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LeBron James was aware his monumental run of reaching double digits was threatened. In that crucial moment, however, it was not his focus.

The smart move involved passing the rock – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, the unprecedented record came to an end.

James's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season games with 10+ points ended on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against Toronto. He provided the game-winning assist, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a triple to win the game.

“Nothing,” James replied in response on the record concluding. “We won.”

A Selfless Choice Seals the Game

James could have sought to clinch the game – and extended his record – on the final possession, but he chose to pass to his teammate in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, and James raised his arms immediately.

“Just playing the game the right way. Make the smart play,” James explained. That has always been my M.O.. That’s how I learned the game. I've played that way my whole career.”

James is very conscious exactly how many points he has at any point,” stated Lakers coach the coach. He made the play just as he has countless times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the floor for the final time at just over five minutes left, the result and his personal record on the line. At that stage, he had only six points from 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He scored with under two minutes remaining to knot the score but then missed a 14-footer with 1:01 left that would have taken him into double figures.

He passed up another shot – but could have. Austin Reaves found him as time wound down, yet LeBron decided to dish it off instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it correctly, they tend to bless you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Run

James's streak started on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the greatest double-digit streak in professional basketball: MJ had 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run at 575.

He is such an unselfish player,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

He simply plays hoops. He had the opportunity but due to the player he is and his character as an individual, he made the team play, found Rui and claimed the victory.”

Reaching double digits had long been an afterthought early in the final period. During James’s streak, he had achieved the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times before this game.

Yet two such single-digit games after three periods had occurred recently: He recorded nine going into the fourth against Dallas on 28 November, then had six going into the fourth versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it finished – and he celebrated all the same.

I only ever make the best play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James said. When you make the unselfish play, the sports deities are always rewarding me.”