Tuesday night brought one of the most exciting, controversial games of the NBA Playoffs, as the Oklahoma City Thunder used a furious last-minute comeback -- and some suspect calls by officials -- to beat the Los Angeles Clippers and take a 3-2 lead in its second-round series.
But the game also produced some additional drama: The best photo of the NBA post-season so far.
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With 6.4 seconds left in the game, Thunder guard Russell Westbrook was fouled (well, maybe; the veracity of this call is a subject of debate) by Clippers star Chris Paul while shooting a three-pointer. He stepped to the line with the Thunder down two, calmly sank all three freebies and gave Oklahoma City the win.
The only thing: Thunder star Kevin Durant couldn't bear to watch the nerve-grinding action, instead sitting down clear on the other end of the court and staring into the stands as Westbrook shot. Getty Images photographer Ronald Martinez was able to catch this stellar photo of the dramatic scene on camera, with Durant in the foreground and a blurry Westbrook mid-shot behind him.
After the clock hit zero, The Oklahoman's Bryan Terry snapped another amazing photo of Durant and Westbrook celebrating joyously with Durant's mom -- a.k.a. "the real MVP."
Of course, this being the Internet and all, Durant's pensive pose was immediately given the full meme treatment after some prodding from the Hardwood Paroxysm Twitter account.
.@HPbasketball @MikePradaSBN pic.twitter.com/5TOgrPbovA— Alessandro Miglio (@AlexMiglio) May 14, 2014
Very nice. RT @nick_pants: @HPbasketball @World_Wide_Wob pic.twitter.com/PZXuHsDjbB— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 14, 2014
Kevin. Behind you pic.twitter.com/FFfyt4iEPa— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) May 14, 2014
Oh but this is better. RT @saras_tweets: @HPbasketball saw someone beat me to it, sorta... http://t.co/WY29aldk1d— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 14, 2014
Had to give it a try pic.twitter.com/S7Qa9km42H— Tim (@ChuckShots) May 14, 2014
Probably my favorite. RT @Dubsco: @HPbasketball pic.twitter.com/jlfG7LgtE0— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 14, 2014
Just more proof that sports, photography and the Internet are a ménage à trois delivered straight from the content-consumption gods.