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LeBron James was aware his monumental run of putting up 10+ points was threatened. At the decisive instant, though, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move 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 NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances was snapped during a recent game, when the league's career points king finished with eight points in the Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus Toronto. He provided the game-winning assist, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a triple at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James replied after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “The important thing is we won.”

An Unselfish Play Seals the Game

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the contest – and extended the streak – on the final possession, yet he opted to dish the ball to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Rui connected, with LeBron raised his arms with his hands in the air.

You have to play basketball the proper way. You always make the smart play,” James explained. “That’s just been my M.O.. That is the way I learned the game. I've played that way throughout my career.”

“LeBron is acutely aware exactly how many points he's scored during a game,” stated Lakers coach the coach. “He did it just as he has countless times.”

The Streak's Closing Chapter

He returned to the floor for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and his personal record on the line. At that stage, he had six points on 3-of-15 shooting then.

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to level the contest but then missed a shot at one minute to go that would have taken him into double figures.

He avoided taking one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball in the waning seconds, yet LeBron opted to make the pass instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it correctly, they will reward you,” the coach concluded.

The History of a Monumental Record

James's streak began back in January 2007. It was easily the most extended double-digit streak in professional basketball: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787 such games, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” said Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He focuses on playing the sport. He had the opportunity but because of the player he is and his personality as an individual, he executed the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and we won the game.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been a formality long before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had reached double figures by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times prior to Thursday.

However, two such single-digit games after three periods took place in the last week: He recorded nine entering the final quarter against Dallas on 28 November, and then had six points going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

He succeeded in preserve the record in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it concluded – but he still rejoiced regardless.

My focus is to make the right play. That comes naturally, no matter what,” James declared. If you make the smart play, the sports deities are always giving back to me.”