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LeBron James was aware his incredible run of scoring in double figures was at risk. At the decisive instant, however, it was not his focus.

The smart move involved passing the rock – and he executed. Consequently, his remarkable run was over.

James's staggering run of over 1,200 straight regular-season double-digit scoring performances was snapped during a recent game, when the league's career points king was limited to eight total points during the Lakers' 123-120 triumph versus the Toronto Raptors. He made the game-winning assist, setting up Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James replied when asked on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

A Team-First Decision Delivers the Win

James could have sought to clinch the game – and extended his record – with the last shot, instead, he decided to make the extra pass to his teammate on the wing. Hachimura made the shot, with LeBron raised his arms immediately.

“Just playing the game the right way. Always make the smart play,” James remarked. “That’s just been how I operate. That is the way I learned the game. I’ve done that throughout my career.”

He is acutely aware exactly how many points he's scored at all times,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted as he has done countless times.”

The Run's End Game

James re-entered the floor one last time at 5:23 remaining, the win and the streak on the line. He had only six points from 3 for 15 from the field then.

He managed a basket with 1:46 left to tie the game but then missed a 14-footer at one minute to go which could have taken him into double figures.

He didn’t take another shot – even though he had a chance. Austin Reaves gave James the ball in the waning seconds, yet LeBron decided to make the extra pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, when you play it correctly, they tend to bless you,” the coach concluded.

A Look Back at an Unparalleled Streak

James's streak commenced over eighteen years ago. It stood as the greatest double-digit streak in NBA history: Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and Karl Malone was fourth on the list of 575 games.

He is such a pass-first superstar,” remarked teammate a fellow Laker.

He simply plays the game of basketball. The chance was there but due to who he is on the court and his personality as an individual, he executed the team play, found Rui and we won the victory.”

Getting to ten points had typically been an afterthought long before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had attained the 10-point mark entering the fourth on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

But two of those unusual games below ten points after three periods took place recently: He had nine points entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks on 28 November, followed by six going into the fourth versus the Suns on Monday night.

James managed to keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. One game later, it concluded – and he celebrated anyway.

My focus is to make the right play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James declared. When you make the right play, the game gods forever rewarding me.”