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LeBron James was aware his historic streak of reaching double digits was in danger. In that crucial moment, though, it didn't concern him.

The smart move meant distributing the rock – so he did. With that selfless act, the legendary streak finished.

James's staggering streak of over 1,200 straight regular-season games with 10+ points ended on Thursday night, when the NBA's all-time scoring leader finished with eight total points in the Lakers' 123-120 win against the Toronto Raptors. He delivered the game-winning assist, finding teammate Rui Hachimura to hit a three-point shot to win the game.

“None,” James said when asked regarding the conclusion of his run. “We won.”

A Selfless Decision Secures Victory

He might have sought to clinch the contest – and preserved the streak – in the closing seconds, but he chose to make the extra pass to Hachimura in the left corner. Hachimura sank it, with LeBron exulted with his hands in the air.

It's about playing the game the right way. You always make the correct play,” James explained. That is how I operate. It's how I was taught to play. I've played that way my whole career.”

James is very conscious of how many points he has during a game,” stated the team's head coach JJ Redick. He made the play as he has done throughout his career.”

The Streak's Final Moments

James re-entered the floor for the final time with under five and a half minutes to go, the result along with the historic run both hanging in the balance. His tally was only six points on 3 for 15 from the field then.

He managed a basket at under two minutes remaining to tie the game then missed a shot at 1:01 left that might have taken him to ten points.

He avoided taking a subsequent shot – but could have. Austin Reaves passed him the ball in the waning seconds, yet LeBron opted to make the pass instead of shooting.

The spirits of the game, when you play it the proper way, they often reward you,” the coach concluded.

The History of an Unparalleled Streak

James's streak began back in January 2007. It stood as the longest double-digit streak the league has ever seen: MJ previously held a streak of 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’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 due to his nature as a player and his personality as an individual, he executed the unselfish play, dished to Hachimura and we won the victory.”

Reaching double digits had typically been a formality early in the final period. Over the course of the record, he had attained ten points by the start of the fourth 1,266 times coming into the contest.

Yet two of those unusual games below ten points through three quarters took place recently: He had nine points going into the fourth against Dallas last week, and then had six points before the fourth quarter against Phoenix on Monday night.

LeBron was able to preserve the record in the Phoenix game. One game later, it was over – yet he was celebrating anyway.

I only ever make the best play. That is instinctive, win, lose or draw,” James declared. When you make the unselfish play, the basketball gods are always giving back to me.”