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James understood his monumental run of scoring in double figures was at risk. In that crucial moment, however, it didn't concern him.

The smart move involved passing the ball – so he did. With that selfless act, the unprecedented record was over.

James's astounding run of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances was snapped on Thursday night, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to eight total points in the Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the game-winning assist, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James replied when asked on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Decision Delivers Victory

He might have sought to clinch the game – while also extending the streak – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to make the extra pass to Rui stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron raised his arms immediately.

You have to play basketball correctly. You always make the correct play,” James noted. “That’s just been my philosophy. That’s how I learned the game. I've played that way for two decades.”

James is fully cognizant of how many points he has at any point,” commented Lakers coach the coach. “He did it as he has done countless times.”

The Run's Final Moments

He returned to the contest one last time with 5:23 remaining, the result and his personal record up for grabs. At that stage, he had a mere six points from 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

He managed a basket with under two minutes remaining to knot the score and missed a shot at one minute to go that might have pushed him to ten points.

He didn’t take another shot – but could have. Austin Reaves gave James the ball as time wound down, however, James opted to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, if you do it correctly, they will reward you,” Redick stated.

The History of a Staggering Streak

The record commenced over eighteen years ago. It was easily the greatest streak of its kind in professional basketball: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

He is such a pass-first superstar,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing hoops. The chance was there but due to the player he is and his character as an individual, he chose the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the victory.”

Getting to ten points was usually an afterthought long before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had reached ten points by the start of the fourth on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

However, two of those rare single-digit games after three periods took place in the last week: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, then had six points 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 finished – and he celebrated anyway.

My focus is to make the correct play. That is instinctive, win, lose or draw,” James declared. If you make the smart play, the basketball gods consistently rewarding me.”