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The Lakers star knew his historic run of reaching double digits was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move was to pass the ball – and he executed. Consequently, his remarkable run finished.

LeBron's astounding streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season outings scoring at least ten ended on Thursday night, as the league's career points king was limited to eight total points during the Lakers' 123-120 victory over Toronto. He provided the clutch helper, feeding Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James stated when asked about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Selfless Decision Delivers Victory

He might have tried to secure the contest – and preserved the streak – on the final possession, instead, he decided to dish the ball to his teammate stationed in the corner. Rui connected, prompting James raised his arms triumphantly.

You have to play basketball correctly. You always make the correct play,” James explained. “That’s just been my M.O.. It's how I was instructed to play. That's what I've done for two decades.”

“LeBron is fully cognizant of how many points he has at any point,” commented the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted just as he has so many times.”

The Streak's Closing Chapter

He returned to the contest one last time at under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome along with the historic run both hanging in the balance. He had six points from a 3-for-15 performance at that juncture.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to tie the game then missed a shot with 1:01 left that would have pushed him into double figures.

He didn’t take one more attempt – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves found him with a few seconds left, yet LeBron decided to dish it off instead.

The basketball deities, if you do it correctly, they will repay you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Run

The record commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the most extended streak of its kind in professional basketball: MJ had 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787 such games, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run at 575.

He is such a pass-first superstar,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but given his nature as a player and his personality as a person, he chose the pass, dished to Hachimura and claimed the victory.”

Scoring in double figures was usually an afterthought early in the fourth quarter began. Throughout his run, he had achieved double figures by the start of the fourth on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

Yet two of those rare single-digit games after three periods had happened in the last week: He recorded nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

He succeeded in preserve the record against the Suns. The very next outing, it finished – and he celebrated all the same.

My focus is to make the correct play. That is instinctive, regardless of outcome,” James declared. If you make the unselfish play, the game gods are always returning the favor.”