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James understood his historic streak of scoring in double figures was threatened. When it mattered most, though, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move was to pass the basketball – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, his remarkable run was over.

LeBron's staggering streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games with 10+ points concluded during a recent game, as basketball's greatest scorer was limited to eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against Toronto. He delivered the decisive pass, setting up Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“None,” James stated in response about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Selfless Decision Delivers Victory

James could have attempted to win the contest – while also extending the streak – with the last shot, instead, he decided to make the extra pass to Rui stationed in the corner. Rui connected, with LeBron raised his arms with his hands in the air.

You have to play basketball correctly. Make the correct play,” James noted. That is my M.O.. That is the way I learned the game. I’ve done that my whole career.”

“LeBron is very conscious of his point total he has during a game,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick. “He did it like he’s done countless times.”

The Streak's End Game

LeBron checked back into the floor for the final time with 5:23 remaining, the result and the streak both hanging in the balance. At that stage, he had a mere six points from 3 for 15 from the field then.

He got a bucket with under two minutes remaining to knot the score and missed a mid-range jumper at one minute to go which could have gotten him into double figures.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. A teammate found him as time wound down, however, James decided to make the extra pass instead.

“The basketball gods, if you do it correctly, they tend to bless you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at a Monumental Record

The record began on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the most extended streak of its kind in professional basketball: MJ had 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and The Mailman was fourth on the list with 575.

He is such a team-oriented player,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. He could have shot but because of his nature as a player and just who he is as an individual, he chose the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and secured the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a guarantee well before the final period. Over the course of the record, he had achieved double figures entering the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

However, two such games below ten points through three quarters had happened recently: He recorded nine entering the final quarter against Dallas on 28 November, followed by six going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it concluded – and he celebrated regardless.

My focus is to make the right play. That is instinctive, win, lose or draw,” James affirmed. “You make the right play, the game gods consistently rewarding me.”