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James understood his historic run of reaching double digits was at risk. At the decisive instant, however, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play was to pass the rock – so he did. Consequently, his remarkable run finished.

LeBron's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season outings scoring at least ten ended on Thursday night, when the league's career points king was limited to eight points during the Lakers' close victory over Toronto. He delivered the decisive pass, finding Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer to win the game.

“Zero,” James stated when asked on the record concluding. “We won.”

A Selfless Decision Secures the Game

He might have tried to secure the game – while also extending the streak – on the final possession, but he chose to pass to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, prompting James exulted with his hands in the air.

You have to play the game the right way. You always make the right play,” James remarked. “That’s just been my M.O.. That’s how I learned the game. That's what I've done my whole career.”

He is fully cognizant of his point total he's scored at any point,” said Lakers coach the coach. He acted like he’s done countless times.”

The Run's End Game

James re-entered the game one last time at just over five minutes left, the win and his personal record on the line. He had a mere six points on a 3-for-15 performance at that juncture.

He managed a basket at 1:46 left to knot the score but then missed a mid-range jumper at 1:01 left which could have pushed him to double digits.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – but could have. A teammate passed him the ball in the waning seconds, yet LeBron chose to make the pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you approach it the proper way, they tend to bless you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Streak

This incredible run began on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the most extended double-digit streak in professional basketball: MJ had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787 such games, and The Mailman was fourth on the list with 575.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the sport. He could have shot but given who he is on the court and his personality as an individual, he executed the pass, dished to Hachimura and we won the game.”

Reaching double digits had typically been an afterthought long before the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had achieved ten points by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times coming into the contest.

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

James managed to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it was over – yet he was celebrating regardless.

“I always just make the best play. That comes naturally, no matter what,” James affirmed. When you make the unselfish play, the game gods are always rewarding me.”