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LeBron James was aware his historic run of reaching double digits was in danger. In that crucial moment, however, it was not his focus.

The smart move involved passing the basketball – so he did. Following that play, his remarkable run finished.

LeBron's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten was snapped during a recent game, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader was limited to eight total points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close triumph versus Toronto. He made the clutch helper, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer as time expired.

“Nothing,” James replied after being questioned about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Decision Secures the Win

LeBron had the chance to tried to secure the contest – while also extending the streak – on the final possession, but he chose to dish the ball to Rui on the wing. Rui connected, and James exulted triumphantly.

You have to play basketball the proper way. Make the correct play,” James noted. “That’s just been my philosophy. That’s how I was instructed the game. I've played that way for two decades.”

He is acutely aware of how many points he's scored at any point,” stated Lakers coach the coach. “He did it just as he has countless times.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the floor for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the result and his personal record both hanging in the balance. He had a mere six points from 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He managed a basket with under two minutes remaining to tie the game and missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go that would have pushed him to ten points.

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

The basketball deities, if you approach it the right way, they often reward you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Run

The record started back in January 2007. It was, by far the longest such streak the league has ever seen: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem recorded 787, and The Mailman was fourth on the list of 575 games.

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

“He’s just playing hoops. He could have shot but because of the player he is and his personality as a person, he chose the team play, passed it to Rui and claimed the victory.”

Getting to ten points was usually an afterthought early in the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had achieved the 10-point mark entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions before this game.

But two of those unusual single-digit games after three periods took place just days before: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, and then had six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it concluded – yet he was celebrating anyway.

“I always just make the right play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James said. “You make the unselfish play, the sports deities are always giving back to me.”