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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 correct basketball play meant distributing the basketball – so he did. Following that play, his remarkable run came to an end.

LeBron's unprecedented streak of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season games with 10+ points was snapped this past Thursday, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over Toronto. He made the clutch helper, setting up Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer as time expired.

“Zero,” James stated in response about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Selfless Decision Delivers the Win

LeBron had the chance to tried to secure the contest – and extended his record – in the closing seconds, but he chose to make the extra pass to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James exulted immediately.

“Just playing basketball correctly. Always make the right play,” James remarked. That is my philosophy. It's how I learned to play. I've played that way for two decades.”

He is fully cognizant of how many points he's scored at any point,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick. He made the play just as he has throughout his career.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

He returned to the contest one last time with under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and the streak up for grabs. His tally was six points on a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He got a bucket at under two minutes remaining to level the contest and missed a 14-footer with 1:01 left that would have gotten him into double figures.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves gave James the ball in the waning seconds, however, James opted to make the pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, when you play it the proper way, they often repay you,” the coach concluded.

Reflecting on a Monumental Run

The record began back in January 2007. It stood as the longest such streak in NBA history: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787 such games, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run at 575.

“He’s such a pass-first superstar,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing hoops. The chance was there but because of his nature as a player and his character as a person, he chose the pass, dished to Hachimura and claimed the victory.”

Reaching double digits had long been a guarantee early in the final period. Over the course of the record, he had attained the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times prior to Thursday.

Yet two of those unusual games below ten points through three quarters had happened recently: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, then had six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

He succeeded in extend the streak in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it was over – but he still rejoiced anyway.

“I always just make the best play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James affirmed. When you make the smart play, the sports deities consistently returning the favor.”