The crowd cheered unusually loud, at least relative to how it normally sounds for successful free throws in the second quarter.
But this particular free throw from Anthony Davis with 2:49 left in the first half earned a semi-sarcastic roar. The Lakers had tied the game, ending a healthy stretch where they trailed the Washington Wizards, one of the NBA’s worst teams in a half-hearted effort.
The crowd went silent much later Thursday night after another free throw, this one from Washington’s Tyus Jones, tied the game in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. And it sighed with relief when Washington‘s Jordan Poole’s potential game-winner rocketed off the backboard to send the game into overtime.