Bub Carrington hits the winner off glass over a pair of Heat defenders as time expires.
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 a long, challenging season finally coming to an end, Washington rookie Bub Carrington gave the Wizards a rare reason to celebrate with his buzzer-beating floater to edge Miami 119-118 in Game 82.
Even better — it won’t impact their shot at the top overall pick in this year’s Draft as the three worst teams in the standings, a distinction Washington already clinched, will all have the same 14% odds.
GAME SITUATION: Both teams entered Sunday’s finale with nothing to play for given that Miami was already locked into the Play-In Tournament at No. 10 and Washington had long been eliminated from contention.
As such, it was an opportunity for backups and little-used reserves to stretch their legs for major minutes in an actual game situation. (Case example: AJ Johnson, who had been inactive for much of Washington’s first four-plus months, went the distance for all 48.)
Leading the entire second half before Miami stormed ahead with a furious late rally, the Wizards began their final possession down 118-117 with 4.4 seconds remaining.
DIFFICULTY: It wasn’t a designed play so much as “get the ball to Carrington and see what he can do.” The 14th pick in last year’s Draft duly delivered, weaving into the edge of the paint and somehow banking a fading, off-balance shot off glass over a pair of Heat defenders as he toppled to the court.
WHAT A SHOT ‼️
BUB CARRINGTON WINS IT FOR THE WIZARDS 🚨#TissotBuzzerBeater#YourTimeDefinesYourGreatness pic.twitter.com/2laJOFdhpH
— NBA (@NBA) April 13, 2025
CELEBRATION: Already on the floor, Carrington was immediately dog-piled by his four teammates on the court as the rest of the Wizards bench raced over to join them.
GRADE: Had there been something at stake, even as simple as moving up a spot in the playoff order, the sheer ridiculousness of Carrington’s circus shot would have warranted a much, much higher score. Alas, with Sunday’s game merely finishing out the schedule … 2 Horrys.
