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LeBron James was aware his incredible streak of putting up 10+ points was in danger. At the decisive instant, however, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move involved passing the rock – which is exactly what he did. With that selfless act, his remarkable run was over.

LeBron's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight regular-season outings scoring at least ten concluded this past Thursday, when basketball's greatest scorer had only eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus Toronto. He provided the decisive pass, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot to win the game.

“Zero,” James stated in response on the record concluding. “We won.”

A Team-First Decision Delivers the Win

He might have attempted to win the contest – while also extending the streak – with the last shot, instead, he decided to pass to Hachimura in the left corner. Rui connected, prompting James exulted triumphantly.

You have to play basketball the proper way. Make the smart play,” James remarked. That is how I operate. It's how I learned to play. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

James is fully cognizant exactly how many points he has during a game,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it as he has done so many times.”

The Streak's Final Moments

He returned to the game for the final time with 5:23 remaining, the win and his personal record both hanging in the balance. His tally was six points from 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

He managed a basket at 1:46 left to knot the score and missed a mid-range jumper with 1:01 left that might have taken him into double figures.

He avoided taking another shot – but could have. A teammate gave James the ball as time wound down, however, James decided to make the pass instead.

The basketball deities, if you do it the proper way, they tend to bless you,” Redick added.

Reflecting on a Monumental Run

The record started back in January 2007. It stood as the greatest streak of its kind in NBA history: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787 such games, and The Mailman recorded with 575.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He simply plays hoops. The chance was there but due to the player he is and his character as an individual, he made the team play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the victory.”

Scoring in double figures was usually a formality long before the final period. During James’s streak, he had reached double figures by the start of the fourth 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

But two such games below ten points after three periods took place in the last week: He had nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, and then had six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to preserve the record against the Suns. In the following contest, it concluded – yet he was celebrating anyway.

“I always just make the correct play. That comes naturally, no matter what,” James affirmed. If you make the right play, the sports deities are always rewarding me.”