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

The correct basketball play meant distributing the rock – and he executed. Consequently, the legendary streak came to an end.

LeBron's astounding run of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances ended during a recent game, when basketball's greatest scorer finished with eight points during the Lakers' close win against Toronto. He made the decisive pass, finding Rui Hachimura for a three-point shot to win the game.

“Nothing,” James replied when asked on the record concluding. “We won.”

A Selfless Choice Secures Victory

He might have tried to secure the contest – while also extending his record – on the final possession, instead, he decided to pass to Hachimura in the left corner. Rui connected, and James celebrated immediately.

You have to play the game correctly. You always make the smart play,” James noted. That is my philosophy. It's how I was instructed the game. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

He is fully cognizant of how many points he has during a game,” stated the team's head coach the coach. “He did it like he’s done countless times.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the floor one last time with just over five minutes left, the outcome and the streak up for grabs. At that stage, he had six points from 3 for 15 from the field then.

He scored with 1:46 left to tie the game then missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go that might have taken him to ten points.

He avoided taking another shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball as time wound down, yet LeBron chose to dish it off instead.

The spirits of the game, when you play it correctly, they often bless you,” Redick added.

The History of an Unparalleled Record

James's streak started on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the most extended double-digit streak in professional basketball: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and The Mailman was fourth on the list with 575.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” noted Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the sport. The chance was there but because of who he is on the court and his character off the court, he executed the pass, dished to Hachimura and secured the victory.”

Getting to ten points was usually a formality well before the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had reached ten points by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

But two of those unusual single-digit games through three quarters took place just days before: He recorded nine entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, then had six going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

He succeeded in keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it concluded – yet he was celebrating regardless.

My focus is to make the right play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James affirmed. When you make the unselfish play, the sports deities consistently rewarding me.”