Spencer Dinwiddie nails his career’s first game-winning buzzer-beater, quieting the Barclays Center.
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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Spencer Dinwiddie, who played for the Nets for five seasons, created another memorable moment at Barclays Center on Wednesday night.
After Luka Doncic and Kevin Durant exchanged lead-changing buckets in the final 30 seconds, Dinwiddie made a 3-pointer at the buzzer against his former team, giving the Dallas Mavericks a 113-111 victory.
This victory was more enjoyable than just mere revenge for Dinwiddie, as he still has friends in Brooklyn.
“Dinwiddie said, it’s more like confronting a family member than seeking revenge on an enemy.”
GAME SITUATION: Dallas erased a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter and led 110-108 after Doncic’s jumper with 22.7 seconds left. Durant responded with a 3-pointer to set up the final possession with 10.6 seconds remaining. Doncic brought the ball upcourt after a timeout. He ended up with Nic Claxton guarding him on a switch, and Durant left Dinwiddie open to blitz Doncic. When Doncic saw Durant coming, he swung the ball to Dinwiddie.
DIFFICULTY: Dinwiddie is no stranger to clutch shots. Although this was his first career game-winning buzzer-beater, Dinwiddie has six go-ahead field goals in the final 10 seconds over the past 5 seasons — including three days ago in Boston. Only DeMar DeRozan has more over that span with seven. The attention on Doncic allowed Dinwiddie to get a relatively clean look with a second left on the clock. Goran Dragic was in the vicinity, but he was too late to contest the shot.
CELEBRATION: After hitting the game-winner right in front of Brooklyn’s bench, Dinwiddie met Doncic for an airborne shoulder bump at mid-court. Their teammates quickly arrived to join the party. In his postgame interview, Dinwiddie thanked Nico Harrison, the Mavs general manager who acquired him from Washington last month after a rocky stint with the Wizards. The celebration continued in the Mavs’ locker room with a proper dousing.
This man was getting away without a proper celebration #MFFL pic.twitter.com/F1aZspzSNh
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) March 17, 2022
GRADE: Dinwiddie has found a home in Dallas. He’s gone from 12.6 points on 37.6% shooting with the Wizards to 17.9 points with the Mavs on 50% shooting, and the Mavs are 10-2 in games in which he’s played in with wins over the Heat, Warriors (twice), Jazz, Celtics and Nets. That’s a great sign as Dallas climbs the Western Conference standings ahead of the playoffs. Four Horrys.
