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The Lakers star knew his incredible run of reaching double digits was threatened. In that crucial moment, however, he wasn't bothered.

The right decision was to pass the basketball – so he did. Following that play, his remarkable run came to an end.

James's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten ended on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the clutch helper, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-point shot to win the game.

“Nothing,” James said after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Choice Seals the Win

He might have sought to clinch the game – and extended the streak – in the closing seconds, but he chose to make the extra pass to Rui on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, and James celebrated triumphantly.

You have to play basketball correctly. Make the correct play,” James remarked. “That’s just been my M.O.. It's how I learned to play. I've played that way throughout my career.”

He is very conscious of how many points he's scored during a game,” commented the team's head coach the coach. “He did it just as he has so many times.”

The Run's Final Moments

James re-entered the contest for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the win and his personal record up for grabs. At that stage, he had six points on a 3-for-15 performance at that juncture.

He scored at under two minutes remaining to knot the score then missed a shot at one minute to go which could have pushed him to double digits.

He passed up another shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate passed him the ball as time wound down, however, James chose to make the pass instead.

The basketball deities, if you do it the right way, they tend to reward you,” Redick added.

Reflecting on a Staggering Run

This incredible run commenced over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the most extended streak of its kind the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone recorded with 575.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing the sport. He had the opportunity but due to who he is on the court and his character as a person, he made the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and we won the game.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a guarantee early in the final period. Over the course of the record, he had attained double figures by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times coming into the contest.

But two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters had happened just days before: He had nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, followed by six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to keep the streak alive against the Suns. One game later, it finished – and he celebrated regardless.

I only ever make the best play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James declared. If you make the right play, the basketball gods consistently giving back to me.”