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James understood his historic streak of scoring in double figures was threatened. When it mattered most, though, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move involved passing the ball – which is exactly what he did. With that selfless act, the unprecedented record came to an end.

James's unprecedented streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season games with 10+ points concluded during a recent game, when the league's career points king finished with a mere eight points during the Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He provided the decisive pass, finding Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple as time expired.

“Nothing,” James stated when asked regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Play Seals the Game

He might have tried to secure the game – and preserved his record – with the last shot, yet he opted to make the extra pass to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron celebrated immediately.

“Just playing the game the right way. Always make the correct play,” James explained. That is my M.O.. That’s how I learned the game. I’ve done that for two decades.”

He is fully cognizant of his point total he has at any point,” stated Lakers coach the coach. “He did it as he has done throughout his career.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the floor for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the result and the streak both hanging in the balance. He had a mere six points on 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He managed a basket at under two minutes remaining to tie the game and missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go which could have pushed him to double digits.

He passed up a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. A teammate passed him the ball in the waning seconds, however, James chose to make the pass instead.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it the proper way, they often repay you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at a Staggering Record

This incredible run commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the longest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787, and The Mailman was fourth on the list at 575.

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

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but due to the player he is and just who he is off the court, he executed the pass, passed it to Rui and we won the victory.”

Getting to ten points had typically been an afterthought well before the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had achieved the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times prior to Thursday.

However, two such single-digit games through three quarters had occurred recently: He had nine points going into the fourth against Dallas last week, and then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

He succeeded in keep the streak alive against the Suns. One game later, it concluded – and he celebrated all the same.

My focus is to make the correct play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James declared. If you make the smart play, the basketball gods are always returning the favor.”