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The Lakers star knew his incredible run of scoring in double figures was at risk. At the decisive instant, though, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the ball – and he executed. Following that play, the legendary streak finished.

James's astounding run of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points was snapped on Thursday night, as basketball's greatest scorer was limited to a mere eight points in the Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He made the decisive pass, setting up teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-point shot to win the game.

“Nothing,” James stated when asked about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Decision Secures Victory

LeBron had the chance to tried to secure the game – while also extending his record – on the final possession, but he chose to dish the ball to Hachimura on the wing. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron exulted immediately.

You have to play the game the proper way. You always make the correct play,” James explained. That is how I operate. That’s how I was taught the game. I’ve done that my whole career.”

“LeBron is fully cognizant of his point total he has during a game,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play just as he has throughout his career.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

LeBron checked back into the floor one last time at just over five minutes left, the result and the streak both hanging in the balance. His tally was a mere six points from a 3-for-15 performance then.

He got a bucket at under two minutes remaining to knot the score then missed a 14-footer at 1:01 left that would have taken him to ten points.

He passed up one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. A teammate passed him the ball in the waning seconds, but James chose to make the pass instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, when you play it the proper way, they will bless you,” Redick added.

Reflecting on a Staggering Streak

James's streak commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the greatest such streak in professional basketball: MJ previously held a streak of 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list of 575 games.

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

He simply plays hoops. The chance was there but because of the player he is and his character as a person, he made the unselfish play, found Rui and we won the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been an afterthought early in the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had attained ten points by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

Yet two of those rare single-digit games through three quarters took place just days before: He recorded nine going into the fourth against Dallas on 28 November, followed by six points going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

James managed to preserve the record against the Suns. One game later, it was over – and he celebrated all the same.

I only ever make the right play. That comes naturally, win, lose or draw,” James affirmed. When you make the unselfish play, the game gods consistently rewarding me.”