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The Lakers star knew his monumental streak of scoring in double figures was in danger. At the decisive instant, however, it was not his focus.

The right decision involved passing the ball – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, the unprecedented record finished.

James's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten ended this past Thursday, when the league's career points king was limited to eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He made the clutch helper, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James replied after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Decision Secures Victory

James could have tried to secure the game – and extended his record – on the final possession, instead, he decided to dish the ball to Rui stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, and James raised his arms triumphantly.

You have to play basketball correctly. Always make the right play,” James noted. That is how I operate. That is the way I was instructed to play. I’ve done that for two decades.”

He is fully cognizant exactly how many points he's scored during a game,” said the team's head coach the coach. “He did it just as he has countless times.”

The Record's End Game

James re-entered the game one last time with just over five minutes left, the outcome and his personal record up for grabs. He had only six points on 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He got a bucket with 1:46 left to level the contest and missed a 14-footer with one minute to go that would have taken him into double figures.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves gave James the ball as time wound down, but James opted to make the pass instead.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it correctly, they tend to reward you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at a Staggering Record

James's streak started on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the most extended such streak in professional basketball: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run with 575.

“He’s such a pass-first superstar,” remarked teammate Jake LaRavia.

He simply plays the sport. He had the opportunity but due to who he is on the court and his personality as an individual, he chose the team play, dished to Hachimura and we won the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had long been an afterthought early in the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had achieved double figures by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times before this game.

Yet two such games below ten points through three quarters had happened just days before: He had nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, followed by six points going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

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

“I always just make the right play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James said. “You make the right play, the game gods forever returning the favor.”