These are the Finals everyone wanted, the moments of truth for (Kevin) Durant and (LeBron) James that shape the sport’s history, that make this the most compelling of theater. In the end, it becomes so simple: Makes and misses. The ball had come to Durant with the clock ticking down, and here was a shot that he had made a million times in his life. James grabbed onto him for dear life, and still those endless arms of Durant unfolded, that wrist flicked and the ball had a chance.

Makes and misses. No foul, no excuses. Durant didn’t chase down the officials, didn’t throw a tantrum, didn’t pout in his news conference. Did James foul him? Who knows. He’ll go look at the tape, he said. Durant understands the burden, understands the stakes. They’re chasing a championship now, chasing immortality, and James beat Durant and the Thunder on Thursday night.

“I missed the shot, man,” Durant said, and sometimes, that’s all the explanation anyone wants out of a superstar.

via Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports