At the end of a closely contested thriller of a Game 5, the Los Angeles Lakers had a chance to win the NBA championship in the final seconds, but a missed shot and an ugly turnover allowed the Heat to extend the series with a 111-108 win on Friday night.
After Jimmy Butler hit two free throws to put the Heat up by one, LeBron James brought the ball up the court with 16 seconds remaining in the fourth. The Heat wanted to get the ball out of James’ hands and collapsed on him as he drove to the basket, and LeBron threw a mid-air pass to an open Danny Green at the top of the three point line.
Green, who was 2-of-4 from three at the point, missed a potential game-winner short – but Markieff Morris grabbed the rebound with 5.9 seconds on the clock. Instead of dumping the ball back to Green, who was still uncovered, Morris took one dribble and lofted a pass to Anthony Davis. The pass sailed out of bounds untouched, giving the Heat the ball.
Perhaps unaware of the clock, Morris didn’t need to get rid of the ball so quickly – and also missed a wide-open LeBron James on the other side of the court.
Markieff Morris…EXPLAINpic.twitter.com/4E9XeYLfN3
— Hoop Tracker (@TheHoopTracker) October 10, 2020
Lakers fans ripped Green and Morris on Twitter after the loss. Game 6 will be played on Sunday.
Keef Morris = JR Smith pic.twitter.com/1PcTUbPUcq
— Fanáticos de Los Lakers (@LakersFanaticos) October 10, 2020
For the record…Keef’s pass was wayyyyyyyyyyy worse than Danny’s shot
— Corey Hansford (@TheeCoreyH) October 10, 2020
WHAT MARKIEFF COULD'VE DONE
1. Pass to this guy (LeBron James, fyi)
2. Pass to this guy (who the play was drawn up for, wide-open for another 3)
3. Quick pass to this guy
4. pass to this guy
5. Shoot, you're an NBA playerWHAT HE DID
Tim Tebow jump pass directly out of bounds pic.twitter.com/eYlOg6SBIw— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) October 10, 2020
Markieff Morris with the game on the line pic.twitter.com/C7cOo16WJ5
— brandon☂️ (@lolimbrandon_) October 10, 2020
Danny…. keef… cmon nah pic.twitter.com/U6aRjLWc7F
— Tom Foolery (@Tomwitdafoolery) October 10, 2020
Ahhh Keef, yoooohoooooo over here. pic.twitter.com/HnOKO7Bffw
— David Kevin (@theIVpointplay) October 10, 2020
Keef got his training from JR Smith. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/OCNoFZPF2Q
— Steve Brines (@sbrines) October 10, 2020
Keef threw a wild ass pass, but Danny Green pic.twitter.com/J8CUcDEoDm
— Tom Sheppard (@ThaDavester) October 10, 2020
LeBron to Danny Green and Keef after tonight: pic.twitter.com/uhMJLGLkjB
— Christian 🎃🔪 (@CPerry404) October 10, 2020
