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

The right decision meant distributing the rock – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, the legendary streak came to an end.

LeBron's astounding run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten ended this past Thursday, as the league's career points king was limited to a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the decisive pass, finding Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer to win the game.

“Zero,” James replied when asked on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Choice Secures the Game

He might have attempted to win the game – and preserved the streak – on the final possession, yet he opted to make the extra pass to his teammate in the left corner. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James raised his arms triumphantly.

It's about playing basketball correctly. Always make the correct play,” James explained. That has always been my M.O.. That is the way I was instructed the game. I've played that way for two decades.”

“LeBron is acutely aware exactly how many points he's scored during a game,” commented the team's head coach the coach. “He did it as he has done so many times.”

The Record's End Game

He returned to the floor one last time at just over five minutes left, the outcome along with the historic run both hanging in the balance. He had only six points on 3 for 15 from the field then.

He got a bucket with 1:46 left to knot the score but then missed a 14-footer with 1:01 left that might have taken him to ten points.

He passed up a subsequent shot – but could have. Austin Reaves found him with a few seconds left, yet LeBron chose to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, when you play it the proper way, they often bless you,” Redick added.

The History of a Staggering Run

James's streak started back in January 2007. It was, by far the greatest such streak the league has ever seen: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787 such games, and Karl Malone recorded of 575 games.

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

He focuses on playing the sport. He could have shot but due to the player he is and his character off the court, he executed the team play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the victory.”

Getting to ten points was usually a formality well before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had attained the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times prior to Thursday.

But two of those unusual games below ten points through three quarters took place just days before: He recorded nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, and then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to keep the streak alive against the Suns. In the following contest, it was over – and he celebrated anyway.

My focus is to make the correct play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James said. “You make the unselfish play, the game gods are always rewarding me.”