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James understood his incredible streak of putting up 10+ points was threatened. When it mattered most, though, it was not his focus.

The correct basketball play involved passing the ball – so he did. Consequently, the legendary streak was over.

James's staggering run of over 1,200 straight NBA regular season games with 10+ points was snapped this past Thursday, as the league's career points king had only eight points in the Los Angeles Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the game-winning assist, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to knock down a three-pointer to win the game.

“None,” James replied in response about the streak ending. “We won.”

A Selfless Choice Seals the Win

He might have attempted to win the contest – and extended his record – on the final possession, but he chose to pass to Rui stationed in the corner. Hachimura sank it, and James celebrated immediately.

It's about playing basketball correctly. Make the correct play,” James remarked. That has always been my philosophy. That’s how I was instructed to play. I’ve done that my whole career.”

James is very conscious of how many points he's scored at all times,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick. “He did it just as he has throughout his career.”

The Streak's Closing Chapter

James re-entered the game for the final time at under five and a half minutes to go, the result along with the historic run up for grabs. His tally was a mere six points from a 3-for-15 performance then.

He got a bucket at under two minutes remaining to knot the score but then missed a shot with 1:01 left that might have pushed him to ten points.

He didn’t take one more attempt – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball with a few seconds left, however, James opted to dish it off instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you do it correctly, they tend to repay you,” Redick stated.

Reflecting on a Staggering Record

James's streak commenced back in January 2007. It stood as the greatest streak of its kind in professional basketball: MJ previously held a streak of 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recorded 787 such games, and The Mailman recorded of 575 games.

LeBron is such an unselfish player,” said Lakers center a fellow Laker.

He simply plays the game of basketball. He could have shot but due to the player he is and just who he is as an individual, he chose the unselfish play, passed it to Rui and we won the game.”

Reaching double digits was usually a formality early in the fourth quarter began. Throughout his run, he had achieved double figures entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

However, two such single-digit games through three quarters had occurred recently: He had nine going into the fourth against Dallas on 28 November, and then had six going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

James managed to keep the streak alive against the Suns. In the following contest, it concluded – and he celebrated anyway.

I only ever make the correct play. That is instinctive, regardless of outcome,” James affirmed. If you make the right play, the game gods are always giving back to me.”