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James understood his monumental streak of putting up 10+ points was in danger. When it mattered most, however, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the basketball – so he did. Following that play, the legendary streak finished.

LeBron's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season double-digit scoring performances concluded during a recent game, as the league's career points king finished with eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the decisive pass, setting up 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 Team-First Choice Secures the Game

He might have sought to clinch 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. Hachimura sank it, prompting James exulted immediately.

It's about playing basketball correctly. You always make the right play,” James remarked. That has always been my M.O.. It's how I was taught to play. I've played that way throughout my career.”

James is very conscious of how many points he has at any point,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play like he’s done so many times.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the contest for the final time with just over five minutes left, the outcome and his personal record both hanging in the balance. He had only six points from a 3-for-15 performance at that juncture.

He managed a basket at under two minutes remaining to tie the game and missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go which could have taken him into double figures.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – but could have. A teammate found him as time wound down, but James chose to dish it off instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, when you play it correctly, they will repay you,” Redick stated.

Reflecting on a Monumental Streak

This incredible run began back in January 2007. It was, by far the longest such streak the league has ever seen: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

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

He simply plays the sport. He could have shot but due to who he is on the court and just who he is off the court, he executed the pass, found Rui and we won the game.”

Reaching double digits had typically been a guarantee well before the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had achieved the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

But two such games below ten points through three quarters had happened in the last week: He had nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, then had six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

LeBron was able to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it concluded – but he still rejoiced regardless.

I only ever make the correct play. That comes naturally, no matter what,” James declared. When you make the unselfish play, the basketball gods forever giving back to me.”