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James understood his monumental run of reaching double digits was in danger. When it mattered most, though, it was not his focus.

The right decision involved passing the basketball – so he did. Consequently, his remarkable run came to an end.

James's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points was snapped this past Thursday, when the league's career points king had only a mere eight points during the Los Angeles Lakers' close triumph versus Toronto. He provided the clutch helper, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot to win the game.

“Zero,” James stated when asked on the record concluding. “We won.”

A Selfless Play Delivers Victory

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the game – and preserved the streak – on the final possession, yet he opted to dish the ball to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron exulted immediately.

You have to play basketball correctly. You always make the right play,” James remarked. That has always been how I operate. That’s how I was instructed to play. That's what I've done my whole career.”

“LeBron is fully cognizant of his point total he has at any point,” commented Lakers coach JJ Redick. He made the play like he’s done countless times.”

The Streak's End Game

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

He got a bucket at 1:46 left to tie the game then missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go which could have taken him to double digits.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball with a few seconds left, yet LeBron chose to dish it off instead.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it the right way, they tend to reward you,” Redick stated.

Reflecting on a Staggering Record

This incredible run started on Jan. 6, 2007. It was easily the longest such streak in professional basketball: MJ had 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and The Mailman recorded at 575.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” said teammate Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the sport. He could have shot but given the player he is and his personality off the court, he chose the team play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Reaching double digits was usually a formality long before the final period. Over the course of the record, he had achieved the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

Yet two of those unusual games below ten points after three periods took place in the last week: He recorded nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

James managed to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. One game later, it concluded – and he celebrated all the same.

My focus is to make the correct play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James affirmed. When you make the unselfish play, the basketball gods forever rewarding me.”