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The Lakers star knew his historic run of scoring in double figures was in danger. When it mattered most, though, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the rock – so he did. Consequently, the unprecedented record was over.

James's astounding streak of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten was snapped this past Thursday, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against Toronto. He delivered the clutch helper, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple as time expired.

“Nothing,” James replied after being questioned about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Team-First Decision Delivers the Game

LeBron had the chance to attempted to win the contest – and preserved the streak – on the final possession, yet he opted to dish the ball to his teammate in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, and James raised his arms immediately.

It's about playing the game correctly. You always make the correct play,” James remarked. That is how I operate. It's how I was instructed the game. I've played that way throughout my career.”

He is very conscious of how many points he has during a game,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted like he’s done so many times.”

The Record's End Game

LeBron checked back into the floor one last time at under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and his personal record both hanging in the balance. At that stage, he had only six points from 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

He scored at 1:46 left to knot the score but then missed a 14-footer at 1:01 left that might have pushed him to ten points.

He avoided taking another shot – but could have. A teammate passed him the ball with a few seconds left, yet LeBron chose to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, if you do it correctly, they often reward you,” Redick stated.

Reflecting on a Staggering Record

The record started over eighteen years ago. It stood as the longest such streak in professional basketball: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman recorded with 575.

LeBron is such an unselfish player,” said Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

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

Reaching double digits had typically been a formality well before the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had achieved the 10-point mark entering the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

Yet two of those rare games below ten points after three periods had happened in the last week: He had nine entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, followed by six going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

James managed to preserve the record against the Suns. One game later, it concluded – but he still rejoiced regardless.

“I always just make the best play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James said. “You make the unselfish play, the basketball gods forever rewarding me.”