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LeBron James was aware his incredible streak of scoring in double figures was at risk. At the decisive instant, though, it was not his focus.

The smart move involved passing the rock – which is exactly what he did. With that selfless act, the legendary streak came to an end.

LeBron's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season games with 10+ points was snapped on Thursday night, when the league's career points king had only a mere eight points in the Lakers' close triumph versus Toronto. He made the game-winning assist, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple as time expired.

“Zero,” James stated after being questioned on the record concluding. “We won.”

A Team-First Choice Seals the Game

He might have attempted to win the game – and preserved his record – on the final possession, yet he opted to pass to Rui on the wing. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron celebrated with his hands in the air.

“Just playing basketball correctly. You always make the smart play,” James remarked. That has always been how I operate. That’s how I was taught to play. I’ve done that for two decades.”

He is fully cognizant exactly how many points he's scored at all times,” stated Lakers coach the coach. He acted as he has done throughout his career.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

He returned to the floor one last time with under five and a half minutes to go, the result along with the historic run both hanging in the balance. His tally was only six points from 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

He scored with under two minutes remaining to tie the game then missed a shot at one minute to go which could have gotten him to ten points.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves gave James the ball with a few seconds left, but James decided to dish it off instead.

The spirits of the game, when you play it correctly, they often reward you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Record

James's streak started on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the greatest streak of its kind the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787 such games, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run with 575.

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” 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 character as a person, he chose the team play, passed it to Rui and claimed the game.”

Getting to ten points had long been a formality early in the final period. Over the course of the record, he had achieved ten points entering the fourth 1,266 times coming into the contest.

However, two of those unusual single-digit games after three periods had occurred just days before: He recorded nine entering the final quarter against Dallas on 28 November, and then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it finished – and he celebrated regardless.

I only ever make the best play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James said. If you make the unselfish play, the game gods forever rewarding me.”