Game Seven seemed all but confirmed after a loose ball fell gently into the arms of Houston Rockets forward Chandler Parsons, who scooped in a layup to put his team up 98-96. Portland Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews nearly fell to his knees; the Rockets players jogged to their sidelines in unison, contented in knowing they had a win-or-go-home on their home floor, all but guaranteed; the Moda Center crowd sat, shocked, murmuring in confusion.
No one knew it at the time, but those in attendance were mere moments away from one of the greatest shots in NBA history.