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LeBron James was aware his historic run of reaching double digits was in danger. In that crucial moment, though, it was not his focus.

The smart move was to pass the ball – so he did. With that selfless act, his remarkable run finished.

James's staggering run of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season games with 10+ points ended on Thursday night, as basketball's greatest scorer had only eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over Toronto. He made the decisive pass, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot to win the game.

“Nothing,” James said in response about the streak ending. “The important thing is we won.”

An Unselfish Decision Seals the Game

James could have sought to clinch the contest – and extended the streak – on the final possession, instead, he decided to dish the ball to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, and James celebrated with his hands in the air.

“Just playing basketball correctly. You always make the smart play,” James noted. “That’s just been my philosophy. That’s how I learned the game. I've played that way throughout my career.”

He is very conscious of how many points he's scored at all times,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play just as he has throughout his career.”

The Streak's Closing Chapter

He returned to the game one last time with just over five minutes left, the result and the streak both hanging in the balance. He had only six points on 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He scored with 1:46 left to level the contest and missed a 14-footer at one minute to go which could have gotten him to double digits.

He didn’t take one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. A teammate passed him the ball with a few seconds left, yet LeBron decided to dish it off instead.

“The basketball gods, if you approach it the right way, they often bless you,” the coach concluded.

Reflecting on a Monumental Run

This incredible run started over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the longest such streak in professional basketball: Michael Jordan had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787, and The Mailman was fourth on the list at 575.

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

He focuses on playing hoops. He could have shot but because of the player he is and just who he is as an individual, he executed the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and secured the game.”

Scoring in double figures was usually a guarantee long before the final period. During James’s streak, he had reached ten points by the start of the fourth 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

Yet two of those rare single-digit games after three periods took place recently: He recorded nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, and then had six points before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

He succeeded in keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it concluded – yet he was celebrating regardless.

My focus is to make the best play. That is instinctive, win, lose or draw,” James said. “You make the smart play, the game gods are always giving back to me.”