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The Lakers star knew his historic run of putting up 10+ points was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, it didn't concern him.

The smart move was to pass the rock – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, his remarkable run finished.

James's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season double-digit scoring performances concluded on Thursday night, when the league's career points king finished with eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the decisive pass, finding Rui Hachimura for a triple to win the game.

“None,” James stated in response on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Choice Secures the Win

LeBron had the chance to attempted to win the game – while also extending his record – with the last shot, yet he opted to make the extra pass to Rui in the left corner. Hachimura made the shot, with LeBron celebrated immediately.

It's about playing basketball the proper way. Make the smart play,” James explained. That is my philosophy. It's how I learned to play. I’ve done that my whole career.”

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

The Streak's Final Moments

He returned to the floor one last time at just over five minutes left, the win and his personal record up for grabs. He had a mere six points on 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He scored at under two minutes remaining to tie the game then missed a mid-range jumper with 1:01 left that would have pushed him into double figures.

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

The basketball deities, when you play it the right way, they will repay you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at a Monumental Record

James's streak commenced back in January 2007. It was, by far the longest 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 recorded at 575.

He is such an unselfish player,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing hoops. He could have shot but because of the player he is and his personality as a person, he executed the pass, passed it to Rui and claimed the game.”

Reaching double digits had long been an afterthought well before the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had attained double figures entering the fourth 1,266 times before this game.

But two of those rare single-digit games through three quarters took place in the last week: He had nine going into the fourth against Dallas last week, and then had six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it concluded – but he still rejoiced all the same.

My focus is to make the best play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James declared. If you make the smart play, the sports deities forever returning the favor.”