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James understood his incredible streak of reaching double digits was in danger. When it mattered most, however, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the basketball – and he executed. With that selfless act, the legendary streak finished.

James's staggering run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season outings scoring at least ten was snapped on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with eight points in the Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the game-winning assist, setting up Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot to win the game.

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

An Unselfish Choice Secures the Win

LeBron had the chance to attempted to win the contest – and preserved the streak – on the final possession, yet he opted to dish the ball to Rui in the left corner. Rui connected, with LeBron exulted triumphantly.

“Just playing the game the proper way. Always make the right play,” James noted. That is my philosophy. It's how I was instructed to play. That's what I've done for two decades.”

“LeBron is fully cognizant of how many points he has at all times,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it as he has done throughout his career.”

The Streak's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the game one last time with 5:23 remaining, the outcome along with the historic run on the line. At that stage, he had only six points from 3 for 15 from the field by that point.

He managed a basket at under two minutes remaining to knot the score but then missed a shot at 1:01 left which could have taken him to double digits.

He passed up one more attempt – even though he had a chance. A teammate gave James the ball with a few seconds left, however, James opted to make the pass instead.

“The basketball gods, if you do it the proper way, they tend to reward you,” Redick added.

A Look Back at a Staggering Record

This incredible run started on Jan. 6, 2007. It stood as the greatest streak of its kind in NBA history: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run at 575.

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” said teammate a fellow Laker.

He simply plays the game of basketball. The chance was there but given the player he is and his personality as a person, he executed the team play, passed it to Rui and claimed the game.”

Getting to ten points had long been a guarantee well before the fourth quarter began. Throughout his run, he had reached ten points entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

But two of those unusual single-digit games after three periods had happened in the last week: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, and then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to extend the streak in the Phoenix game. In the following contest, it was over – yet he was celebrating all the same.

“I always just make the correct play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James said. When you make the unselfish play, the sports deities consistently giving back to me.”