Summary

Two friends, initially indifferent to basketball, find themselves unexpectedly engrossed in a thrilling playoff game between the Portland Blazers and the Denver Nuggets while waiting for a pool table, leading to a memorable night of camaraderie and emotional connection.

Abstract

Cassie Brighter and Lily, who are not fans of basketball, end up at Nitehawk bar to play pool, only to be drawn into an intense NBA playoff game between the Portland Blazers and the Denver Nuggets. As they wait for a pool table to become available, the game's excitement captures their attention, and they become increasingly invested in the outcome. The match goes into multiple overtimes, with the score remaining close throughout. Lily, originally from Denver, roots against Portland, not out of loyalty to her hometown team but because she wants the bar to clear out. The game's intensity peaks during the fourth overtime, with Portland ultimately winning by a narrow margin. The experience leads to deep conversations about love, loss, and friendship, and despite Lily's initial frustration, the night ends on a high note with laughter, pool, and shared reflections on life's uncertainties.

Opinions

The author and Lily initially have no interest in sports, particularly basketball, but find themselves caught up in the excitement of the playoff game.
Lily's motivation for wanting Denver to win is primarily to expedite the departure of the crowd from the bar, rather than genuine team loyalty.
The game's unexpected thrill and multiple overtimes create a bonding experience for the friends, leading to meaningful discussions about life and love.
The friends' engagement with the game reaches a point where they know specific players' names and acknowledge the high quality of play.
The emotional impact of the game extends beyond the final score, influencing their mood and interactions for the rest of the evening.
The article suggests that shared experiences, even unexpected ones, can deepen friendships and provide comfort during times of personal challenge, such as Lily's partner being away for military training.
The author reflects on the nature of love and loss, highlighting the importance of friendship in navigating life's uncertainties and emotional hardships.

Sportsball, Love, Loss and Friendship

Two non-fans share an unexpected basketball game experience

I came home tonight and Lily was clearly sad about Mark leaving for basic training. Lily said that they had wanted to go play pool but none of their friends were available. I had to study for my MBA, but frankly between studying statistics and playing pool with Lily…

So get in the car and go to Nitehawk.

We get there and the game is on. And the place is packed, because the Blazers (Portland team) are playing the Denver Nuggets and everyone is there watching the game. So we wait for a pool table to clear.

Neither one of us cares a fig about any of the sportsball, so we’re just casually glancing at the screens while talking random stuff.

But it’s just three minutes before regulation time is over, and the teams are neck-and-neck — so now we’re watching. And 123–125. And, with a minute left, 125–125. I’m thinking, it’s a tie — because, what the fuck do I know. “It’s the playoffs, Cassie,” says Lily — as if that meant anything to me.

So they go into overtime.

We’re just waiting for a pool table to clear. But people are hogging the tables, dilly-dallying and watching the game. And Lily is fuming. This is THEIR fucking bar, and all these crashers are hogging the tables. So we’re waiting for the game to end.

And overtime gets heated. It gets intense. And it’s two points for Denver, but it’s two points for Portland. And still neck-and-neck.

Lily is not so much rooting for Denver to win as they are rooting for Portland to lose. Lily is from Denver originally, so there’s that — but the real motivation is just “for people to get the fuck out of my bar.” Lily is literally rooting for the 100 people in the bar to be sad and go home. Because if they’re happy they’ll stay and celebrate, which is a pain in the ass.

The game is now on second overtime. And still neck-and-neck. And now we’re beginning to talk about how crazy this is. “This is a really good game, Cassie!” — Lily says. And Millsap has some incredible moves. But McCullin is amazing. And I’m realizing I now know TWO names of sports dudes. And we’re both astonished to find ourselves deep into this game. Which is so crazy.

Third overtime ends with Denver pulling two points out of a hat, with eight freakin’ seconds left. And they’re tied again. Fourth overtime and we’re losing our minds. And the people in the bar are all losing their minds. Except they’re all rooting for Portland and Lily is totally not.

With 44 seconds to go, Denver pulls ahead at 137–135. 44 seconds to go, and we’re thinking it’s clear, Denver won. And then at 22 seconds left the Blazers get a two-pointer and they’re tied. And at 17 seconds left they score another point after a foul, and now they’re ahead by ONE point. And a few seconds later they make a long-shot, and the game ends 137–140 with Portland a winner.

And we’re like, “what the fuck just happened?” And Lily says, “I’ve never ever cared about a sports game this much in my whole life!” And we’re both laughing so hard.

Lily had said that they would do a shot if Portland won, so now we’re doing gin shots — and I’m a lightweight so soon I’m pretty tipsy.

And now we play pool. So Lily has a clear advantage.

You would think.

Except that, as it turns out, I’m better at pool when I’m drunk. The things you discover about yourself.

I am basically beating their ass — all my stripes in, three of their solids still out. But then I scratch — white ball in the corner. We go home, laughing our asses of — well, as soon as Lily is done flirting with the hot bartender (a tall drink of water with tattoos on his neck and arms; handsome, sweet and charming).

Lily is missing Mark terribly — third night without him. Mark joined the Military and will be gone for three months. Lily and I talk about the fragility of certainty and the unbearable lightness of being — though we don’t call it that. We talk about why they didn’t say “I love you.” I talk about Deanna. Deanna whom I still miss so bad it hurts much of the time. We talk about past love and lost love, about our hopes for future love. We talk about Chicago, about Montana and cows and picket fences and dreams.

We hug. Lily cries. We talk some more. It’s past midnight — we both should be getting to bed, and yet we’re talking right into our own version of a fourth overtime. We’re so happy at each other’s company.

Love makes life desirable. Loss makes love terrible. Friendship makes loss bearable.

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Sportsball, Love, Loss and Friendship

Two non-fans share an unexpected basketball game experience

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