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

The smart move was to pass the ball – so he did. Following that play, the unprecedented record came to an end.

James's unprecedented streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season games with 10+ points ended on Thursday night, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to eight points in the Lakers' close win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the game-winning assist, setting up Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“Nothing,” James replied when asked about the streak ending. “The team got the victory.”

A Team-First Decision Secures Victory

James could have attempted to win the contest – and preserved the streak – with the last shot, but he chose to make the extra pass to Rui on the wing. Hachimura sank it, prompting James exulted triumphantly.

You have to play the game the right way. Make the smart play,” James remarked. “That’s just been my M.O.. That’s how I was instructed the game. I've played that way throughout my career.”

He is very conscious exactly how many points he has at all times,” said the team's head coach the coach. “He did it as he has done throughout his career.”

The Record's End Game

He returned to the floor one last time with just over five minutes left, the outcome and the streak both hanging in the balance. At that stage, he had six points on 3 for 15 from the field then.

He scored at 1:46 left to knot the score but then missed a mid-range jumper at 1:01 left which could have gotten him into double figures.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. A teammate passed him the ball in the waning seconds, yet LeBron chose to dish it off instead.

The basketball deities, when you play it the right way, they will repay you,” Redick added.

Reflecting on a Staggering Record

James's streak commenced over eighteen years ago. It stood as the greatest streak of its kind in professional basketball: MJ had 866 consecutive double-digit scoring games, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and The Mailman recorded with 575.

“He’s such a team-oriented player,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. The chance was there but because of the player he is and his character off the court, he executed the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and claimed the game.”

Scoring in double figures had long been a guarantee long before the fourth quarter began. Over the course of the record, he had attained ten points by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times coming into the contest.

But two of those rare games below ten points after three periods took place in the last week: He had nine going into the fourth versus the Mavericks on 28 November, and then had six going into the fourth versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. One game later, it concluded – and he celebrated all the same.

I only ever make the right play. That is instinctive, regardless of outcome,” James declared. When you make the right play, the sports deities are always returning the favor.”