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LeBron James was aware his monumental streak of scoring in double figures was threatened. In that crucial moment, however, it was not his focus.

The right decision was to pass the ball – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, his remarkable run came to an end.

LeBron's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games with 10+ points concluded this past Thursday, when the league's career points king was limited to eight points in the Lakers' close victory over Toronto. He delivered the decisive pass, feeding Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James said when asked on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Decision Seals Victory

LeBron had the chance to attempted to win the game – and preserved his record – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to make the extra pass to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Hachimura made the shot, with LeBron celebrated triumphantly.

You have to play the game correctly. Always make the smart play,” James noted. That is my philosophy. That’s how I learned the game. I’ve done that throughout my career.”

He is acutely aware of how many points he's scored during a game,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it just as he has countless times.”

The Record's End Game

He returned to the game for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the result along with the historic run both hanging in the balance. He had only six points from 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He got a bucket with under two minutes remaining to tie the game then missed a shot with one minute to go which could have taken him into double figures.

He avoided taking another shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate passed him the ball with a few seconds left, yet LeBron decided to make the extra pass instead.

The basketball deities, when you play it correctly, they often bless you,” Redick added.

Reflecting on an Unparalleled Record

The record commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the greatest streak of its kind in professional basketball: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and The Mailman recorded with 575.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” noted Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. He could have shot but due to the player he is and his personality off the court, he made the pass, dished to Hachimura and we won the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a guarantee long before the fourth quarter began. Over the course of the record, he had attained the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth 1,266 times before this game.

But two of those unusual games below ten points after three periods took place recently: He had nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, followed by six points going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

James managed to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. One game later, it concluded – yet he was celebrating all the same.

My focus is to make the correct play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James declared. If you make the right play, the game gods are always giving back to me.”