Veteran play-by-play announcer Mike Breen said he was milliseconds from delivering his trademark “Bang!” call when Sam Merrill’s potential game-winning shot for the Cleveland Cavaliers spun out at the end of Game 1 on May 20, 2026.
Breen, speaking after the broadcast, explained that the ball looked “pure” the moment it left Merrill’s hand, prompting him to start the famous exclamation. “I got the ‘Ba-’ out,” he said, “and then it rimmed out.”
The miss preserved the lead for Cleveland’s opponent, and Breen noted that cutting off a celebratory call mid-word is rare. “You never want to anticipate,” he added, “but that one felt good until the very last rotation.”
Merrill’s attempt would have capped a late comeback by the Cavaliers. Instead, the shot bounced away, leaving the home crowd stunned and Breen’s signature phrase trapped in limbo.
Source: New York Post
