Jalen Brunson’s last-second shot against the Spurs triggered online claims about NBA betting influence, even as officials confirmed the play followed rules and San Antonio’s comeback win stood clean.

Late-game moments in the NBA often spark debate, but this time the talk moved far beyond basketball, with Jalen Brunson at the center. A final-second play shared online quickly turned into a wider discussion about sports betting, league partnerships, and trust.

Following a tough loss to the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup final, the San Antonio Spurs answered back on December 31, 2025, with a 134-132 win. The game ended with Jalen Brunson stealing the ball and hitting a fadeaway three at the buzzer. The shot counted, but San Antonio still won by two.

The issue began when social media users connected the play to betting lines. The spread was the Spurs minus 3.5. Jalen Brunson’s shot made the final score land exactly there. Many posts sarcastically claimed the NBA was “actively promoting” betting outcomes through moments like this.

The game itself showed no unusual flow. Officials confirmed the clock expired normally. NBA officials confirmed the play followed league rules and reported no review issues.

Fan Reactions Explode as Betting Claims after Jalen Brunson Spread Online

Jalen Brunson and Harrison Barnes (Photo by Imagn Images)
Fans wasted no time reacting online, turning a single final-second shot into a heated debate that quickly spread across social media platforms.

One use commented, “Plenty of scenarios in that sequence to win the game – hits 3, gets fouled, shoots the And1, misses FT on purpose, they score another 2 to tie. You can see he’s trying to plead his case for the foul call.”

Another commented, “the line was also knicks +3.5.”

“Or kids, learn the game…down by 5, 7 seconds is a lot of time. Go to the horn,” said another user.

One fan commented, “No way u can rig that outcome tho … if anything this is good for betting … u were Probly just on the wrong side of it . Do u actually think Brunson thought in his head with that much time left oh the spread is -3.5 im gonna steal the ball and jack up a fadeaway 3 to cover … ok.”

Another commented, “Yeah it was in the script to hit that crazy shot. Totally planned bc There’s no chance he misses on accident.”

One user wrote, “Somethings in sports are rigged yes, but it’s incredibly hard to rig something of this sort. You can create patterns and probabilities that get very close and happen sometimes through years and years of experience which is what Vegas does.”

“I have family members that all roll their eyes and call me a crazy conspiracy theorist about this stuff. They’re right, we all know there’s no way anything shady goes down when it comes to gambling,” wrote another user.

Another user said, “The fact it gets clipped for social media makes everyone go crazy But these situations happen often in sports betting.”

While betting ties continue to draw attention, league data and independent research still show no verified evidence of fixed outcomes in NBA competition.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.