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The Lakers star knew his incredible streak of reaching double digits was in danger. In that crucial moment, though, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision was to pass the rock – and he executed. With that selfless act, his remarkable run was over.

James's staggering run of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points was snapped this past Thursday, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader was limited to a mere eight points during the Lakers' close triumph versus Toronto. He provided the clutch helper, feeding Rui Hachimura to hit a triple as time expired.

“Zero,” James replied after being questioned about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Choice Seals the Win

He might have attempted to win the game – while also extending his record – with the last shot, yet he opted to dish the ball to his teammate in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron celebrated triumphantly.

You have to play the game the proper way. Make the right play,” James remarked. That is my philosophy. It's how I learned to play. I've played that way my whole career.”

He is acutely aware exactly how many points he has at any point,” stated Lakers coach JJ Redick. He acted like he’s done throughout his career.”

The Run's End Game

James re-entered the contest for the final time at just over five minutes left, the result and his personal record on the line. At that stage, he had a mere six points from 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He managed a basket with under two minutes remaining to level the contest but then missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go that would have gotten him into double figures.

He didn’t take one more attempt – even though he had a chance. A teammate passed him the ball in the waning seconds, but James opted to dish it off instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you do it the right way, they tend to reward you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at a Monumental Record

This incredible run started back in January 2007. It was easily the longest such streak the league has ever seen: MJ had 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and Karl Malone recorded with 575.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” said teammate Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but because of who he is on the court and his character off the court, he made the pass, found Rui and we won the victory.”

Reaching double digits was usually a formality long before the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had achieved double figures by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times coming into the contest.

Yet two of those rare games below ten points after three periods took place just days before: He had nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, then had six going into the fourth versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to extend the streak against the Suns. The very next outing, it finished – yet he was celebrating anyway.

“I always just make the best play. That is instinctive, win, lose or draw,” James said. “You make the right play, the basketball gods forever returning the favor.”