As a skinny kid growing up in country Victoria Matthew Dellavedova would pretend to be at the free throw line, a crowd roaring and his team needing him to hit two shots to win the game.
The fantasy became a reality in the NBA Finals on Sunday in front of 19,596 screaming fans inside the Golden State Warriors' hostile Oracle Arena.
With the Warriors leading 93-92 with 10.1 seconds left in overtime Dellavedova crashed the backboard, threw himself on an offensive rebound, was fouled and then calmly walked to the free throw line to make the go-ahead baskets for his Cleveland Cavaliers.
One more piece of trademark Dellavedova defence on NBA MVP Stephen Curry and the best-of-seven series was levelled at 1-1 with a 95-93 victory which gave the Warriors only their fourth home loss all season.
"He's unique in his own way," Cavaliers' star LeBron James glowed about the scrappy Australian point guard.
"He's a courageous kid that plays right," his coach David Blatt said.
If Dellavedova was a key, four-time NBA MVP James was simply phenomenal, following up his 44-point game-one haul with another monster effort of 39 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists in one of the alltime great Finals performances.
The next two games are in Cleveland.
"That's the classic thing you practise as a kid growing up - down one and you need to make both free throws," Dellavedova told a packed press conference in his usual low-key way.
"I've felt like I've been in that situation a million times before."
Dellavedova, who started the game after All-Star Kyrie Irving suffered a season-ending fractured kneecap in game one, finished with nine points, five rebounds and three steals from 42 minutes on the court.
Just as significant as Dellavedova's free throws was his defence on the Warriors' top scorer and the recently-named NBA MVP Stephen Curry.
Many in the US media predicted Curry would destroy Dellavedova, but Curry was stifled.
Curry, who has averaged 29 points in the playoffs, scored 19 points from woeful 5-23 shooting, including hitting just two of 15 three-pointers.
Seven of Curry's points came from free throws.
Curry blamed himself for the poor shooting.
When asked what Dellavedova did to hurt his game, Curry responded with "nothing really" and said the Australian played "defence like every pro is supposed to".
James rejected this, telling reporters: "It had everything to do with Delly".
The Warriors' other shooting guard Klay Thompson was on target with 34 points, but was annoyed about not boxing Dellavedova out from that key offensive rebound in overtime.
"I should have found my man," Thompson said.
"So it's tough, but you've got to give him credit.
"He made big plays."
Warriors' Australian centre Andrew Bogut had a strong defensive game with 10 rebounds, two blocked shots and two points.
It was Dellavedova throwing himself on a loose ball and crashing into Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver's ankle in the Eastern Conference Finals that added fuel to debate over the Australian being a dirty player.
Blatt said the game two victory proved his point guard was just a hard-nosed player.
"There was a lot of nonsense swirling around about his style of play," Blatt said.
"I think anyone that really looks at him objectively and fairly recognises someone that just plays hard, heartfelt and tough basketball."
After the victory the Cavaliers immediately boarded a flight to Cleveland to prepare for Tuesday's game three.
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