CLEVELAND — The fans in the sellout crowd here gasped for breath and then exploded into a wall of noise on Sunday night as Shelvin Mack’s potentially game-tying 3-pointer in overtime hung in the air and then clanged off the rim. As the ball bounced away, the final buzzer sounded and the Cleveland Cavaliers secured a 114-111 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
It was pandemonium around the court and in the stands, but LeBron James could only drop to his knees and rest his forehead on the court.
Just a few seconds into the extra period, James had begun to limp noticeably, favoring his right knee.