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LeBron James was aware his historic run of scoring in double figures was in danger. In that crucial moment, though, it didn't concern him.

The smart move involved passing the ball – and he executed. With that selfless act, the legendary streak was over.

LeBron's unprecedented run of 1,297 consecutive regular-season double-digit scoring performances ended during a recent game, when basketball's greatest scorer was limited to a mere eight points during the Lakers' 123-120 win against the Toronto Raptors. He made the game-winning assist, feeding Rui Hachimura to knock down a triple as time expired.

“Zero,” James said when asked on the record concluding. “We won.”

An Unselfish Choice Seals the Win

LeBron had the chance to sought to clinch the contest – while also extending the streak – with the last shot, but he chose to dish the ball to Hachimura stationed in the corner. Hachimura made the shot, prompting James exulted immediately.

“Just playing basketball the right way. Make the correct play,” James noted. That is my M.O.. That’s how I was taught the game. That's what I've done throughout my career.”

James is very conscious exactly how many points he has at all times,” said the team's head coach JJ Redick. He acted like he’s done so many times.”

The Streak's Closing Chapter

He returned to the game for the final time at 5:23 remaining, the result and the streak both hanging in the balance. He had a mere six points from a 3-for-15 performance by that point.

He managed a basket at under two minutes remaining to level the contest but then missed a mid-range jumper with one minute to go which could have gotten him to double digits.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – though the opportunity was there. A teammate gave James the ball with a few seconds left, yet LeBron chose to make the pass instead.

The basketball deities, if you do it the proper way, they will repay you,” the coach concluded.

The History of an Unparalleled Record

James's streak commenced back in January 2007. It was, by far the longest such streak the league has ever seen: His Airness, Michael Jordan had 866 straight games with 10+ points, Kareem had 787 such games, and Karl Malone had the fourth-longest run at 575.

“He’s such an unselfish player,” remarked Lakers center a fellow Laker.

“He’s just playing the game of basketball. He had the opportunity but due to the player he is and just who he is as a person, he made the unselfish play, found Rui and claimed the victory.”

Reaching double digits was usually a formality early in the start of fourth quarters. Over the course of the record, he had attained the 10-point mark by the beginning of the final quarter on the vast majority of occasions prior to Thursday.

But two of those rare single-digit games through three quarters had happened recently: He recorded nine entering the final quarter versus the Mavericks last week, then had six points going into the fourth against Phoenix earlier in the week.

He succeeded in keep the streak alive against the Suns. In the following contest, it finished – yet he was celebrating regardless.

I only ever make the right play. That’s automatic, win, lose or draw,” James declared. “You make the unselfish play, the sports deities forever returning the favor.”