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James understood his incredible streak of reaching double digits was in danger. When it mattered most, though, it didn't concern him.

The smart move involved passing the basketball – so he did. Consequently, his remarkable run came to an end.

LeBron's unprecedented streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points ended on Thursday night, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close triumph versus Toronto. He delivered the game-winning assist, finding Rui Hachimura to hit a triple as time expired.

“None,” James stated in response on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

An Unselfish Decision Delivers the Win

James could have attempted to win the contest – and extended the streak – in the closing seconds, but he chose to make the extra pass to his teammate stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, and James raised his arms with his hands in the air.

It's about playing the game the right way. Always make the right play,” James remarked. That is my philosophy. That is the way I learned the game. I've played that way for two decades.”

James is fully cognizant of his point total he has during a game,” commented Lakers coach the coach. He made the play like he’s done countless times.”

The Run's Final Moments

James re-entered the floor for the final time at just over five minutes left, the win along with the historic run up for grabs. His tally was six points from 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to knot the score and missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go that might have pushed him to double digits.

He passed up one more attempt – even though he had a chance. A teammate gave James the ball with a few seconds left, but James chose to make the pass instead.

The basketball deities, if you approach it correctly, they tend to reward you,” Redick added.

Reflecting on an Unparalleled Record

The record commenced back in January 2007. It was easily the greatest double-digit streak in NBA history: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run with 575.

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

“He’s just playing the sport. The chance was there but given the player he is and his personality as a person, he executed the team play, found Rui and we won the game.”

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 over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

Yet two of those unusual single-digit games through three quarters took place in the last week: He had nine entering the final quarter against Dallas on 28 November, and then had six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

He succeeded in extend the streak in the Phoenix game. One game later, it was over – yet he was celebrating anyway.

My focus is to make the correct play. That is instinctive, regardless of outcome,” James declared. If you make the right play, the sports deities forever returning the favor.”