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LeBron James was aware his monumental run of putting up 10+ points was at risk. In that crucial moment, though, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move meant distributing the ball – so he did. Consequently, the legendary streak came to an end.

LeBron's staggering run of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points ended on Thursday night, as the NBA's all-time scoring leader had only a mere eight points during the Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He made the game-winning assist, finding Rui Hachimura to hit a triple at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James replied after being questioned on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Play Seals the Win

James could have attempted to win the game – and extended his record – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to pass to his teammate stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, prompting James raised his arms immediately.

You have to play the game the proper way. Make the correct play,” James explained. That is my philosophy. That’s how I learned to play. I've played that way throughout my career.”

James is very conscious exactly how many points he has at all times,” stated the team's head coach the coach. He acted just as he has throughout his career.”

The Record's End Game

LeBron checked back into the game for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the result and his personal record on the line. He had only six points on a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He managed a basket at under two minutes remaining to tie the game then missed a mid-range jumper with 1:01 left which could have gotten him into double figures.

He passed up one more attempt – even though he had a chance. A teammate passed him the ball in the waning seconds, but James chose to make the pass instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, if you do it the proper way, they will bless you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at a Monumental Run

This incredible run commenced on Jan. 6, 2007. It was easily the greatest streak of its kind in NBA history: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman had the fourth-longest run of 575 games.

LeBron is such an unselfish player,” remarked Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He simply plays the game of basketball. The chance was there but because of who he is on the court and just who he is off the court, he made the team play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the victory.”

Getting to ten points had typically been a formality long before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had reached double figures by the beginning of the final quarter 1,266 times before this game.

Yet two of those unusual single-digit games after three periods took place recently: He recorded nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas on 28 November, followed by six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

James managed to preserve the record against the Suns. In the following contest, it finished – and he celebrated regardless.

My focus is to make the correct play. That’s automatic, no matter what,” James declared. When you make the right play, the game gods forever giving back to me.”