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LeBron James was aware his incredible run of scoring in double figures was in danger. When it mattered most, though, it was not his focus.

The smart move meant distributing the rock – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, his remarkable run was over.

LeBron's unprecedented streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances ended during a recent game, when the league's career points king finished with eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the game-winning assist, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot as time expired.

“Zero,” James replied when asked about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Decision Delivers Victory

He might have tried to secure the contest – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, but he chose to make the extra pass to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Rui connected, and James celebrated immediately.

It's about playing the game the right way. Make the correct play,” James remarked. That is my M.O.. That is the way I was taught the game. I've played that way throughout my career.”

James is acutely aware of how many points he has during a game,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted just as he has so many times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the floor one last time with just over five minutes left, the outcome and his personal record up for grabs. He had only six points on a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He scored with under two minutes remaining to level the contest and missed a shot with 1:01 left that would have gotten him to ten points.

He passed up a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate found him with a few seconds left, yet LeBron decided to make the pass instead.

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

Reflecting on a Staggering Run

The record commenced over eighteen years ago. It was easily the most extended double-digit streak the league has ever seen: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem had 787, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

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

He simply plays the sport. He could have shot but because of who he is on the court and his personality as a person, he executed the team play, passed it to Rui and claimed the victory.”

Getting to ten points was usually a guarantee early in the final period. During James’s streak, he had reached the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

But two such games below ten points through three quarters had occurred in the last week: He had nine going into the fourth against Dallas last week, then had six going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

He succeeded in preserve the record in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it concluded – yet he was celebrating anyway.

My focus is to make the right play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James affirmed. If you make the smart play, the game gods consistently giving back to me.”