Yahoo Finance NBA world stunned by 'ridiculous' Luka Doncic buzzer-beater
In terms of attempts at game-winning buzzer-beaters, "24-foot floater" is probably not the outcome any coach desires while drawing up a final play. And yet, Luka Doncic made it happen.
The Dallas Mavericks star stunned the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday with the most ridiculous of game-winners, an off-balance, one-footed, buzzer-beating, 3-point floater to give the Mavs a 114-113 win.
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With 1.8 seconds remaining, Dallas inbounded the ball to Doncic, who was immediately picked up by Dillon Brooks.
Somehow, Doncic squirmed around the defender, leapt forward and heaved a shot that had no business going in.
It went in - to the surprise of even Doncic himself, who admitted after the game it had been somewhat of a lucky shot.
“I was kind of falling down. It’s kind of lucky, but we’ll take it," Doncic said after the game.
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, no stranger himself to Doncic's occasional feats of NBA brilliance, was equally stunned after the game.
Carlisle said sometimes it's a matter of getting the ball in your best player's hands and letting them figure out the rest.
“You pull off a miracle in a game like that once in a blue moon,” he said.
“Luka made one of the signature, special shots that you’re going to see for a long time.
“Get the ball in his hands and he believes anything is possible.”
NBA fans went berserk over the shot on social media, with the win improving Dallas' chances of avoiding the play-in tournament for the playoffs at the conclusion of the regular season.
Luka Doncic says he doesn’t think he even got a look at the rim before he let go of his game-winner. “I was really surprised when it went in. Those are the best feelings.”
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 15, 2021
Ridiculous @luka7doncic https://t.co/Nw6O5gPPQ0
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) April 15, 2021
I still have no idea how Luka Doncic made that. What a shot to end a great game. You make that man split a double team and hit a prayer? Hope everyone watching ESPN enjoyed that.
— Evan Barnes〽️ (@evan_b) April 15, 2021
Luka Doncic is from a different planet and I want him to take me there #MFFL
— Josh 'Toofpete' Beard (@JoshBeardRadio) April 15, 2021
What a shot by Doncic. Wow.
— JeffGSpursZone (@JeffGSpursZone) April 15, 2021
Embiid stars in 76ers' NBA win over Nets
Joel Embiid had 39 points and 13 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers beat Brooklyn 123-117 on Wednesday night in an anticipated matchup that fizzled with the Nets missing their biggest stars.
The Sixers (38-17) moved into first place in the Eastern Conference with just 17 games left this season, in a game played at Wells Fargo Center without Brooklyn big guns James Harden, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge.
Tobias Harris chipped in with 26 points for the 76ers, while Australia's Ben Simmons had 17 points, four rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and one block.
Kyrie Irving scored 23 points in the first half - his eighth 20-point first half of the season - and finished with 37 points.
Irving, though, sat out as the deep reserves helped the Nets rally from 16 points down to make it 118-115 with 1:15 left. Embiid sealed the win from the free-throw line to the tune of "M-V-P!" chants.
"When the playoffs start, it's a whole new beast. And we'll be ready for them," 76ers coach Doc Rivers said.
"And I'm sure they'll be ready for us."
The Nets (37-18) are now one game behind the Sixers in the standings after Philadelphia improved to 21-5 at home.
With AAP/Yahoo Sport US
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