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The Lakers star knew his monumental streak of scoring in double figures was threatened. When it mattered most, though, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move was to pass the ball – so he did. Consequently, the unprecedented record came to an end.

James's astounding run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season double-digit scoring performances concluded during a recent game, as the league's career points king had only eight points during the Lakers' close triumph versus Toronto. He made the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James replied when asked about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Play Seals Victory

He might have sought to clinch the game – and extended his record – on the final possession, yet he opted to make the extra pass to Hachimura on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, and James exulted triumphantly.

You have to play the game correctly. You always make the right play,” James explained. That has always been my philosophy. That’s how I was taught to play. I’ve done that for two decades.”

“LeBron is fully cognizant of how many points he has at any point,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted as he has done throughout his career.”

The Record's End Game

James re-entered the game for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and the streak up for grabs. At that stage, he had a mere six points on a 3-for-15 performance then.

He scored at under two minutes remaining to level the contest then missed a 14-footer at 1:01 left that would have gotten him to ten points.

He didn’t take another shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves found him as time wound down, yet LeBron chose to make the extra pass instead.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it the right way, they tend to bless you,” Redick stated.

The History of an Unparalleled Record

James's streak commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the most extended streak of its kind in professional basketball: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem recorded 787, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list of 575 games.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” said Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing hoops. He had the opportunity but because of the player he is and just who he is as an individual, he executed the pass, dished to Hachimura and secured the victory.”

Getting to ten points was usually a formality well before the start of fourth quarters. During James’s streak, he had attained ten points entering the fourth over twelve hundred times prior to Thursday.

However, two such games below ten points after three periods took place just days before: He had nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, followed by six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to extend the streak against the Suns. In the following contest, it concluded – yet he was celebrating regardless.

“I always just make the correct play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James said. If you make the right play, the basketball gods are always rewarding me.”