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James understood his monumental streak of reaching double digits was threatened. At the decisive instant, however, it was not his focus.

The right decision was to pass the basketball – and he executed. Consequently, his remarkable run came to an end.

James's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points was snapped on Thursday night, when basketball's greatest scorer had only a mere eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He provided the game-winning assist, feeding Rui Hachimura for a triple at the buzzer.

“None,” James stated after being questioned about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Selfless Decision Seals the Game

James could have tried to secure the contest – while also extending his record – on the final possession, but he chose to make the extra pass to Hachimura on the wing. Hachimura sank it, prompting James raised his arms immediately.

It's about playing basketball correctly. You always make the correct play,” James noted. That is how I operate. That is the way I was taught to play. That's what I've done for two decades.”

James is acutely aware exactly how many points he's scored at any point,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick. He made the play just as he has countless times.”

The Streak's Final Moments

He returned to the game for the final time at 5:23 remaining, the outcome and the streak up for grabs. His tally was a mere six points from a 3-for-15 performance at that juncture.

He managed a basket at 1:46 left to knot the score and missed a 14-footer at one minute to go which could have taken him to double digits.

He didn’t take another shot – but could have. Austin Reaves gave James the ball in the waning seconds, yet LeBron decided to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

“The basketball gods, when you play it correctly, they often bless you,” Redick stated.

A Look Back at a Monumental Run

James's streak commenced over eighteen years ago. It stood as the most extended double-digit streak in professional basketball: Michael Jordan previously held a streak of 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run with 575.

He is such a team-oriented player,” remarked teammate Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing the sport. He could have shot but given his nature as a player and his personality as a person, he made the team play, dished to Hachimura and we won the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a guarantee early in the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had achieved the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times before this game.

However, two such games below ten points through three quarters had happened in the last week: He had nine points going into the fourth against Dallas on 28 November, then had six points going into the fourth versus the Suns on Monday night.

He succeeded in extend the streak against the Suns. In the following contest, it was over – but he still rejoiced all the same.

I only ever make the best play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James said. “You make the right play, the sports deities forever rewarding me.”