The Ultimate Buzzer-Beater

822: Say it's a game-winner, and it's a game-winner.

After Wang Yi made the layup that tied the score, Leonard came back down the floor and sank a three.

He was the team's undisputed centerpiece, and when the moment called for it, he stepped up.

But Wang Yi answered with a deep transition three.

105–105!

Wang Yi had taken fewer threes this season than he had last season.

That didn't mean he couldn't shoot them. He just didn't need to take as many.

When the moment called for it, he could still strike at any time.

Only 22 seconds remained.

The atmosphere inside Golden 1 Center seemed to have frozen.

All 17,500 fans were on their feet.

With the score tied at 105 and only 22 seconds left, no fan was in the mood to watch from a seat.

The players on both sidelines were standing too.

Even those who weren't playing felt their hearts rise and fall with the game, their nerves taut and their breathing nearly stopped.

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue called a timeout.

He drew up the final play.

He gave the last shot to either Leonard or Joel Johnson.

He wanted Leonard taking it because he had just hit a three.

And as the team's leader, he had to take responsibility.

He also considered Joel Johnson because he had scored 16 points in the fourth quarter alone.

Before Wang Yi came into the game, Johnson had also hit three of his four three-point attempts.

So giving him the ball made sense too.

After the timeout, the players returned to the floor.

The Clippers began their possession with Leonard handling the ball.

The DJ at the arena played the keyboard as he led the fans in a defensive chant.

"Defense!"

"Defense!"

"Defense!"

Barnes was guarding Leonard.

Leonard