

This is what playoff basketball does to grown men. (Via Comcast SportsNet)

With 2.4 seconds remaining in overtime and the Wizards clinging to a 101-99 lead in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against Chicago, Nene picked up his sixth foul and sent Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich to the free throw line with a chance to tie the game.

As Nene watched from the bench, any Wizards fans could’ve told you what was going to happen next. Hinrich, an 80 percent career free throw shooter, would do what Washington failed to do much of the night and make both free throws to force a second overtime.

Except he didn’t.

“Hinrich misses the free throw!” Comcast SportsNet’s Steve Buckhantz yelled, with the camera still focused on Martell Webster, Nene and Drew Gooden. “Hinrich misses the first free throw. He’s 2 of 3 from the line, just Chicago’s fifth miss in the game, with 2.4 seconds to play.”

Hinrich intentionally missed his second attempt and John Wall grabbed the rebound, securing Washington’s first 2-0 playoff series lead since 1982.

Wall had a message for Wizards fans at the end of his postgame interview with CSN’s Chris Miller.

“”Tell ’em come out and show us some support,” Wall said. “We’re serious right now.”