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James understood his monumental streak of reaching double digits was threatened. When it mattered most, though, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the ball – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, the legendary streak came to an end.

LeBron's astounding streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances ended this past Thursday, when the league's career points king finished with eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the decisive pass, feeding Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer as time expired.

“None,” James said after being questioned on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

A Selfless Play Delivers the Game

He might have tried to secure the game – while also extending his record – in the closing seconds, but he chose to make the extra pass to his teammate in the left corner. Hachimura made the shot, with LeBron celebrated with his hands in the air.

“Just playing basketball the proper way. You always make the right play,” James explained. That is my M.O.. That is the way I learned the game. I've played that way for two decades.”

James is acutely aware of how many points he has at any point,” said Lakers coach the coach. “He did it like he’s done so many times.”

The Run's Final Moments

LeBron checked back into the contest for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the win along with the historic run both hanging in the balance. His tally was six points on a 3-for-15 performance at that juncture.

He scored at 1:46 left to level the contest then missed a shot at one minute to go that might have taken him to double digits.

He passed up another shot – but could have. A teammate gave James the ball as time wound down, but James decided to make the extra pass instead.

The basketball deities, if you approach it correctly, they tend to repay you,” Redick stated.

The History of an Unparalleled Streak

James's streak commenced over eighteen years ago. It stood as the greatest such streak the league has ever seen: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run at 575.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” said Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He simply plays the sport. He could have shot but due to his nature as a player and his personality off the court, he executed the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been a guarantee well before the fourth quarter began. Over the course of the record, he had reached the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

However, two of those rare games below ten points after three periods had happened recently: He recorded nine going into the fourth against Dallas last week, and then had six points 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 – but he still rejoiced regardless.

I only ever make the best play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James declared. When you make the smart play, the game gods forever giving back to me.”