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On Monday night the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-120 to win their second NBA Championship in three years.
But while the victory was enough to please Warriors fans, those that bet on Golden State to cover the spread in Game 5 left the game with an absolutely brutal taste in their mouths, all thanks to J.R. Smith.
Going into the game, the Warriors were listed in most sportsbooks as 9- or 9.5-point favorites, meaning that in order for Warriors bettors to cash in on their ticket, the Warriors had to win by ten or more points.
With the final seconds of the game ticking away and the game in hand, the Oracle crowd rose to their feet in anticipation of their title. The Warriors were sitting pretty with a 12-point lead, Steph Curry pulled up on a three-point jumper that would have served as an exclamation point, but missed.
And at the other end of the court, with literally nothing but pride at stake, J.R. Smith went and changed gambling outcomes across the country, draining a three with just 15 seconds left.
The Warriors inbounded the ball, let the clock run out, and both Warriors fans and Cavaliers bettors started their celebrations.
Needless to say, the fate of millions of dollars shifted on that one shot.
Some were ecstatic with the result.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/874473529697325056
I feel like god put JR Smith on this earth to hit a 3 to cover the spread
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/874473263673393152
I can’t stand JR Smith. But thank you for the most epic backdoor cover I can ever remember! We on 🔥!
Others were absolutely devastated.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/874473107184025601
DAMN YOU JR SMITH AND DAMN YOU BACKDOOR COVER. Golden State -9.0 was a lock
The lesson as always, is that gambling is a cruel mistress.
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