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The Lakers star knew his historic streak of scoring in double figures was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, it was not his focus.

The smart move meant distributing the rock – which is exactly what he did. With that selfless act, the unprecedented record finished.

LeBron's astounding run of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points concluded on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the game-winning assist, finding Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple to win the game.

“Zero,” James said when asked on the record concluding. “We won.”

A Team-First Decision Delivers the Game

James could have attempted to win the game – and preserved the streak – on the final possession, but he chose to pass to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron exulted immediately.

“Just playing the game the proper way. You always make the smart play,” James remarked. “That’s just been how I operate. That is the way I was taught the game. I’ve done that throughout my career.”

James is very conscious of his point total he has at all times,” stated Lakers coach the coach. He made the play as he has done throughout his career.”

The Run's Final Moments

LeBron checked back into the floor for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the win and his personal record on the line. At that stage, he had only six points on 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

He scored at 1:46 left to tie the game then missed a mid-range jumper with 1:01 left that might have taken him to ten points.

He didn’t take one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves found him as time wound down, yet LeBron decided to dish it off instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, when you play it the proper way, they tend to bless you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at a Monumental Streak

The record started on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the greatest double-digit streak in NBA history: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787, and The Mailman was fourth on the list of 575 games.

He is such a team-oriented player,” noted Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing hoops. The chance was there but because of who he is on the court and just who he is off the court, he executed the team play, found Rui and we won the victory.”

Getting to ten points was usually a guarantee early in the fourth quarter began. Over the course of the record, he had achieved the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times coming into the contest.

However, two of those unusual games below ten points after three periods took place recently: He recorded nine going into the fourth against Dallas last week, followed by six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

LeBron was able to preserve the record against the Suns. The very next outing, it finished – and he celebrated regardless.

My focus is to make the right play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James declared. “You make the unselfish play, the sports deities forever giving back to me.”