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James understood his historic run of scoring in double figures was at risk. At the decisive instant, though, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play was to pass the rock – and he executed. Consequently, the legendary streak came to an end.

LeBron's astounding streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances ended during a recent game, when the league's career points king had only a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus Toronto. He made the decisive pass, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer to win the game.

“Zero,” James replied when asked about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Choice Delivers Victory

LeBron had the chance to attempted to win the contest – and preserved his record – with the last shot, yet he opted to dish the ball to Hachimura on the wing. Rui connected, prompting James exulted immediately.

You have to play basketball correctly. Make the correct play,” James noted. That has always been my M.O.. That is the way I learned to play. I’ve done that throughout my career.”

“LeBron is acutely aware of how many points he's scored at all times,” said Lakers coach the coach. He acted just as he has countless times.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the floor one last time with 5:23 remaining, the win and the streak both hanging in the balance. He had six points on 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He got a bucket with 1:46 left to knot the score but then missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go that would have gotten him into double figures.

He didn’t take another shot – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves gave James the ball with a few seconds left, but James chose to make the extra pass instead.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it the proper way, they often reward you,” Redick added.

Reflecting on a Staggering Record

James's streak commenced back in January 2007. It stood as the greatest such streak in professional basketball: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman recorded at 575.

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

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but because of who he is on the court and just who he is off the court, he executed the unselfish play, found Rui and we won the victory.”

Getting to ten points had typically been a formality well before the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had reached the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

Yet two of those unusual single-digit games after three periods had happened recently: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, then had six going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it finished – and he celebrated anyway.

My focus is to make the correct play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James affirmed. When you make the unselfish play, the sports deities forever returning the favor.”