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James understood his historic streak of reaching double digits was in danger. At the decisive instant, however, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision involved passing the basketball – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, the unprecedented record came to an end.

James's staggering streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games with 10+ points ended this past Thursday, when basketball's greatest scorer had only eight points in the Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He provided the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple to win the game.

“Zero,” James said when asked about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Choice Seals the Win

He might have attempted to win the contest – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to pass to his teammate in the left corner. Rui connected, with LeBron exulted immediately.

You have to play the game the right way. You always make the right play,” James noted. “That’s just been how I operate. That is the way I was instructed to play. I've played that way my whole career.”

He is fully cognizant of his point total he has at any point,” stated Lakers coach the coach. “He did it just as he has so many times.”

The Streak's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the floor for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the result and the streak up for grabs. His tally was only six points from 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He scored with under two minutes remaining to level the contest then missed a mid-range jumper at 1:01 left that would have pushed him to ten points.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. A teammate gave James the ball as time wound down, yet LeBron decided to make the extra pass instead.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it correctly, they often repay you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at a Monumental Streak

James's streak commenced over eighteen years ago. It stood as the most extended such streak in NBA history: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and Karl Malone recorded with 575.

He is such a pass-first superstar,” noted Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He simply plays the sport. The chance was there but due to the player he is and his character off the court, he chose the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and we won the game.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a formality long before the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had achieved the 10-point mark entering the fourth 1,266 times coming into the contest.

Yet two such single-digit games after three periods had happened just days before: He had nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, and then had six points going into the fourth versus the Suns on Monday night.

LeBron was able to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. One game later, it concluded – yet he was celebrating all the same.

I only ever make the right play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James declared. When you make the right play, the game gods consistently rewarding me.”