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Kalan Hooks, ESPN
The NBA slate this week contained a handful of games that ended in wild fashion.
The New York Knicks defeated the Detroit Pistons on Monday after a controversial non-call eventually led to a go-ahead layup from Josh Hart in the final seconds.
The Cleveland Cavaliers made a 10-point comeback in the final four minutes against the Dallas Mavericks, including a barrage of Cavalier 3-point shots from various distances and Max Strus’ midcourt winner.
The Los Angeles Lakers overcame a 21-point deficit in a win over the LA Clippers on Wednesday, when LeBron James outscored the Clippers in the fourth quarter 19 to 16.
Here are how some of the NBA’s wildest finishes this week played out:
Although nine fouls were issued in the fourth quarter, one that could’ve potentially saved the game for Detroit wasn’t called. The Knicks trailed the Pistons by one point in the final seconds, desperate to see the ball fall through the net.
Though Jalen Brunson missed a 3-pointer, Malachi Flynn chased down the rebound and gave the ball to the Pistons’ Simone Fontecchio. The ball was stripped from the Detroit forward, which landed in the possession of Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo. Looking to swing the ball to Brunson, Ausar Thompson stole it before colliding with DiVincenzo.
No whistle was blown, though.
Brunson picked up the loose ball and dished it to Hart, who scored and drew a foul with two seconds remaining, giving the Knicks the victory.
The Knicks stole what would have been the Pistons’ ninth win of the season.
“We won. This is the NBA, man. We don’t care how we win. We don’t care how ugly it is,” Hart said.
Pistons coach Monty Williams: “The absolute worst call of the season.”
“You cannot dive into a guy’s legs in a big-time game like that and there be a no-call,” Williams said after the game. “It’s ridiculous, and we’re tired of it. We just want a fair game called. Period. And I’ve got nothing else to say. We want a fair game, and that was not fair.”
Cleveland trailed Dallas 108-98 in the final 4½ minutes. But the basketball gods seemed to bless Strus’ shooting.
The Cavaliers went on a 15-3 run — including five possessions ending with 3-pointers — with Strus catching a hot hand, sinking four consecutive treys.
Kyrie Irving made a floater, followed by a P.J. Washington layup with 2.6 seconds left to give the Mavericks a two-point lead.
Strus inbounded the ball to Evan Mobley, who gave it right back, resulting in the guard sinking a 59-footer for the winner just as the horn sounded.
The Lakers trailed 98-77 near the start of the fourth quarter. But James took charge, leading Los Angeles on a 21-9 run before Anthony Davis converted two free throws tie the score at 106.
James found himself on an island with a Clippers defender nine times during the fourth quarter, which led to him scoring or assisting on 13 fourth-quarter points, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
In the final seconds, Kawhi Leonard missed a midrange jumper, which resulted in James finding Cam Reddish on the other end of the floor for a two-handed dunk. The emphatic finish would be the icing on the cake for the Lakers.
James recorded 19 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter.