Uncut Gems
WARNING : Major plunderer forUncut Gemsahead .
Uncut Gemsfeatures multiple events that happened in the real world . Rather than being countersink in present day New York , Benny and Josh Safdie ’s moving picture takes place in 2012 , and the book integrates the veridical life events of two of its cast members : former NBA star Kevin Garnett and singer The Weeknd .
In Garnett ’s first major pic purpose , the former Boston Celtics star plays a fictionalized interpretation of himself , who becomes obsessed with a rare jewel that Howard Ratner ( Sandler ) procures from Ethiopia . Garnett brings the gem with him to two 2012 NBA playoff games , which played out in the film ’s chronicle . Additionally , Canadian vocaliser Abel Tesfaye ( known as The Weeknd ) plays himself , asUncut Gemscoincided with the current pop sensation ’s rise to fame .
Related : Uncut Gems Cast & Character Guide
The Safdie Brothers made all of the real - life events crucial to the drama as well as Ratner ’s trials and tribulations , in effect weaving them into the script . Here ’s how all ofUncut Gems ' actual events went materialize in real life .
Celtics vs. 76ers, Game 3
The first of the two NBA games that play a pivotal role inUncut Gemswas Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals , which read place on May 16 , 2012 , between Garnett ’s Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers . Garnett , play a seven - years - untested translation of himself that was still in the NBA , visits Ratner ’s shop too soon that 24-hour interval , and Ratner shows him a rarified opal that he managed to siphon from a mining chance event in Ethiopia . Garnett becomes enamored with the opal , finally convincing Ratner to rent him hold it for Game 3 in telephone exchange for his NBA title ring . Meanwhile , Ratner puts a huge wager on Garnett ’s carrying into action in the game , double up the over on a turn of his stats .
In substantial living , Game 3 was one of Garnett ’s best performances . The Celtics were favor in the series , with Philadelphia only having manage to creep into the second round after their first orotund opponent , the Chicago Bulls , lost former MVP Derrick Rose to a season - ending injury . But Philadelphia was amazingly free-enterprise in the first two games , lose Game 1 by just one decimal point , then stunning Boston with a Game 2 victory . The Celtics then eclipse as they were hypothecate to in Game 3 , with Garnett tote up 27 points and 13 rebounds in a 107 - 91 victory .
The game had tremendous importance inUncut gem . Garnett ’s performance had Ratner hitting his parlay , and appearing to collect a huge payday . But his loanword shark brother - in - practice of law Arno ( Eric Bogosian ) , to whom he owes money , puts a point on the bet . This only further puts him in debt , run to a series of increasingly erratic decision . Additionally , Garnett reject to give the jewel back , think it to be the Francis Scott Key to his great play – causing further problems for Howard .
The Weeknd plays an early club show
Another celebrity that dally a seven - years - jr. adaptation of himself is Abel Tesfaye , orThe Weeknd . Now an international superstar , in 2012 he was very much still up - and - coming , having yet to release a studio album . Ratner ’s companion and mistress Julia ( Julia Fox ) photographs Tesfaye , suppose he is endure to be huge " even though he is Canadian . " Howard crash one of his clubhouse shows in New York , hoping to find the overlook opal there . unbeknown to him , Tesfaye and Julia are together in a bathroom backstage .
It ’s certainly executable that The Weeknd would have been playing miserable - key club shows around this metre , but it ’s possible that this specific show inUncut Gemswas a originative liberty taken by the Safdie Brothers . The show must take space in the day after Game 3 , likely May 17th or later , as they had been dog down the opal for at least a full twenty-four hour period . In literal life story , The Weeknd was in the thick of his first - ever solo turn , but he had two sold - out shows in New York the month before : April 25 at Music Hall of Williamsburg and April 28 at Bowery Ballroom . He had no show between May 11 and June 2 , so he could have conceivably done a smaller ball club appearance in New York as portrayed in the picture . But there is no record of it actually happening . The birdcall he sings in the film , " The Morning , " was release in 2011 on his mixtapeHouse of Balloons .
When Howard get at the concert , not only does he not get the gem back , he also discovers Julia in the bathroom with The Weeknd . The two men fight , and Howard ramp out , later on kick back Julia out of his apartment .
Celtics vs. 76ers, Game 7
Uncut Gems ' climactic scene takes place in the background of the seventh and final secret plan of that Eastern Conference Semifinal serial , which occurred on May 26 , 2012 . After giving the opal back to Howard , Garnett had a bad outing in Game 4 , only mark nine points . So he made it his commission to get it back , eventually buy it from Ratner for $ 175,000 . Ratner , in the throe of his gambling habituation , decide to make the move that would ultimately seal his fate . or else of taking that money and give back the loanword sharks – who are literally in his store at this precise here and now to take in – he takes the entire sum and play it on another parlay involving Garnett .
In order for Howard to bring home the bacon the bet , Garnett has to gain the opening tip , collect a combined 27 rebound and points , and the Celtics have to win the biz . The film ’s pulse - pounding coda demand Ratner watching the game with the loanword sharks trap in his store , after Julia races to the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut to place the bet . In real life , this turned out to be another key signature biz from Garnett . He tally 18 points and collected 13 rebounds , result the Celtics to victory and the next round of the playoff . The movie record a postgame interview with Garnett where he tell he is all about " the rock , " which has a double meaning – it could either mean the basketball , as it is often pertain to , or the actual gem itself . However , this interview is fake . In the real interview , conducted byESPN ’s Doris Burke , he mostly focuses on his teammates . " Anytime you gain , that ’s all the satisfaction you want , " Garnett actually order after the game .
unluckily , things end badly for Ratner . Despite winning his parlay and cashing in with over $ 1.6 million , one of the fed - up loan sharks immediately shoot Howard in the straits when he get him out of captivity . Julia does make it out with the money , despite the loanword shark ' punk prosecute her at the casino . But the final shot shows Ratner lying dead on the floor , as the goons loot his shop .
Next : Uncut Gems Ending Explained
