"Baby-Faced God" Descends!

"Baby-Faced God" Descends! Beep! Beep!

Not only had Westbrook scored on this possession, but the referee had also blown the whistle.

That meant it was an and-one.

If Westbrook could stay composed and make this Free Throw to complete the and-one, he would cut the score difference to one point.

Then, if they used intentional fouls, the Knicks would make both Free Throws, leaving the score difference at only three points. The Thunder would still have a chance to tie the game with one shot.

If the script played out like that, everything would be completely different.

This crucial and-one from Westbrook gave the Thunder players and the fans supporting them tremendous hope.

Thud!

Westbrook stepped to the Free Throw line to take this all-important shot.

There were still 5.3 seconds left.

For both teams, the outcome remained uncertain.

Standing at the Free Throw line, Westbrook did not shoot immediately.

He took a deep breath and adjusted himself. He dribbled in place a few times, then released the shot only after getting himself into his best Free Throw rhythm.

At Madison Square Garden, more than twenty thousand fans all stared at Westbrook and unleashed their loudest screams just as he was about to shoot.

They tried to make him miss this Free Throw.

Westbrook truly failed to come through with a Big Heart, missing the Free Throw. It seemed to signal that the game was settled.

But the beauty of basketball lay in its uncertainty.

Just as the ball struck the rim and Chandler was about to secure the rebound beneath the basket—

A figure suddenly flashed through the air. It was not Chandler, not Ibaka, and not George.

It was Westbrook, who had just been at the Free Throw line.

He beat everyone else to the basket, soared high