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James understood his incredible streak of putting up 10+ points was threatened. At the decisive instant, however, he wasn't bothered.

The correct basketball play involved passing the rock – so he did. With that selfless act, the legendary streak came to an end.

James's unprecedented streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season outings scoring at least ten concluded during a recent game, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to a mere eight points during the Lakers' close victory over the Toronto Raptors. He provided the clutch helper, setting up Rui Hachimura to hit a three-pointer to win the game.

“None,” James said in response on the record concluding. “The important thing is we won.”

An Unselfish Choice Delivers the Game

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the game – and preserved the streak – on the final possession, instead, he decided to pass to his teammate in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, and James celebrated immediately.

It's about playing basketball the proper way. Make the right play,” James remarked. “That’s just been my philosophy. That’s how I was instructed the game. I've played that way for two decades.”

“LeBron is acutely aware exactly how many points he's scored during a game,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. “He did it like he’s done so many times.”

The Streak's End Game

James re-entered the contest one last time at 5:23 remaining, the result and the streak both hanging in the balance. His tally was a mere six points on 3-of-15 shooting then.

He got a bucket with under two minutes remaining to level the contest and missed a 14-footer at one minute to go that would have pushed him to double digits.

He avoided taking another shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball as time wound down, yet LeBron opted to dish it off instead of shooting.

The basketball deities, when you play it correctly, they often bless you,” Redick added.

The History of a Monumental Run

James's streak commenced back in January 2007. It was easily the longest streak of its kind in professional basketball: Michael Jordan 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,” noted teammate a fellow Laker.

He simply plays hoops. The chance was there but because of who he is on the court and just who he is off the court, he executed the pass, found Rui and we won the game.”

Reaching double digits was usually an afterthought long before the fourth quarter began. During James’s streak, he had achieved ten points by the beginning of the final quarter on the vast majority of occasions coming into the contest.

But two of those unusual single-digit games after three periods had occurred recently: He had nine points entering the final quarter against Dallas on 28 November, then had six points going into the fourth versus the Suns earlier in the week.

He succeeded in keep the streak alive in the Phoenix game. The very next outing, it was over – and he celebrated regardless.

“I always just make the best play. That is instinctive, no matter what,” James said. If you make the right play, the basketball gods consistently rewarding me.”