Inches away.

That was how close the Los Angeles Lakers were from clinching their 17th NBA championship as Danny Green missed the potential game-winning three-pointer in Game 5 of the Finals against the Miami Heat.

Receiving a pass from a double-teamed LeBron James, Green had the golden opportunity to deliver the Lakers their first title in a decade after being left wide open at the top of the key with the Heat leading by just a whisker.

However, Green fired a shot that hit only the front of the rim with 7 ticks left as the Heat stayed alive with a nail-biting 111-108 victory.

The loss put to waste James’ 40-point, 13-rebound, and 7-assist near-triple-double performance, but the Lakers star is not one to point fingers.

“I trusted him, we trusted him, and it just didn’t go,” James said about the botched Green three-pointer.

“You live with that. It was one of the best shots we could have gotten. Danny had a hell of a look, it just didn’t go down.”

James had plenty of teammates who hit big shots in the NBA Finals.

Back when he played for the Heat, James witnessed Ray Allen sink a clutch three-pointer that paved the way for their 2013 NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

Fast forward to the 2016 NBA Finals, James saw Kyrie Irving bury a crucial triple in the final minute of their historic comeback from a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors.

This time, it was not just meant to be.

“I know he wish he could have it again. I wish I could make a better pass. You just live with it,” James said.

The Lakers still had one last chance to close out the Heat as Markieff Morris collared the offensive rebound off the Green miss.

Morris, though, threw the ball out of bounds in an attempt to pass the ball to Anthony Davis, paving the way for the Tyler Herro free throws that settled the score for the Heat.

“The pass was not executed as we would have liked,” James said. “One thing about this team that we’re playing, they make you pay for every mistake.”

But James said both Green and Morris will redeem themselves as the Lakers try to close out the Heat again in Game 6.

“They are vets. I don’t think much needs to be said to them. I believe they will be much better.” – Rappler.com