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The Lakers star knew his historic run of putting up 10+ points was at risk. When it mattered most, though, it didn't concern him.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the basketball – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, the legendary streak came to an end.

LeBron's unprecedented streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season games with 10+ points concluded during a recent game, when the league's career points king finished with eight total points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus Toronto. He provided the clutch helper, setting up Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-point shot as time expired.

“Zero,” James said when asked on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Selfless Decision Delivers the Game

James could have attempted to win the contest – and extended the streak – with the last shot, instead, he decided to dish the ball to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, and James raised his arms triumphantly.

It's about playing basketball the right way. You always make the smart play,” James explained. “That’s just been my philosophy. That’s how I learned to play. I’ve done that my whole career.”

He is fully cognizant of how many points he has during a game,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it 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 win and the streak up for grabs. At that stage, he had six points on a 3-for-15 performance then.

He scored at 1:46 left to level the contest but then missed a 14-footer with 1:01 left that might have gotten him to ten points.

He avoided taking one more attempt – even though he had a chance. A teammate found him as time wound down, but James chose to make the pass instead.

“The basketball gods, if you do it the proper way, they often reward you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Run

This incredible run started over eighteen years ago. It was easily the most extended double-digit streak in NBA history: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run with 575.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” said Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He simply plays the sport. The chance was there but due to who he is on the court and his personality as a person, he made the pass, passed it to Rui and claimed the victory.”

Reaching double digits had typically been a guarantee well before the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had achieved the 10-point mark entering the fourth 1,266 times prior to Thursday.

Yet two of those rare single-digit games after three periods had occurred just days before: He recorded nine entering the final quarter against Dallas last week, and then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to extend the streak against the Suns. In the following contest, it finished – yet he was celebrating all the same.

My focus is to make the best play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James said. “You make the unselfish play, the sports deities are always rewarding me.”