By now, you know the play.
With 4.7 seconds remaining in regulation and the score tied in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals, Cleveland Cavaliers point guard George Hill missed what would have been a go-ahead free throw, which ultimately landed in the hands of J.R. Smith. Despite already being under the basket, the Cavs shooting guard inexplicably began racing toward center court, before passing the ball back to Hill, who had his shot blocked as time expired.
The common theory for Smith's blunder was that he forgot the score and thought the Cavs' were ahead, which even Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue believed to be the case. On Friday, a new explanation for the gaffe was floated by ESPN Radio's Dan Le Batard, who suggested that perhaps Smith had believed he had just pulled down a defensive rebound, hence why he began running the opposite way.
Upon further review, the theory holds up. As Smith takes off toward the Cavs' backcourt, LeBron James holds up his hand as if it were a stop sign moments before the shooting guard reverses course and passes the ball off the Hill.
After the game, Smith denied not knowing the score, insisting instead that he was trying to bring the ball back out in an attempt to call a timeout.
"I knew we were tied, it’s just that I thought we were going to call timeout because I got the rebound," Smith said. "I’m pretty sure everyone didn’t think I was going to shoot it over [Kevin Durant] right there."
Whatever the case, Cleveland would go on to lose the game in overtime by a score of 124-114. Now behind 0-1 following their heartbreaking defeat, Smith and the Cavs will be looking for redemption on Sunday when they face the Warriors in Game 2 of the best-of-seven series.
