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LeBron James was aware his historic streak of scoring in double figures was threatened. When it mattered most, however, it was not his focus.

The smart move meant distributing the rock – and he executed. With that selfless act, the legendary streak finished.

James's staggering streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten ended on Thursday night, when the league's career points king had only a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 win against Toronto. He provided the clutch helper, setting up Rui Hachimura for a triple at the buzzer.

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

A Selfless Decision Secures Victory

LeBron had the chance to tried to secure the game – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to dish the ball to Rui in the left corner. Hachimura made the shot, and James exulted with his hands in the air.

“Just playing the game the proper way. Make the correct play,” James remarked. “That’s just been my philosophy. It's how I was taught the game. That's what I've done for two decades.”

“LeBron is acutely aware of his point total he has during a game,” stated the team's head coach the coach. “He did it as he has done so many times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

He returned to the floor one last time with just over five minutes left, the result and the streak on the line. His tally was a mere six points on 3-of-15 shooting then.

He got a bucket with under two minutes remaining to knot the score but then missed a shot at one minute to go which could have pushed him to ten points.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – but could have. Austin Reaves found him with a few seconds left, yet LeBron opted to make the pass instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it the proper way, they tend to bless you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Record

The record began on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the most extended streak of its kind in professional basketball: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787 such games, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run at 575.

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

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. He could have shot but due to the player he is and his character off the court, he chose the pass, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a formality well before the final period. Over the course of the record, he had reached the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

But two such games below ten points through three quarters had happened recently: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

He succeeded in extend the streak against the Suns. One game later, it finished – and he celebrated anyway.

I only ever make the right play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James said. “You make the smart play, the game gods are always rewarding me.”