He is very conscious of how many points he's scored at any point,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick. He made the play just as he has throughout his career.”

The Run's Final Moments

James re-entered the contest for the final time with just over five minutes left, the result and the streak up for grabs. At that stage, he had only six points on a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He managed a basket with under two minutes remaining to level the contest and missed a 14-footer at one minute to go that might have taken him into double figures.

He passed up another shot – but could have. Austin Reaves gave James the ball in the waning seconds, but James opted to make the pass instead.

The basketball deities, when you play it correctly, they tend to reward you,” Redick added.

Reflecting on an Unparalleled Streak

The record commenced back in January 2007. It was, by far the greatest such streak in professional basketball: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list of 575 games.

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

“He’s just playing the sport. He could have shot but given who he is on the court and his character as a person, he chose the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and claimed the victory.”

Getting to ten points had typically been a guarantee early in the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had reached double figures by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times prior to Thursday.

Yet two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters took place recently: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to extend the streak against the Suns. One game later, it was over – but he still rejoiced regardless.

“I always just make the right play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James declared. When you make the smart play, the game gods consistently returning the favor.”