JR Smith Claims That He Knew Game 1 Was Tied During His Wild Fourth Quarter Gaffe

The NBA Finals: a best of 7 series in which basketball fans across the world get to watch two of the best pro basketball teams on the planet face off to cement their place in history as NBA champions. It’s supposed to be the pinnacle of basketball excellent, the hardwood contest to end all hardwood contests, the ideal display of what can be done on a basketball court…unless you’re Cleveland Cavaliers guard JR Smith.

With the Cavs down 107-106 in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, Cleveland point guard George Hill rushes down the lane for a layup attempt when he’s fouled by Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson. Hill heads to the line for a pair of free throws with the chance to take the lead. Hill sinks the first in order to tie the game at 107, but the second shot clinks off the front of the rim. The ball is rebounded by JR Smith with more than enough time to put a shot up, pass the ball to a teammate outside the paint, or call a time out. He could have won Cleveland the game, but instead ran out of the fray and dribbled out the remainder of the fourth quarter as if he thought his team was ahead, ultimately sending the game into overtime.

Can you not believe that an NBA player would have such a small amount of awareness on the court? Well, see for yourself.

You can see teammate LeBron James urging Smith to do something else with the ball toward the end of the play, which finally alerted Smith that the game was actually tied. After the final buzzer, Smith looks at the score and back to LeBron, saying what looks to be something like, “I thought we were ahead.”

It’s a pretty rough mistake, but at least it’s an honest one; stuff like this happens, right? Well, not only will Smith not admit that he messed up, but he’s going so far as to say that he 100% knew that the game was tied and that his gaffe was on purpose.

Smith told reporters he was “…trying to get enough space to bring it out to maybe get a shot off. I looked over at Bron and it looked like he was trying to call a time out, so I just stopped and then the game was over.”

Smith’s comedic (at least for anybody who isn’t a Cavs fan) mistake ultimately cost Cleveland the game, as they ended up losing the opening game of the NBA Finals 124-114 to the Warriors in overtime. I cannot imagine what that locker room must’ve looked like afterward.

Smith and Cleveland will be looking for redemption when they play Game 2 in Oakland on Wednesday, June 6 at 9:00 pm EST, which you can watch on ABC.

Article by Mike Conn