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LeBron James was aware his incredible streak of putting up 10+ points was threatened. In that crucial moment, though, he wasn't bothered.

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

LeBron's astounding streak of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten concluded on Thursday night, when basketball's greatest scorer had only eight total points in the Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus Toronto. He provided the clutch helper, finding Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James said after being questioned on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Play Delivers Victory

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the game – and preserved the streak – on the final possession, instead, he decided to make the extra pass to his teammate in the left corner. Hachimura made the shot, and James raised his arms with his hands in the air.

It's about playing the game correctly. Always make the right play,” James remarked. “That’s just been how I operate. That’s how I was instructed the game. I’ve done that for two decades.”

“LeBron is acutely aware of how many points he's scored at any point,” said Lakers coach the coach. “He did it just as he has countless times.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

He returned to the contest for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and his personal record both hanging in the balance. At that stage, he had only six points on 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He managed a basket with 1:46 left to level the contest then missed a 14-footer at one minute to go that would have taken him to double digits.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves passed him the ball in the waning seconds, but James decided to make the pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you approach it the proper way, they often bless you,” Redick stated.

The History of a Monumental Streak

James's streak started on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the greatest double-digit streak in NBA history: Michael Jordan had 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and The Mailman recorded with 575.

He is such an unselfish player,” noted Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing the sport. He could have shot but due to his nature as a player and his personality off the court, he chose the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and secured the victory.”

Getting to ten points had long been a guarantee well before the fourth quarter began. Throughout his run, he had reached ten points by the start of the fourth 1,266 times before this game.

Yet two such single-digit games after three periods had happened recently: He had nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, and then had six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

He succeeded in extend the streak against the Suns. In the following contest, it was over – and he celebrated anyway.

“I always just make the right play. That is instinctive, regardless of outcome,” James declared. If you make the unselfish play, the sports deities forever returning the favor.”