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LeBron James was aware his historic run of scoring in double figures was at risk. At the decisive instant, though, it was not his focus.

The smart move was to pass the ball – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, the unprecedented record finished.

LeBron's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points concluded this past Thursday, when the league's career points king finished with a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus Toronto. He delivered the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James said in response about the streak ending. “We won.”

An Unselfish Play Seals the Win

He might have attempted to win the game – and extended the streak – on the final possession, instead, he decided to make the extra pass to his teammate in the left corner. Rui connected, with LeBron raised his arms immediately.

“Just playing basketball the proper way. Make the correct play,” James remarked. “That’s just been my philosophy. That’s how I was instructed to play. I've played that way throughout my career.”

“LeBron is very conscious of his point total he has during a game,” commented the team's head coach the coach. He acted as he has done so many times.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

He returned to the floor for the final time at just over five minutes left, the win and his personal record on the line. His tally was six points from 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He managed a basket with under two minutes remaining to knot the score then missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go that might have gotten him into double figures.

He avoided taking one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball as time wound down, yet LeBron chose to make the pass instead.

The basketball deities, when you play it the right way, they will repay you,” Redick added.

Reflecting on an Unparalleled Run

The record began over eighteen years ago. It stood as the longest streak of its kind in NBA history: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run with 575.

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

He focuses on playing hoops. The chance was there but given the player he is and just who he is as an individual, he made the pass, 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 achieved ten points entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

However, two of those unusual single-digit games after three periods had happened recently: He recorded nine entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, then had six points going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it was over – and he celebrated regardless.

My focus is to make the right play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James declared. “You make the smart play, the game gods consistently rewarding me.”