When LeBron James pulled up from three as the clock ticked toward zero in Wednesday night’s playoff game against the Pacers, it was obvious what was about to happen. The greatest basketball player of his generation was about to drain a buzzer beater and send the crowd at Quicken Loans Arena into a frenzy.
At least, that’s what this super cocky kid thought when he called “game” before LeBron even released the ball.
You can’t really blame him. LeBron was on fire last night, putting up a monstrous line of 44 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Capping the night with an playoff buzzer beater that’s already drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan’s shot over Craig Ehlo was a fitting conclusion to the incredible night.
“As a kid you always have those 3, 2, 1 moments and that’s what it kind of felt like,” James said after the game. “I felt like I was a kid all over again playing basketball at my house on makeshift hoops and my socks as a basketball.”
As hyped at Cavs fans were after the game, the Pacers were just as angry about the play LeBron made right before his buzzer-beater. With the game tied at 95, guard Victor Oladipo drove to the basket and attempted a go-ahead layup. but LeBron’s mighty mitt got in the way, his only block of the game.
There was a problem though. That block was clearly a goal-tend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNW2u094lZQ
“It hit the backboard and he blocked it. It was a goaltend. It’s hard to even speak on it. That layup is huge,” Oladipo said after the game.
LeBron was coy about the non-call, saying “Of course I didn’t think it was a goaltend.”
The game-winner put the Cavs ahead of the Pacers three games to two. Game six is Friday in Indianapolis.