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The Lakers star knew his incredible run of putting up 10+ points was in danger. In that crucial moment, however, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play was to pass the rock – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, his remarkable run finished.

James's unprecedented streak of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten ended on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only a mere eight points in the Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus Toronto. He provided the clutch helper, feeding Rui Hachimura for a three-point shot to win the game.

“None,” James said in response regarding the conclusion of his run. “The important thing is we won.”

An Unselfish Play Secures the Win

LeBron had the chance to tried to secure the game – and extended his record – with the last shot, yet he opted to dish the ball to Rui stationed in the corner. Rui connected, with LeBron celebrated triumphantly.

You have to play the game the proper way. Always make the smart play,” James explained. “That’s just been how I operate. That is the way I was instructed the game. That's what I've done my whole career.”

He is acutely aware of his point total he's scored at any point,” commented the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it as he has done so many times.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

He returned to the floor one last time with under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome along with the historic run on the line. His tally was a mere six points from 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He got a bucket with under two minutes remaining to knot the score but then missed a 14-footer at 1:01 left that might have pushed him to ten points.

He didn’t take one more attempt – even though he had a chance. A teammate found him as time wound down, yet LeBron decided to make the pass instead of shooting.

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

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Run

This incredible run began back in January 2007. It stood as the longest such streak in NBA history: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run at 575.

He is such a team-oriented player,” said teammate Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. He could have shot but because of who he is on the court and his character off the court, he chose the pass, passed it to Rui and secured the game.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been a guarantee early in the final period. Over the course of the record, he had achieved ten points by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

But two of those unusual games below ten points after three periods had happened just days before: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six points going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to extend the streak against the Suns. In the following contest, it was over – but he still rejoiced regardless.

My focus is to make the right play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James declared. If you make the right play, the basketball gods consistently rewarding me.”