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LeBron James was aware his historic streak of putting up 10+ points was at risk. When it mattered most, however, it didn't concern him.

The smart move meant distributing the basketball – and he executed. Following that play, his remarkable run was over.

LeBron's astounding run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season games with 10+ points was snapped this past Thursday, as the league's career points king had only eight total points during the Lakers' 123-120 win against Toronto. He delivered the decisive pass, feeding Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James stated after being questioned about the streak ending. “We won.”

An Unselfish Play Seals the Game

James could have tried to secure the game – while also extending his record – on the final possession, yet he opted to make the extra pass to his teammate in the left corner. Rui connected, with LeBron celebrated triumphantly.

You have to play the game the right way. You always make the correct play,” James noted. That is how I operate. It's how I learned to play. I've played that way for two decades.”

He is fully cognizant of how many points he's scored at any point,” said the team's head coach the coach. He made the play just as he has countless times.”

The Record's Final Moments

LeBron checked back into the floor for the final time at 5:23 remaining, the result and the streak on the line. He had a mere six points from 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He scored at under two minutes remaining to knot the score and missed a 14-footer at 1:01 left that might have pushed him into double figures.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – but could have. Austin Reaves gave James the ball in the waning seconds, but James opted to make the extra pass instead.

“The basketball gods, when you play it the right way, they will reward you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Run

The record began on Jan. 6, 2007. It was easily the most extended double-digit streak in professional basketball: MJ had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and Karl Malone recorded with 575.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” said teammate Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing hoops. He had the opportunity but due to the player he is and his character as a person, he chose the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and secured the victory.”

Reaching double digits had typically been a formality long before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had reached the 10-point mark entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions before this game.

Yet two such games below ten points after three periods had happened recently: He recorded nine going into the fourth against Dallas last week, and then had six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to extend the streak against the Suns. In the following contest, it was over – but he still rejoiced regardless.

I only ever make the right play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James declared. When you make the unselfish play, the game gods are always rewarding me.”