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The Lakers star knew his monumental streak of putting up 10+ points was threatened. At the decisive instant, though, it didn't concern him.

The right decision was to pass the rock – and he executed. Following that play, the unprecedented record finished.

James's astounding streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season double-digit scoring performances concluded this past Thursday, as the league's career points king finished with eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the game-winning assist, feeding Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“None,” James replied after being questioned about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

A Selfless Decision Delivers Victory

He might have tried to secure the game – and preserved his record – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to dish the ball to Hachimura in the left corner. Rui connected, and James exulted immediately.

“Just playing the game the proper way. You always make the smart play,” James explained. That is my M.O.. That is the way I was instructed to play. That's what I've done my whole career.”

James is very conscious 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

LeBron checked back into the game one last time with 5:23 remaining, the win along with the historic run both hanging in the balance. His tally was six points from a 3-for-15 performance then.

He managed a basket at under two minutes remaining to level the contest and missed a shot at one minute to go that might have pushed him to double digits.

He avoided taking another shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate found him in the waning seconds, yet LeBron opted to dish it off instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, when you play it correctly, they tend to bless you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at a Staggering Record

The record started over eighteen years ago. It was easily the longest double-digit streak in NBA history: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

He is such an unselfish player,” noted Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He simply plays the game of basketball. He could have shot but because of his nature as a player and his character as an individual, he made the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and we won the game.”

Getting to ten points had typically been a formality early in the final period. During James’s streak, he had reached ten points by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

Yet two of those unusual games below ten points through three quarters had happened recently: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, and then had six points going into the fourth versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. One game later, it finished – and he celebrated anyway.

My focus is to make the right play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James affirmed. If you make the unselfish play, the basketball gods are always giving back to me.”