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LeBron James was aware his incredible streak of reaching double digits was at risk. In that crucial moment, however, it didn't concern him.

The correct basketball play involved passing the rock – which is exactly what he did. Consequently, the legendary streak finished.

James's unprecedented streak of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season games with 10+ points concluded during a recent game, when the league's career points king had only eight total points during the Lakers' 123-120 win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the clutch helper, feeding Rui Hachimura for a triple as time expired.

“Zero,” James replied after being questioned regarding the conclusion of his run. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Play Secures Victory

James could have sought to clinch the game – and extended his record – on the final possession, instead, he decided to dish the ball to Hachimura on the wing. Hachimura sank it, and James exulted triumphantly.

“Just playing basketball the right way. You always make the right play,” James explained. That is my M.O.. That’s how I was taught to play. I’ve done that for two decades.”

James is fully cognizant of his point total he's scored at any point,” commented the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play 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 result and the streak on the line. His tally was a mere six points from 3 for 15 from the field then.

He scored at 1:46 left to level the contest but then missed a 14-footer with one minute to go that might have pushed him into double figures.

He passed up a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate found him in the waning seconds, yet LeBron decided to dish it off instead.

The spirits of the game, if you approach it the right way, they tend to reward you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at a Monumental Record

The record started over eighteen years ago. It stood as the greatest streak of its kind in NBA history: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 straight double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman recorded of 575 games.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player,” said teammate Jake LaRavia.

“He’s just playing the sport. He had the opportunity but given who he is on the court and his character as a person, he made the team play, found Rui and we won the game.”

Getting to ten points had long been a guarantee long before the final period. Throughout his run, he had achieved the 10-point mark by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times prior to Thursday.

Yet two of those rare single-digit games after three periods had happened recently: He recorded nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks last week, and then had six before the fourth quarter versus the Suns earlier in the week.

LeBron was able to extend the streak against the Suns. In the following contest, it was over – and he celebrated all the same.

“I always just make the best play. That comes naturally, no matter what,” James affirmed. “You make the right play, the sports deities consistently returning the favor.”