Marco Belinelli nearly makes the play of the NBA season (Video)
By Connor Learn
Coach Steve Clifford inserted Marco Belinelli to be an offensive threat at the end of tonight’s game. Little did he know what Belinelli was about to do.
Thursday’s match up between the Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons was a hard fought one. Reggie Jackson made the go ahead free throws for the Pistons to go up 115-113 with 1.9 seconds remaining.
Frank Kaminsky was inserted to inbound the ball and failed to do so. However, Marcus Morris committed a foul when the ball was still out of bounds so the Hornets got another chance. Marco Belinelli got to shoot a free throw for the foul and the Hornets got another chance in inbound with the ball on the side.
Frank Kaminsky got the chance again and the Pistons’ Reggie Jackson tipped the ball out of bounds giving the Hornets one last shot with 0.5 seconds left.
Steve Clifford let Marco Belinelli inbound this time. He couldn’t have imagined what ended up happening:
Marco Belinelli had nowhere to go with the ball and ended up throwing it off of the Pistons’ Marcus Morris. However, the officials ruled that he did not get the shot off in time.
This game was actually a meaningful matchup of Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls. The Hornets, currently fifth in the East, are only 6-4 in their last 10 and could have used a win. The Pistons, just outside of the playoff picture, surely were glad to win at home on Thursday.
Marcus Morris, Reggie Jackson and Tobias Harris each eclipsed 20 points for the Pistons. Andre Drummond scored 16 and grabbed 15 rebounds in the Detroit victory. The Hornets lost Nic Batum to a hyperextended knee during the game and lost despite 32 points from Kemba Walker.
The story of this game, however, is what could have been. Even the fact that it was that close makes it the most memorable moment of the game. Had Belinelli gotten that shot off on time, it would have been one of the best moments of the 2016-17 NBA season.