NBA

Knicks’ Amar’e Stoudemire Almost Hits Game-Winner…But It’s Too Late (Video)

It was a moment to add to Madison Square Garden lore. The Knicks, who looked like their eight-game winning streak would be snapped thanks to a back-breaking shot by the Celtics’ Paul Pierce, had 0.4 seconds left to make a miracle happen. Enter Amar’e Stoudemire, who’d dominated all game long with 39 points. Stoudemire took the inbounds pass from beyond the three-point line…fired…swish.

The crowd erupted, the Knicks erupted, Spike Lee really erupted. This had it all – a phenomenal finish (provided by the home team’s best player) to a phenomenal game played between two teams – from rival cities – both on a roll, all in an historic venue.

Only the shot didn’t count. Yes, as you’ll remember, the Knicks had just 0.4 seconds. 0.4 seconds isn’t much time to catch a ball and shoot it. Stoudemire couldn’t quite get it done – the screengrab at left indeed shows the clock above the backboard lit in red, signifying time is up, and the ball is still in Stoudemire’s hand. The Celtics, who started trying to wave the shot off as soon as Stoudemire hit it, left the Garden with a win, and the Knicks’ streak was snapped after all.

This, however, was still a fantastic game with a fantastic finish – just not quite as fantastic as it could have been. Video of those last 0.4 seconds, and their immediate aftermath, above.