Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith was immediately trolled by a roaring Oracle Arena in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, after his memorable regulation-ending blunder gave the Golden State Warriors a second wind, enough to outscore the Cavs 17-7 in the overtime period to nab a 1-0 lead.
The marksman received chants of “MVP” during the starting lineups and during his lone trip to the foul line, as the Warriors took a 2-0 lead in the series after a 122-103 rout on Sunday night.
“I’m always the person the fans like to talk to or heckle or whatever,” Smith explained after Game 2 in a post-game press conference, according to USA TODAY Sports. “I like it. I’d rather they do that than not acknowledge me at all. So I appreciate it.”
Fans, as usual, were ruthlessly trolling Smith for his bonehead antics, but they didn’t beat him up nearly as much as he’s likely beaten himself up for such a costly gaffe.
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Smith followed a 10-point performance with a mere five points on 2-of-9 from the floor over 31 minutes, while every other starter had scored in double digits.
The sharpshooter has been far from the reliable marksman he’s been needed to be this postseason, posting only 8.4 points per game on an awry 34.5 percent from the field in this playoff run.