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LeBron James was aware his incredible run of scoring in double figures was at risk. At the decisive instant, however, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision involved passing the rock – so he did. Consequently, the legendary streak was over.

LeBron's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season games with 10+ points concluded this past Thursday, as the league's career points king had only eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 win against Toronto. He delivered the decisive pass, feeding Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“None,” James said after being questioned on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Play Secures Victory

He might have tried to secure the contest – and extended his record – with the last shot, but he chose to pass to Rui on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James raised his arms with his hands in the air.

“Just playing the game correctly. You always make the correct play,” James remarked. That is my M.O.. That is the way I learned the game. That's what I've done for two decades.”

James is acutely aware of his point total he's scored at all times,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play like he’s done throughout his career.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

He returned to the contest for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the win and his personal record up for grabs. At that stage, he had only six points from a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He managed a basket at 1:46 left to level the contest but then missed a shot with one minute to go which could have taken him into double figures.

He passed up a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves found him with a few seconds left, but James opted to make the pass instead.

The basketball deities, when you play it correctly, they tend to reward you,” Redick stated.

Reflecting on a Monumental Streak

The record began over eighteen years ago. It was easily the longest double-digit streak in NBA history: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787, and Karl Malone recorded with 575.

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

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. He could have shot but because of the player he is and just who he is as a person, he made the unselfish play, found Rui and we won the victory.”

Scoring in double figures was usually a guarantee early in the final period. Throughout his run, he had reached ten points by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times coming into the contest.

Yet two such single-digit games through three quarters took place in the last week: He recorded nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, then had six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

James managed to extend the streak against the Suns. The very next outing, it concluded – yet he was celebrating all the same.

My focus is to make the correct play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James declared. If you make the unselfish play, the game gods forever returning the favor.”