J.R. Smith’s Killer NBA Finals Mistake

No. 76 on The Ringer’s list of the 100 Best Sports Moments of the Quarter Century is one that LeBron James and Cavaliers fans are likely to want to forget. At the end of regulation during Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals, J.R. Smith ran out the clock instead of passing or calling a timeout, only to realize that the game was tied and he had wasted a precious opportunity for the Cavs to clinch the game. The Ringer’s Logan Murdock, who was at that game, recalls what that moment felt like at the time, and discusses its legacy for those involved.