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The Lakers star knew his historic streak of putting up 10+ points was in danger. When it mattered most, however, it was not his focus.

The smart move involved passing the ball – so he did. With that selfless act, his remarkable run was over.

LeBron's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season games with 10+ points concluded this past Thursday, as basketball's greatest scorer was limited to a mere eight points in the Lakers' 123-120 win against Toronto. He provided the clutch helper, setting up Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer as time expired.

“None,” James said after being questioned on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Decision Seals Victory

James could have sought to clinch the game – while also extending the streak – on the final possession, but he chose to dish the ball to Rui in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron exulted triumphantly.

It's about playing basketball correctly. Always make the smart play,” James noted. “That’s just been my M.O.. It's how I was instructed the game. I’ve done that my whole career.”

He is acutely aware of his point total he's scored during a game,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted as he has done countless times.”

The Streak's Closing Chapter

He returned to the floor one last time with just over five minutes left, the result and his personal record both hanging in the balance. He had six points on 3 for 15 from the field then.

He scored at 1:46 left to level the contest and missed a shot with 1:01 left that would have pushed him to ten points.

He didn’t take another shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball in the waning seconds, but James decided to make the pass instead of shooting.

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

Reflecting on a Monumental Record

This incredible run commenced over eighteen years ago. It stood as the greatest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run with 575.

LeBron is such an unselfish player,” remarked Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but due to his nature as a player and his personality off the court, he executed the pass, passed it to Rui and we won the game.”

Reaching double digits had long been a formality early in the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had reached ten points by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times before this game.

But two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters had occurred just days before: He had nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas on 28 November, then had six going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

LeBron was able to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it concluded – and he celebrated anyway.

“I always just make the correct play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James affirmed. When you make the smart play, the basketball gods consistently rewarding me.”