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LeBron James was aware his historic run of reaching double digits was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play meant distributing the basketball – and he executed. Following that play, his remarkable run came to an end.

James's unprecedented run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season games with 10+ points concluded during a recent game, when the league's career points king was limited to eight total points during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 win against the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the game-winning assist, feeding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a triple to win the game.

“Zero,” James said when asked on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

An Unselfish Choice Secures Victory

He might have sought to clinch the contest – and extended his record – on the final possession, yet he opted to make the extra pass to his teammate on the wing. Rui connected, with LeBron exulted with his hands in the air.

It's about playing the game the right way. You always make the correct play,” James noted. “That’s just been how I operate. That’s how I was taught to play. I’ve done that for two decades.”

“LeBron is very conscious exactly how many points he has during a game,” commented Lakers coach the coach. He acted just as he has throughout his career.”

The Run's Closing Chapter

He returned to the contest one last time at under five and a half minutes to go, the result and his personal record up for grabs. He had a mere six points on 3 for 15 from the field at that juncture.

He scored with 1:46 left to level the contest then missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go that might have taken him into double figures.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. A teammate gave James the ball with a few seconds left, but James chose to make the extra pass instead.

The basketball deities, if you approach it correctly, they often reward you,” Redick added.

Reflecting on a Monumental Run

The record commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It was, by far the greatest streak of its kind the league has ever seen: MJ had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list with 575.

“He’s such a pass-first superstar,” said teammate a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. He could have shot but given his nature as a player and his personality as an individual, he made the team play, passed it to Rui and secured the game.”

Getting to ten points had long been a guarantee long before the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had reached the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times before this game.

However, two of those unusual single-digit games after three periods had occurred just days before: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas on 28 November, and then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix on Monday night.

LeBron was able to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it was over – but he still rejoiced all the same.

I only ever make the best play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James said. If you make the right play, the sports deities forever giving back to me.”