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Just like the rest of the NBA, Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball couldn't believe De'Aaron Fox's choke job with the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
Caleb Martin almost drew the ire of the Hornets fanbase after he fouled Fox thinking the Kings were not yet in the bonus. With 2.4 seconds left and Charlotte just ahead by one at 124-123, the win all but seemed certain for Sacramento with their star guard on the line.
Fox was 8-of-8 from the charity stripe at that point, and surely, he won't miss those shots, right? Well, that was what everyone expected only to be treated to a wild ending. The 23-year-old missed not one but both free throws as the Hornets jumped in celebration after the buzzer sounded and the scores remained the same.
Up 124-123, Cody Martin fouled De'Aaron Fox intentionally thinking the Kings weren't in the bonus.
De'Aaron Fox went to the line with 2 seconds left and missed BOTH free throws. The wild ending: pic.twitter.com/85jhi0eNbS
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 11, 2021
Of course, LaMelo Ball–absent due to COVID-19 protocols–was tuned in the contest and was in disbelief as well after witnessing the wild turn of events.
After Fox missed the first free throw, LaMelo hoped that he would miss the second. And after it happened, the Hornets rising star couldn't contain his emotion for the dramatic win.
is he gone miss both 👀👀👀
— Melo (@MELOD1P) December 11, 2021
OOOOOO SHIIIIII👀👀👀🛸🛸🛸🛸🕺🏽🕺🏽🕺🏽💯💯
— Melo (@MELOD1P) December 11, 2021
It's hard to blame LaMelo for his reaction. The win is already for the Kings to take, but Fox just couldn't convert in what is easily their most heartbreaking defeat of the campaign.
For what it's worth, Fox admitted his disappointment in his postgame presser, noting that he really wanted to punish the Hornets for their huge mistake.
“I’m very disappointed because I wanted the ball in my hands. Like I said before, they took the foul and you want to punish a team for making a mistake like that. I missed them. There’s nothing I can do about it now,” Fox shared.
It is truly an ending that the Kings won't forget any time soon. And by the looks of it, LaMelo and the Hornets won't, too
