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LeBron James was aware his incredible run of reaching double digits was threatened. At the decisive instant, however, it didn't concern him.

The right decision was to pass the ball – and he executed. Following that play, the legendary streak was over.

LeBron's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten was snapped this past Thursday, as basketball's greatest scorer finished with a mere eight points during the Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the clutch helper, setting up Rui Hachimura for a three-point shot as time expired.

“Nothing,” James stated in response regarding the conclusion of his run. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Choice Seals Victory

LeBron had the chance to tried to secure the contest – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to make the extra pass to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura sank it, and James exulted immediately.

“Just playing the game the right way. Always make the smart play,” James noted. That has always been my M.O.. It's how I learned to play. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

He is fully cognizant of his point total he's scored during a game,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play just as he has so many times.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the floor one last time with under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and the streak both hanging in the balance. His tally was only six points on 3-of-15 shooting by that point.

He got a bucket with 1:46 left to tie the game but then missed a 14-footer with one minute to go that would have pushed him into double figures.

He didn’t take another shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves gave James the ball with a few seconds left, however, James chose to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it the right way, they often bless you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Run

This incredible run began over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the most extended such streak in NBA history: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and The Mailman recorded with 575.

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

“He’s just playing hoops. The chance was there but given his nature as a player and his character as a person, he chose the team play, found Rui and secured the game.”

Getting to ten points had long been a guarantee early in the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had reached ten points by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times prior to Thursday.

However, two of those rare single-digit games after three periods took place just days before: He had nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, then had six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

James managed to extend the streak against the Suns. One game later, it was over – yet he was celebrating anyway.

I only ever make the right play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James said. When you make the smart play, the basketball gods consistently giving back to me.”