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LeBron James was aware his monumental run of putting up 10+ points was in danger. At the decisive instant, though, it was not his focus.

The smart move involved passing the rock – which is exactly what he did. Following that play, his remarkable run was over.

James's unprecedented streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season outings scoring at least ten concluded during a recent game, as basketball's greatest scorer was limited to a mere eight points in the Lakers' 123-120 win against the Toronto Raptors. He provided the clutch helper, feeding Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple to win the game.

“Zero,” James said in response on the record concluding. “We won.”

A Team-First Choice Delivers the Win

James could have sought to clinch the game – while also extending the streak – on the final possession, instead, he decided to dish the ball to his teammate on the wing. Rui connected, prompting James raised his arms with his hands in the air.

“Just playing the game the right way. Always make the right play,” James noted. That has always been how I operate. It's how I was instructed to play. I’ve done that for two decades.”

James is very conscious of his point total he's scored at all times,” stated Lakers coach JJ Redick. He acted as he has done so many times.”

The Streak's End Game

He returned to the floor one last time at under five and a half minutes to go, the outcome and his personal record both hanging in the balance. At that stage, he had six points on a 3-for-15 performance then.

He managed a basket with under two minutes remaining to level the contest then missed a 14-footer at 1:01 left that would have taken him to double digits.

He passed up a subsequent shot – but could have. A teammate passed him the ball as time wound down, however, James opted to dish it off instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you approach it correctly, they often bless you,” Redick stated.

Reflecting on a Staggering Run

This incredible run started on Jan. 6, 2007. It was easily the longest streak of its kind in NBA history: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run with 575.

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

He focuses on playing the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but because of who he is on the court and just who he is as an individual, he executed the pass, passed it to Rui and secured the victory.”

Scoring in double figures had typically been a formality long before the start of fourth quarters. Throughout his run, he had reached double figures by the beginning of the final quarter over twelve hundred times before this game.

However, two of those rare games below ten points through three quarters had occurred recently: He had nine entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, then had six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

He succeeded in keep the streak alive against the Suns. The very next outing, it finished – yet he was celebrating regardless.

My focus is to make the correct play. That comes naturally, regardless of outcome,” James said. When you make the right play, the basketball gods forever returning the favor.”