Barnes hits the Tissot Buzzer-Beater to stun Warriors
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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With the Warriors fighting to avoid the SoFi Play-In Tournament, a familiar face dealt a serious blow to their hopes. San Antonio’s Harrison Barnes, who played his first four seasons in the Bay and was a part of the 2015 title team, capped off a 20-point night with a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Spurs a 114-111 win over Golden State on Wednesday night.
After Draymond Green hit a pair of free throws to tie up the game, the Spurs called timeout with 3.1 seconds left to set up the final play.
GAME SITUATION: Both teams entered the night playing the second game of a back-to-back, and the Warriors may have run out of steam down the stretch. After Godlen State let a 14-point lead slip away, Barnes made the interesting choice of fouling Green with a two-point lead, which paid off in that they didn’t get burned by a 3-pointer while also setting up San Antonio with the final action in regulation.
DIFFICULTY: After Stephon Castle inbounded the ball, Barnes had the option to hand off to the rookie, who had a team-high 21 points, or keep the ball in his own hands. The 13-year veteran, who had already hit five 3s in the game, opted to spin to his left and take the shot over the outstretched arms of Jimmy Butler III. Barnes had time to take two dribbles to his left before fading away to get the shot over the 6-foot-7 Butler. The shot was pure and the celebration ensued.
CELEBRATION: Barnes, who finished 6-for-9 from the field (all 3-point attempts), had a brief moment to keep his right hand extended in the follow through before his teammates mobbed him. Stephon Castle was the first to jump into the jubilant veteran’s arms, and the rest of the team joined in the fun, carrying their hero up the court as they jumped in celebration. One Spurs player skipped the initial scrum to instead run to midcourt and throw his fist in the air, before joining his teammates in mobbing their savior.
GRADE: With San Antonio already eliminated from playoff contention, every bright moment is a building block for the future. This win on the road will certainly be something the young roster can remember next season as the Spurs continue their rebuild. For the Warriors, this was a difficult blow, dropping them from 4th in the West to 7th and a potential SoFi Play-In spot. For Barnes, sealing the win in dramatic fashion in a familiar city looked like it held extra meaning. We’ll give it 3 Horrys.
