Jabari Smith drains game-winning three-pointer in NBA Summer League matchup vs. Portland
Former Auburn star Jabari Smith stole the show on Friday night in his team’s NBA Summer League matchup vs. the Portland Trail Blazers. Tari Eason in-bounded the ball and threw an incredible pass to Smith in the final second, and he heaved up a prayer from deep at the buzzer to win the game for the Rockets. There were only .6 seconds left, but that didn’t matter for Smith and Eason. Both of them found freon coursing through their veins, right when their team needed them the most.
Smith was able to gather himself and quickly got a shot off in time to drain it for the heart-stopping win.
Check out the miraculous play here.
What a pass from Tari Eason and what a shot by Jabari Smith. It was simply a miraculous sequence from the Rockets’ tandem with the game on the line.
Houston ended up winning on Friday night, 100-99.
Smith struggled in the first half, only putting up four points. But he erupted for 29 points in the second half to finish with 33 points in leading his team to the heart-stopping victory. He also stuffed the stat sheet with seven rebounds.
Jabari Smith and Tari Eason on the miraculous play
For more on the game, check out the postgame interviews that were transcribed by On3’s Nick Schultz.
Following the game, Smith talked about the game-winning sequence. “Coach drew up the play, I had the QB taking the ball out and I made the shot,” Smith said.
Then Tari Eason was right beside him and spoke with ESPN’s sideline reporter. “You know, Coach drew it up and he said he needed my QB skills. I used to play football back in the day. I lined it up, ‘Bari knocked it down. That’s all I got to say. Shoutout ‘Bari. Ice water.”
Smith discussed elevating his game and his teammates in year two. “Just having fun, man. Summer League, it only happens one time a year. So just going out here and playing, competing against other great players, young players and just having fun, man. That’s all I try to focus on,” the former Auburn star said.
Smith starred in college for the Auburn Tigers and Tari Eason starred for the LSU Tigers in college, so the two former SEC colleagues made some serious magic on the hardwood on Friday night.
On3’s Nick Schultz also contributed to this article.