Hornets fans were praying to God for a last-second miracle to keep their team’s playoff hopes alive, and Jeremy Lamb delivered.
The Charlotte Hornets were looking for a miracle from the basketball Gods on Sunday night against the Toronto Raptors, and Jeremy Lamb delivered.
It’s one of the most insane buzzer-beaters you will ever see, one born out of desperation, not just for a win, but to keep a team in a playoff race that’s slowly fading.
The Hornets entered their Sunday afternoon matchup against the Raptors two-and-half games in back of the Miami Heat for the eight and final playoff seed, and a loss in Toronto would have all but dashed Charlotte’s playoff hopes, sending them into an uncertain offseason with their All-Star, Kemba Walker, set to become an unrestricted free agent.
Charlotte showed that desperation on Sunday, staying with the Raptors all game, which was surprising given the fact that Walker was a dismal 3-17 from the field. With 3.7 seconds remaining, however, the Hornets were down 114-112, but they had the ball on the side, so, there was a shot to at least send the game into overtime.
Hornet’s guard Dwayne Bacon, who led Charlotte with 20 points, inbounded the ball to Lamb, but it was knocked away by up-and-coming star Pascal Siakam, who was all over Lamb.
The ball went to the backcourt, and Lamb retrieved it. The sold-out crowd at Scotiabank Arena wanted an over-and-back, but Siakam did touch the ball, so it was still Hornets ball. With time ticking to zero, and with Lamb realizing he didn’t have enough time to get it back across half-court, he heaved it toward the basket, with Hornets players and fans prayers hanging in the balance.
Then, Charlotte found out that God does, indeed, answer prayers on Sundays, as the ball went off the backboard and through the nets, sending the crowd into stunned silence, and sending the Hornets back home with a new lease on their playoff life.