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I held my breath the whole time. So did everyone in Golden 1 Stadium and every viewer watching live, I’ll bet a million bucks. Sacramento Kings fan Tom had a $25 budget. He got one chance; it had to be a single Perfect Pump. Once he let go of the fuel handle, the score was final.

Sacramento Kings bring an ARCO gas station pump onto the court

Tom wore a vintage Peja Stojaković jersey and an undeniably cool demeanor – complete with handlebar mustache. We’d soon find out that he walked onto the court fully trained for the Kings’ new halftime game: The Perfect Pump.

The thing that makes the game so charmingly captivating is how relatable it is. We’ve all hit the gas station with less than a full tank’s budget. For me, it was like five or ten bucks a visit when I was in high school and college.

Tom had clearly done this before.

The numbers tick up. Tom stares at the screen, tracking carefully with nary a blip.

He releases the handle at $24.80. The pump shuts off. The display reads $25.00 even.

“He just got a Perfect Pump!” the announcer shouts.

The crowd goes nuts.

The Sacramento Kings just created the perfect NBA halftime game…unless our hero had lost. We’d have felt overwhelmingly let down. That’s what makes the win so much more satisfying, though. Ah, the dopamine!

If you want to hang out with the “Best Of” NBA halftime games, there’s a Reddit thread chock-full of suggestions. Red Panda, et al.

What is your favorite halftime show during an NBA game?
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Editor-in-Chief

Sarah Kennedy

Sarah Kennedy is the Editor-in-Chief of MotorBiscuit. She joined the team as Managing Editor in 2021 and has more than 20 years of automotive and operations expertise. She held ASE certifications as an Automotive Service Consultant and Parts Specialist and was a licensed car salesperson for many years. Sarah often focuses on helping drivers navigate used car buying and vehicle ownership. She created “Shop Smarts,” a column for MOTOR Magazine, and was a contributor there for eight years. Her work earned her a Gold Medalist award from the American Society of Business Publication Editors in 2014 and Bronze Medalist awards from the International Automotive Media Competition in 2014 and 2015. She attended the Automotive Management Institute and earned her bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University.