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James understood his monumental run of putting up 10+ points was at risk. At the decisive instant, however, it was not his focus.

The right decision meant distributing the rock – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, the unprecedented record finished.

James's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances ended this past Thursday, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 win against Toronto. He provided the game-winning assist, setting up Rui Hachimura for a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“None,” James said in response about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Team-First Decision Delivers the Game

James could have sought to clinch the game – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to pass to his teammate on the wing. Rui connected, prompting James raised his arms with his hands in the air.

“Just playing basketball the right way. Always make the right play,” James remarked. That is how I operate. That is the way I was taught the game. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

He is fully cognizant of his point total he's scored at any point,” commented Lakers coach JJ Redick. He acted like he’s done so many times.”

The Record's Closing Chapter

He returned to the floor one last time at just over five minutes left, the outcome along with the historic run on the line. At that stage, he had only six points on a 3-for-15 performance then.

He scored at 1:46 left to tie the game and missed a shot with 1:01 left that would have pushed him to ten points.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. Austin Reaves gave James the ball as time wound down, but James chose to dish it off instead.

“The basketball gods, when you play it the proper way, they tend to bless you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at a Monumental Record

This incredible run commenced back in January 2007. It was, by far the greatest such streak the league has ever seen: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list at 575.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing hoops. He had the opportunity but due to who he is on the court and his character as an individual, he executed the team play, found Rui and secured the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been an afterthought long before the final period. During James’s streak, he had reached double figures by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

However, two of those rare single-digit games after three periods had happened recently: He recorded nine points going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, followed by six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to keep the streak alive against the Suns. One game later, it finished – and he celebrated all the same.

“I always just make the best play. That is instinctive, win, lose or draw,” James declared. “You make the right play, the sports deities are always returning the favor.”