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An NBA player missed a free throw on purpose — but he didn't chicken out

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

Sometimes, at the end of a long NBA season, things get a little silly and fans get a little poultry.

AILSA CHANG, HOST:

Yesterday the Houston Rockets visited the Los Angeles Clippers in the last game of the regular season. The Clippers had already secured a fourth seed in the playoffs and rested their star players. The Rockets knew their season was about to end.

KELLY: Late in the game, Houston's Boban Marjanovic went to the free throw line. The 7'4" center from Serbia has been a fan favorite everywhere he has played, including a stint with the LA Clippers. And the Clippers run a promotion where if an opposing player misses two consecutive free throws in the fourth quarter, everyone in the crowd gets a free fried chicken sandwich.

CHANG: Yeah. Boban missed his first foul shot, and a wry look spread across his face. He knew what he had to do. He aimed for the left side of the rim.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED SPORTSCASTER: Here's your - he gave them chicken. He's a man of the people.

CHANG: Boban pointed to the air to remind the crowd of their benefactor, then ran back to play defense.

KELLY: Well, despite the missed shots, the Rockets did hang on to win, ending their season on a high note. As for Boban, he does not yet have a deal for next season, but you cannot accuse him of not giving a cluck. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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