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James understood his monumental run of reaching double digits was in danger. When it mattered most, though, it didn't concern him.

The smart move involved passing the basketball – which is exactly what he did. With that selfless act, the legendary streak finished.

LeBron's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season games with 10+ points was snapped this past Thursday, when the league's career points king was limited to a mere eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He provided the clutch helper, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a triple to win the game.

“Zero,” James said when asked on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Decision Secures Victory

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the contest – and preserved his record – with the last shot, but he chose to make the extra pass to Rui in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron exulted with his hands in the air.

“Just playing basketball the right way. Always make the smart play,” James remarked. That is my M.O.. That’s how I learned to play. That's what I've done for two decades.”

“LeBron is fully cognizant of his point total he has at any point,” commented the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted as he has done so many times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the contest one last time at just over five minutes left, the outcome along with the historic run on the line. At that stage, he had only six points from 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He got a bucket with 1:46 left to knot the score then missed a 14-footer at 1:01 left that might have pushed him into double figures.

He avoided taking another shot – but could have. Austin Reaves gave James the ball as time wound down, but James chose to dish it off instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it the proper way, they tend to reward you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Streak

James's streak commenced over eighteen years ago. It stood as the most extended double-digit streak in NBA history: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and The Mailman was fourth on the list of 575 games.

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” said Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but because of his nature as a player and just who he is off the court, he made the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and we won the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had long been an afterthought long before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had achieved the 10-point mark entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

But two such games below ten points through three quarters took place in the last week: He had nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, followed by 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 concluded – but he still rejoiced anyway.

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