"Buzzer-beater! Buzzer-beater!"
The announcer's hoarse cries echoed through Oracle Arena, yet beneath the shouts was a trace of barely concealed desolation.
Just over a dozen seconds earlier, the Golden State Warriors, who had held the advantage, had shockingly been beaten by a buzzer-beater.
Previously, leading by one point and in possession of the ball, the Golden State Warriors had launched an offensive possession. After constant passing and cutting, Harrison Barnes had found himself with a nearly wide-open mid-range shot.
Yet fate seemed to have played a joke on them at that very moment. The shot that should have dropped cleanly through the hoop instead bounced off the rim.
In an instant, possession changed hands and fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The ball went to James Harden. The rest of the Oklahoma City Thunder players spread out like well-drilled soldiers, quickly clearing out a vast isolation space for James Harden.
Time slipped away at lightning speed, and every second was precious.
With only 5 seconds remaining, the hearts of the entire crowd were in their throats, their eyes locked tightly on James Harden.
James Harden controlled the ball steadily with his left hand, then forcefully planted his right foot and exploded toward the left like a bolt of lightning.
Klay Thompson, assigned to guard him, reacted with remarkable speed as well, immediately sliding laterally in an attempt to cut off James Harden's driving lane.
But James Harden seemed to have already seen through his intentions.
Just as Klay Thompson was about to seal off his path, James Harden suddenly came to a sharp stop, the move crisp and decisive without the slightest hesitation.
Then came a smooth between-the-legs dribble. Like a nimble sprite, the ball instantly shifted from his left hand to his right.
Afterward, James Harden lightly stepped back