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LeBron James was aware his monumental streak of reaching double digits was in danger. In that crucial moment, though, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move meant distributing the ball – so he did. Consequently, his remarkable run came to an end.

James's astounding streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten concluded on Thursday night, when the league's career points king finished with eight points during the Lakers' close victory over Toronto. He made the clutch helper, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James stated after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Decision Delivers the Game

James could have sought to clinch the game – and extended the streak – in the closing seconds, instead, he decided to pass to Rui in the left corner. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James raised his arms triumphantly.

You have to play the game the right way. Make the correct play,” James explained. That is my M.O.. That is the way I learned to play. That's what I've done my whole career.”

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

The Streak's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the contest for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the result along with the historic run on the line. His tally was six points on 3 for 15 from the field then.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to knot the score but then missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go that would have pushed him to ten points.

He passed up a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves passed him the ball with a few seconds left, yet LeBron opted to dish it off instead of shooting.

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

The History of an Unparalleled Streak

The record began on Jan. 6, 2007. It was easily the greatest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

LeBron is such an unselfish player,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He simply plays the game of basketball. He could have shot but because of his nature as a player and just who he is as a person, he made the pass, passed it to Rui and secured the game.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been an afterthought early in the final period. Throughout his run, he had attained the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth on the vast majority of occasions before this game.

Yet two of those unusual games below ten points after three periods had happened in the last week: He recorded nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

LeBron was able to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. One game later, it concluded – and he celebrated regardless.

I only ever make the right play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James said. When you make the right play, the game gods consistently giving back to me.”