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LeBron James was aware his historic streak of scoring in double figures was at risk. In that crucial moment, though, it didn't concern him.

The smart move involved passing the ball – so he did. Consequently, the unprecedented record came to an end.

LeBron's astounding run of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances ended on Thursday night, as basketball's greatest scorer had only eight total points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus Toronto. He delivered the decisive pass, finding Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James replied in response about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

An Unselfish Play Delivers Victory

James could have sought to clinch the contest – while also extending the streak – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to pass to Rui stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron raised his arms immediately.

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

“LeBron is very conscious exactly how many points he has at any point,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted as he has done throughout his career.”

The Record's End Game

He returned to the game for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the result along with the historic run up for grabs. At that stage, he had only six points on a 3-for-15 performance at that juncture.

He managed a basket with under two minutes remaining to tie the game and missed a shot at 1:01 left that would have pushed him to double digits.

He avoided taking another shot – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves gave James the ball as time wound down, however, James chose to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you do it correctly, they tend to bless you,” the coach concluded.

Reflecting on an Unparalleled Streak

The record started over eighteen years ago. It stood as the greatest streak of its kind the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem recorded 787, and Karl Malone recorded of 575 games.

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

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but given the player he is and just who he is off the court, he executed the unselfish play, found Rui and claimed the game.”

Reaching double digits was usually an afterthought early in the fourth quarter began. Throughout his run, he had reached double figures by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

Yet two such single-digit games through three quarters had happened just days before: He recorded nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, then had six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to preserve the record against the Suns. One game later, it was over – but he still rejoiced anyway.

My focus is to make the correct play. That is instinctive, regardless of outcome,” James said. “You make the smart play, the game gods consistently rewarding me.”