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The Lakers star knew his historic run of scoring in double figures was threatened. When it mattered most, however, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move involved passing the ball – and he executed. With that selfless act, the legendary streak was over.

LeBron's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games with 10+ points was snapped on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against Toronto. He provided the clutch helper, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer as time expired.

“Nothing,” James stated after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “We won.”

A Team-First Play Delivers Victory

He might have tried to secure the contest – while also extending the streak – with the last shot, but he chose to make the extra pass to Rui on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James raised his arms triumphantly.

You have to play the game the proper way. Always make the correct play,” James remarked. “That’s just been my philosophy. It's how I was taught to play. That's what I've done my whole career.”

He is acutely aware exactly how many points he's scored during a game,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick. He acted as he has done throughout his career.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

He returned to the floor for the final time at just over five minutes left, the result and his personal record up for grabs. His tally was a mere six points on 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He got a bucket at under two minutes remaining to knot the score but then missed a shot with one minute to go that might have gotten him to ten points.

He didn’t take another shot – but could have. Austin Reaves gave James the ball with a few seconds left, but James opted to make the extra pass instead.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it the proper way, they often reward you,” the coach concluded.

Reflecting on a Staggering Streak

The record started over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the greatest such streak in NBA history: His Airness, Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run at 575.

He is such a pass-first superstar,” remarked teammate a fellow Laker.

He simply plays the game of basketball. The chance was there but because of his nature as a player and his character as an individual, he made the pass, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a guarantee well before the final period. Over the course of the record, he had attained the 10-point mark entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

However, two such games below ten points after three periods had occurred in the last week: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, and then had six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

James managed to keep the streak alive against the Suns. One game later, it concluded – yet he was celebrating all the same.

I only ever make the right play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James said. If you make the unselfish play, the sports deities forever giving back to me.”