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The Lakers star knew his monumental streak of reaching double digits was threatened. At the decisive instant, however, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move was to pass the rock – and he executed. Following that play, the unprecedented record finished.

James's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season outings scoring at least ten concluded on Thursday night, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with a mere eight points in the Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the game-winning assist, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-point shot at the buzzer.

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

A Team-First Play Seals the Win

LeBron had the chance to attempted to win the contest – while also extending his record – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to dish the ball to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron raised his arms triumphantly.

It's about playing the game the proper way. You always make the right play,” James remarked. That is my M.O.. That is the way I learned the game. I’ve done that my whole career.”

He is very conscious of how many points he has at all times,” said the team's head coach the coach. “He did it like he’s done countless times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the floor for the final time at just over five minutes left, the result and the streak up for grabs. At that stage, he had a mere six points from a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He got a bucket with under two minutes remaining to level the contest but then missed a shot with 1:01 left that might have pushed him to double digits.

He avoided taking another shot – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves found him with a few seconds left, yet LeBron decided to make the pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you do it correctly, they often reward you,” Redick added.

The History of a Staggering Streak

The record started over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the greatest streak of its kind the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787 such games, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list at 575.

He is such an unselfish player,” remarked teammate Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing hoops. He could have shot but due to who he is on the court and his personality off the court, he chose the pass, found Rui and claimed the game.”

Getting to ten points was usually an afterthought well before the fourth quarter began. Throughout his run, he had reached ten points by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times coming into the contest.

Yet two of those unusual single-digit games through three quarters had happened recently: He recorded nine points going into the fourth against Dallas last week, and then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

James managed to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it was over – yet he was celebrating all the same.

My focus is to make the right play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James declared. If you make the smart play, the basketball gods forever giving back to me.”