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LeBron James was aware his incredible run of scoring in double figures was at risk. When it mattered most, though, it was not his focus.

The right decision was to pass the rock – and he executed. Consequently, the legendary streak finished.

LeBron's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten was snapped on Thursday night, when the league's career points king was limited to eight total points in the Lakers' 123-120 win against Toronto. He provided the decisive pass, feeding Rui Hachimura to hit a triple as time expired.

“Zero,” James replied in response regarding the conclusion of his run. “We won.”

A Team-First Choice Secures the Win

He might have sought to clinch the game – and preserved his record – on the final possession, yet he opted to make the extra pass to Rui stationed in the corner. Hachimura made the shot, with LeBron exulted immediately.

You have to play basketball correctly. You always make the correct play,” James remarked. That has always been my M.O.. It's how I learned the game. I've played that way for two decades.”

He is acutely aware of his point total he's scored at all times,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play like he’s done so many times.”

The Record's End Game

LeBron checked back into the floor for the final time at just over five minutes left, the win and his personal record on the line. His tally was only six points from 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He managed a basket at 1:46 left to knot the score but then missed a 14-footer at 1:01 left that might have pushed him to double digits.

He didn’t take another shot – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves found him with a few seconds left, yet LeBron opted to make the pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you do it the proper way, they often bless you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at a Staggering Record

The record began back in January 2007. It stood as the longest such streak in NBA history: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and The Mailman was fourth on the list with 575.

“He’s such a pass-first superstar,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing the sport. The chance was there but due to his nature as a player and just who he is as an individual, he made the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and secured the game.”

Getting to ten points had long been an afterthought well before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had reached the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

Yet two such single-digit games after three periods had happened just days before: He recorded nine going into the fourth against Dallas last week, then had six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it was over – but he still rejoiced regardless.

“I always just make the right play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James affirmed. “You make the right play, the sports deities are always giving back to me.”