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The Lakers star knew his monumental run of scoring in double figures was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, it didn't concern him.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the ball – and he executed. With that selfless act, his remarkable run was over.

LeBron's astounding streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season outings scoring at least ten ended during a recent game, when basketball's greatest scorer finished with eight points in the Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He provided the game-winning assist, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James replied in response on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Play Delivers Victory

He might have sought to clinch the game – and preserved his record – with the last shot, yet he opted to make the extra pass to Hachimura on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James celebrated triumphantly.

You have to play basketball correctly. Make the smart play,” James remarked. That has always been how I operate. That’s how I learned the game. I've played that way throughout my career.”

He is very conscious of his point total he has at any point,” commented Lakers coach the coach. He made the play as he has done throughout his career.”

The Run's End Game

James re-entered the floor one last time with just over five minutes left, the win and the streak up for grabs. He had a mere six points from 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

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

He passed up a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate passed him the ball as time wound down, however, James chose to make the pass instead.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it the right way, they tend to reward you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at a Staggering Record

This incredible run started over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the greatest such streak in professional basketball: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787, and The Mailman was fourth on the list with 575.

He is such a team-oriented player,” said teammate a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but given his nature as a player and his personality off the court, he chose the pass, found Rui and secured the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a formality well before the fourth quarter began. Throughout his run, he had achieved double figures by the start of the fourth 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

However, two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters had happened in the last week: He had nine entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, then had six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to keep the streak alive against the Suns. In the following contest, it finished – yet he was celebrating regardless.

My focus is to make the correct play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James said. If you make the unselfish play, the sports deities consistently rewarding me.”