Just as Stephen Curry’s fingertips let go of the ball that would secure the game, the entire Paycom Center was transfixed. The fans held their breath, some twirling their hands dramatically in hopes of a review, while others waved frantically in support of their team. Curry’s legendary scoop shot was enough to freeze the entire crowd, but it was the surrounding chaos that truly mesmerized everyone. With Draymond Green’s hand hovering near the cookie jar and Josh Giddey gripping the nylon, the officials were faced with too many angles and factors to make an immediate decision. It was undoubtedly the most exciting in-season tournament game that the league had ever seen, and one that left everyone on the edge of their seats.

Mitchell Ervin, the crew chief, provided his opinion on the controversial scene several hours later. He claimed that the evidence was clear and conclusive that Draymond Green did not touch the ball, although he did touch the rim. Ervin argued that Green’s contact with the rim did not cause the ball to take an unnatural bounce, thus there was no basketball violation. Ultimately, the Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a defeat of 141-139 with only 0.2 seconds left on the clock, and Stephen Curry’s incredible shot became a memorable moment in the game. Curry’s skillful move led to the unraveling of what could have been a near-perfect performance, aside from the absence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

According to coach Mark Daigneault, the recent game was an excellent opportunity for their team. He described it as a classic game where every possession was crucial, especially towards the end of the match. He further added that playing against a battle-tested team like the Golden State Warriors was an ideal scenario for them. Despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s absence, the Thunder played exceptionally well against the Warriors, with a 60.2% field goal percentage and a 51.7% 3-point conversion rate. The lineup stepped up and showcased their heroics to contribute to the game’s final possession. Chet Holmgren displayed his fantastic fluidity and shooting touch, scoring a career-high 24 points. Josh Giddey executed a series of awkward fourth-quarter floaters to finish with 18 points, while Isaiah Joe nailed two critical 3-pointers. Lu Dort was equally impressive, scoring ten consecutive shots without a miss.

In the absence of SGA, OKC was able to answer every question mark posed by their opponents. One concern was who would take charge of playmaking and on-ball creation, but Jalen Williams stepped up with 18 points and eight assists, despite six turnovers. He also made accurate kick outs when Andrew Wiggins blocked his path. Another concern was how rookie Cason Wallace would perform in his first start, but he played for 36 minutes, scoring 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting and learning how to contest someone like Klay Thompson. There was also the question of who would handle shotmaking, which was addressed by Dort’s impressive three-and-D performance and Giddey’s impressive floaters that earned him street cred with Holmgren.

Holmgren praised Giddey, stating that without him, the game wouldn’t have come down to the final possession. Giddey was described as a tough individual, and while it’s unclear which neighborhood he grew up in Australia, his resilience is evident. However, Golden State was equally impressive, shooting an impressive 53.3% from the field and having six players score at least 17 points. One player who stood out was former Thunder forward Dario Saric, who worked well with Chris Paul and made four 3-pointers. The Warriors’ shooters also displayed exceptional skill, making shots that seem like they were straight out of a video game.

Klay Thompson made difficult shots and hit four 3-pointers, while Curry had an emotional performance with 28 points, seven assists, and eight rebounds. Ultimately, the most important thing was the response from Giddey, who acknowledged that despite having opportunities to win the game, unexpected plays and calls can happen, and it’s important to move on.