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As the Oklahoma City Thunder lost their third straight game, one Thunder fan walked out of Paycom Center with $20K in a halfcourt heave contest.
The halfcourt heave contest is like a carnival game for NBA fans: there’s a tantalizing prize on the table, but only if the contestant makes a nearly impossible shot to win it.
While the game might seem rigged against mortal non-NBA ballers, every so often, a fan takes the court and lands the perfect shot. While the Thunder were in the middle of losing their third straight game of the season, the halftime entertainment erupted in thunderous applause: someone made the miraculous half-court shot and walked away with $20,000.
Oklahoma City Thunder fan leaves game with $20K from winning half-court shot
A thrilling tradition for basketball fans, halfcourt heave contests give talented fans the opportunity to show their skills and win with their favorite team.
This isn’t the first time an OKC Thunder fan took home $20K for a winning shot: it also happened back in April 2017.
Back then, it was Thunders fan Tiandre Nichols who took home the winnings. After he won the contest, he ripped off the contest-sponsored jersey to showcase his Russell Westbrook one.
The Thunders lost that 2017 game too, but the incredible moment captivated fans the same way it did on Sunday. The Thunder lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 115-103, and while the Philadelphia team is managing without star Ben Simmons, the Thunder is attempting a rebuild to surround Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with the talent he needs to thrive in Oklahoma City.