Mavericks forward Vince Carter hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to lift Dallas to a 109-108 home victory over San Antonio in Game 3 on Saturday.
With less than two seconds remaining and San Antonio leading 108-106, Dallas took the ball out from the left sideline. After watching Monta Ellis run off a curl towards the top of the key, Jose Calderon elected to pass to Carter, who broke towards the left corner with Manu Ginobili in hot pursuit. Carter caught the pass and turned towards the baseline in one motion, using a brief pump fake to get Ginobili in the air before hoisting up a fallaway three-pointer.
This was a magician’s act all around: Carter managed to fake and then release the ball before the clock ran out, while also keeping his feet behind the line but not out of bounds. Baseline photos showed that his right heel perfectly hovered above the sideline. The shot swished through after the buzzer sounded, delivering the one-point victory and sending the American Airlines Center crowd into a massive celebration. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban joined the party on the court, pumping his arms to lead the cheers.Vince Carter knew right away the exact date of the last time he had a buzzer-beating try in a playoff game — 13 years ago.
It’s seared in the memory of the 16-year veteran because he missed that one as a member of the Toronto Raptors.
But he was on target on Saturday.
Carter hit a double-pump 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Dallas Mavericks a 109-108 victory in Game 3 and a first-round series lead over the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs.
With 1.7 seconds left, Carter took an inbound pass from Jose Calderon in the left corner. After a quick pump fake got Manu Ginobili in the air — moments after the Argentine guard had given the Spurs the lead — Carter released the ball just in time.
He strutted stone-faced toward Dirk Nowitzki, who was waving his arms wildly as he jumped on Carter. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban joined the celebration on the court before the automatic review confirmed the obvious: The shot was good.
And it’s one Carter said he practiced.
“May 20th, Game 7,” said Carter, referring to an 88-87 loss to Philadelphia in the 2001 Eastern Conference finals when he was he was the dunking sensation known as “Vinsanity” with the Raptors. Carter had graduated from North Carolina earlier that day before flying on a private plane to Philadelphia.Vince Carter knew right away the exact date of the last time he had a buzzer-beating try in a playoff game -- 13 years ago.
It's seared in the memory of the 16-year veteran because he missed that one. He was on target Saturday.
Carter hit a double-pump 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Dallas Mavericks a 109-108 victory in Game 3 and a first-round series lead over the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs.
With 1.7 seconds left, Carter took an inbound pass from Jose Calderon in the left corner. After a quick pump fake got Manu Ginobili in the air -- moments after the Argentine guard had given the Spurs the lead -- Carter released the ball just in time.NBA veteran Vince Carter, 37, sunk a corner three as time expired to give the Dallas Mavericks a 109-108 win over the San Antonio Spurs in a thrilling playoff game on Saturday night. The win gave the Mavericks a 2-1 series lead over the Spurs.
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