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The Lakers star knew his historic streak of scoring in double figures was in danger. In that crucial moment, however, he wasn't bothered.

The smart move involved passing the ball – so he did. Following that play, the unprecedented record was over.

LeBron's astounding streak of 1,297 consecutive NBA regular season double-digit scoring performances ended during a recent game, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to eight total points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors. He provided the clutch helper, setting up Rui Hachimura for a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“Zero,” James said when asked on the record concluding. “The team got the victory.”

A Selfless Play Seals Victory

He might have sought to clinch the game – and extended the streak – in the closing seconds, yet he opted to dish the ball to his teammate in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron celebrated immediately.

You have to play the game the proper way. Always make the correct play,” James explained. That is my M.O.. It's how I was taught the game. I’ve done that my whole career.”

He is very conscious of how many points he has at all times,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play like he’s done so many times.”

The Record's End Game

He returned to the game one last time with 5:23 remaining, the outcome and the streak up for grabs. At that stage, he had a mere six points on 3-of-15 shooting at that juncture.

He got a bucket at under two minutes remaining to knot the score and missed a 14-footer with one minute to go which could have taken him into double figures.

He didn’t take a subsequent shot – even though he had a chance. A teammate gave James the ball with a few seconds left, yet LeBron decided to make the pass instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, if you approach it the right way, they tend to reward you,” Redick added.

Reflecting on an Unparalleled Streak

The record began over eighteen years ago. It was, by far the greatest streak of its kind in professional basketball: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 consecutive games with 10+ points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 787 such games, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run with 575.

LeBron is such a pass-first superstar,” remarked Lakers center Jake LaRavia.

He focuses on playing hoops. He had the opportunity but given his nature as a player and his personality as a person, he chose the unselfish play, found Rui and we won the game.”

Reaching double digits had long been a guarantee long before the final period. Throughout his run, he had reached ten points by the start of the fourth over twelve hundred times prior to Thursday.

However, two such single-digit games after three periods had happened just days before: He had nine going into the fourth against Dallas on 28 November, then had six before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

James managed to preserve the record against the Suns. One game later, it finished – and he celebrated anyway.

My focus is to make the correct play. That’s automatic, regardless of outcome,” James declared. When you make the unselfish play, the sports deities are always rewarding me.”