The Cavaliers' J.R. Smith committed one of the biggest blunders in NBA history Thursday night, and it cost his team a chance to win Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Smith dribbled out almost all of the clock after grabbing a missed free throw in a tie game late in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for Smith, the Cavs and the city of Cleveland, he thought his team was winning. The Warriors went on to win 124-114 in overtime and take a 1-0 series lead.
#DubNation top #AllForOne 124-114 OT in Game 1 of the #NBAFinals despite LeBron James scoring 51 pts (his Finals career high). JR Smith not knowing the score at the end of regulation tells a lot about how LeBron is alone in this. Tough blow for CLE #NBA
— Davide Chinellato (@dchinellato) June 1, 2018
pic.twitter.com/n9F86nFzfP
NBA FINALS: SN's Game 1 live blog
LeBron James' reaction after the regulation horn sounded says it all:
When your GM trades half the team but keeps JR Smith pic.twitter.com/foeBZufzrV
— Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) June 1, 2018
Still, NBA Twitter had its say:
JR definitely thought they were winning 😂😂
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) June 1, 2018
Did he think they were up one?????
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) June 1, 2018
JR DRUNK
— Dejounte Murray (@DejounteMurray) June 1, 2018
Yo really JR come on bro!
— Kenneth Faried (@KennethFaried35) June 1, 2018
He’s really tryna take that Shaqtin A fool MVP from me lmao
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 1, 2018
J.R. needs to be on Shaqtin a fool....😂😂😂😂😂
— DeMarre Carroll (@DeMarreCarroll1) June 1, 2018