NBA: Devonte Graham hits miraculous 61-foot winner for the New Orleans Pelicans against the Thunder

Devonte’ Graham’s scored a spectacular 61-foot hail-mary at the buzzer on Wednesday to hand the New Orleans Pelicans a last-gasp 113-110 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had just hit an off-balance 30-footer to tie the score with 1.4 seconds on the clock remaining. 

The Pelicans inbounded to Graham, who launched the ball from near the 3-point arc on the other end of the court to win it in dramatic circumstances.

‘I just wanted to get one up, honestly,’ Graham said. ‘I didn’t want to take the ball out. I waited. Then J-Hart (Josh Hart) passed it to me and I just let it fly.’

Devonte’ Graham’s scored a spectacular 61-foot hail-mary as the Pelicans beat the Thunder

Graham (No 4) hit the stunning buzzer-beater with just 1.4 seconds left on the clock

Brandon Ingram, who led the Pelicans with 34 points, went through a wide range of emotions as the shot went up.

‘I thought it was going in,’ Ingram said. ‘But when it went in, I was in disbelief.’

Gilgeous-Alexander was closely defended well beyond the arc. Pelicans coach Willie Green said he thought Garrett Temple fouled Gilgeous-Alexander before he got the shot off.

‘I mean, we even told the referees, you know, look, we plan on trying to foul them before they shoot a 3,’ Green said. ‘And then he tried to foul him and they didn’t call anything, and he had to let him go because he didn’t want to give up a four-point play.’

The New Orleans Pelicans players go mad after watching Graham’s shot go in on Wednesday

Oklahoma City’s Kenrich Williams tried to put pressure on Graham’s final shot, but he wanted to be careful.

‘I just didn’t want to foul, make a stupid play,’ Williams said. ‘Just tried to show my hands. I knew that he was going to try to shoot that shot. And it went in, man, so you’ve just got to tip your hat to him.’

Jonas Valanciunas added 19 points and 16 rebounds for the Pelicans. Graham finished with 15 points and eight assists.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 33 points. Williams and Josh Giddey each scored 17 points and Mike Muscala added 16 for the Thunder.

Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexandert hit an off-balance 30-footer to tie the game

Oklahoma City led 102-100 in the fourth quarter before three straight baskets by Ingram put the Pelicans in front.

Gilgeous-Alexander banked in a 3 with 28 seconds remaining to cut New Orleans’ lead to 106-105, but Ingram hit a contested mid-range jumper on the other end with 7.2 seconds left to push the Pelicans’ lead back up to three.

The Pelicans fouled Gilgeous-Alexander intentionally to prevent him from shooting a 3. Gilgeous-Alexander made two free throws with 5.6 seconds left to cut New Orleans’ lead to 108-107.

Ingram was fouled with 4.5 seconds left, and he made two free throws to make it a three-point game, setting up the final sequence.

But it wasn’t enough as the Pelicans ran out 113-110 winners in Oklahoma City

‘I thought we put ourselves in a really good position all things considered, but when you lose a game that tight, it stings,’ Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.

Green said the result was an extension of the energy the team has been showing lately.

‘Just proud of our guys,’ he said. ‘Like, we’ve been fighting through adversity all season, and this group is having a fun time hanging with each other in practice. The spirit of this team is upbeat, and I’m proud of the way that they continue to fight.’