Horry Scale: Saddiq Bey deflates Warriors with buzzer-beating 3-pointer
Saddiq Bey knocks down a turnaround 3-pointer as time expires after Klay Thompson ties the game with 3 with 2.3 seconds left.
A reminder on The Horry Scale: It breaks down a game-winning buzzer-beater (GWBB) in the categories of difficulty, game situation (was the team tied or behind at the time?), importance (playoff game or garden-variety night in November?) and celebration. Then we give it an overall grade on a scale of 1-5 Robert Horrys, named for the patron saint of last-second answered prayers.
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It looked like the Golden State Warriors were heading to overtime for the second consecutive game after Klay Thompson hit a game-tying 3 with a second remaining in regulation.
Saddiq Bey had other plans.
The Pistons wing hit a turnaround buzzer-beating 3-pointer as time expired to give his squad a 122-119 victory and end the Warriors’ five-game win streak.
GAME SITUATION: Killian Hayes made a pair of free throws to give the Pistons a 3-point lead with 4.2 seconds left. Thompson answered the call, knocking down a 3 off a great inbounds play to tie the game at 119. That left exactly one second on the clock. The final play had been drawn for Bojan Bogdanovic, then Bey suddenly found the ball in his hands with no time to think, so he just let it fly.
DIFFICULTY: One second. Just enough time for a catch-and-shoot opportunity. Bey busted through the Warriors’ switching defense just in time for Hayes to find him, then released an off-balance 3-pointer to silence the crowd at Chase Center. A short review confirmed he got it off in time.
“It was tough, I don’t even remember I kind of blacked out a little bit,” Bey said. “I had one second so I didn’t have that much time to think, so I had to shoot it so I’m just grateful it went in.”
CELEBRATION: The Pistons’ bench erupted as Bey leapt to his feet and started barking the crowd. Teammates mobbed him at midcourt while several of the Warriors players walked away in disbelief.
♂️ https://t.co/kYfS0Ten3r pic.twitter.com/SAhpyCRdqD
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 5, 2023
GRADE: This one hurt for the Warriors, who had won five consecutive games. The Pistons, meanwhile, who began the night with the worst record in the Eastern Conference, completed an improbable two-game sweep of the defending champions. This very well could be the highlight of the Pistons’ season. 3 Horrys.
