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LeBron James was aware his monumental run of putting up 10+ points was threatened. At the decisive instant, however, it didn't concern him.

The correct basketball play was to pass the ball – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, the unprecedented record came to an end.

James's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten concluded this past Thursday, when the league's career points king was limited to eight total points during the Lakers' close triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the game-winning assist, finding Rui Hachimura for a triple to win the game.

“None,” James stated when asked about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Team-First Play Seals the Win

James could have tried to secure the game – and preserved the streak – with the last shot, instead, he decided to pass to Hachimura on the wing. Rui connected, prompting James exulted with his hands in the air.

It's about playing basketball the right way. Make the correct play,” James explained. That is my philosophy. It's how I was instructed to play. I’ve done that for two decades.”

He is acutely aware exactly how many points he has at any point,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted like he’s done throughout his career.”

The Run's End Game

James re-entered the game for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and his personal record up for grabs. He had six points from a 3-for-15 performance then.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to tie the game then missed a shot with 1:01 left that would have gotten him to ten points.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves passed him the ball in the waning seconds, but James opted to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you approach it the right way, they tend to bless you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at a Monumental Streak

This incredible run commenced back in January 2007. It stood as the most extended double-digit streak in professional basketball: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

He simply plays the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but because of who he is on the court and his personality as a person, he made the pass, passed it to Rui and we won the victory.”

Getting to ten points had typically been an afterthought long before the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had attained double figures by the start of the fourth 1,266 times before this game.

But two of those rare games below ten points after three periods had happened just days before: He had nine going into the fourth against Dallas on 28 November, followed by six points going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. One game later, it was over – yet he was celebrating regardless.

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