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James understood his monumental run of putting up 10+ points was threatened. When it mattered most, however, it was not his focus.

The smart move meant distributing the rock – so he did. With that selfless act, the legendary streak finished.

LeBron's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season games with 10+ points ended on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with a mere eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the decisive pass, feeding Rui Hachimura for a three-point shot as time expired.

“None,” James replied after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Play Delivers the Game

James could have sought to clinch the game – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to pass to Rui on the wing. Rui connected, and James exulted triumphantly.

You have to play the game the proper way. You always make the smart play,” James noted. That has always been my M.O.. That is the way I was instructed the game. I’ve done that for two decades.”

James is very conscious of his point total he has during a game,” commented the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted just as he has countless times.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the floor for the final time with 5:23 remaining, the win and the streak on the line. At that stage, he had a mere six points from 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He scored with under two minutes remaining to tie the game then missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go that might have taken him into double figures.

He passed up a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves passed him the ball with a few seconds left, but James chose to dish it off instead.

The basketball deities, if you approach it the proper way, they will repay you,” the coach concluded.

The History of a Staggering Run

This incredible run commenced back in January 2007. It stood as the longest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan had 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787, and The Mailman was fourth on the list of 575 games.

He is such a team-oriented player,” said teammate a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but given who he is on the court and his personality as a person, he executed the pass, found Rui and claimed the victory.”

Reaching double digits had typically been an afterthought well before the final period. During James’s streak, he had reached ten points by the beginning of the final quarter on the vast majority of occasions before this game.

Yet two of those unusual games below ten points after three periods took place in the last week: He had nine points going into the fourth against Dallas last week, then had six going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to extend the streak against the Suns. One game later, it concluded – and he celebrated anyway.

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