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James understood his incredible run of scoring in double figures was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move meant distributing the ball – so he did. With that selfless act, the unprecedented record was over.

James's staggering run of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances ended during a recent game, when basketball's greatest scorer finished with a mere eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the clutch helper, feeding Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James said after being questioned about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Decision Seals the Win

He might have attempted to win the game – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to make the extra pass to Hachimura in the left corner. Rui connected, and James celebrated with his hands in the air.

“Just playing the game correctly. Always make the smart play,” James explained. That is my philosophy. That is the way I was taught to play. I’ve done that throughout my career.”

“LeBron is acutely aware of how many points he's scored during a game,” stated Lakers coach the coach. He made the play as he has done throughout his career.”

The Record's End Game

LeBron checked back into the game one last time at just over five minutes left, the win along with the historic run on the line. He had a mere six points from 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to knot the score and missed a 14-footer with 1:01 left that would have taken him to double digits.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball in the waning seconds, but James opted to make the pass instead.

The basketball deities, if you approach it correctly, they often reward you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at a Monumental Run

James's streak started over eighteen years ago. It was easily the most extended double-digit streak in NBA history: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list with 575.

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” noted teammate Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the sport. He had the opportunity but given who he is on the court and his personality off the court, he made the pass, found Rui and we won the game.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been a formality well before the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had attained ten points entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

Yet two of those unusual single-digit games through three quarters took place just days before: He recorded nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, and then had six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. One game later, it finished – yet he was celebrating regardless.

“I always just make the best play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James affirmed. When you make the right play, the game gods forever rewarding me.”