Image via Complex Original
The NBA Playoffs—it's where amazing happens (used by permission of the commissioner!), but it's where clutch happens, too. The L's postseason tourney is a rite of spring, and as the weather heats up, so does the spotlight. Some players wilt, some shine (and some do both, as you can see in our 25 biggest fails in Playoff history list). Sure, you can hit a game-winning jumper in January and you'll end up on SportsCenter, but hit one in May, or better yet, June, and you end up immortal. Heck, we don't even have to do this list because you know these moments already—from jumpers that touched every piece of iron before falling through to hooks that hit nothing but net, from indelible moments crafted by Hall of Fame icons to just as indelible 15 minutes of fame from role players, these are the 25 Greatest Clutch Shots in NBA Playoff History...
#25. "Living On a Prayer"
Shooter: Allan Houston
Game: Game 5, 1999 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Date: 5/16/1999
Thanks to the lockout cutting the season short by thirty games, it was a largely forgettable year. Then the playoffs started. New York became just the second eight seed in league history—and first in the Eastern Conference—to defeat a one seed thanks to this incredible shot from Allan Houston, ending the Knicks-Heat rivalry for good. H20 was a bit of a religious man, which makes sense. Certainly looks like he had some help there.
#24. "Rocket Man"
Shooter: Eddie Johnson
Game: Game 4, 1997 Western Conference Finals
Date: 5/25/1997
There's clutch shots and there's clutch shots at redemption. Eddie Johnson managed to make both with just one flick of the wrist. The Rockets failed to steal either of the first two games against the Jazz in Utah, and were in danger of surrendering Game 4 on their own homecourt, which would've put them in a 3-1 hole. Enter Johnson, who missed three of four shots down the stretch for Houston. Apparently the fifth time's the charm. Utah would still win the next two games and finish Houston off in 6, but the shot lives on in Rockets lore.
#23. "Mr. Barkley's Neighborhood"
Shooter: Charles Barkley
Game: Game 6, 1993 Western Conference Semifinals
Date: 5/20/1993
Charles Barkley was the league's MVP in 1993, despite the fact that Michael Jordan was still in his prime. The pick remains controversial, but this series-ending jumper over David Robinson serves as a reminder that if only for one year, Charles did his best to Be Like Mike.
#22. "Wanna Be Startin Somethin"
Shooter: Kobe Bryant
Game: Game 2, 2004 NBA Finals
Date: 6/8/2004
Some of Kobe Bryant's greatest moments seem to have come in series that he lost. He probably still enjoyed them anyway. Especially this one. Down by 3, ten seconds away from losing the first two games of the 2004 Finals on their home court, L.A. needed Kobe to deliver. He wouldn't disappoint. Alas, the rest of the series was a giant disappointment for the Lakeshow; after winning Game 2 in overtime, they went down meekly in five games to the Pistons.
#21. "The Four-Point Play"
Shooter: Larry Johnson
Game: Game 3, 1999 Eastern Conference Finals
Date: 6/5/1999
Hell no, that wasn't a foul. Hell yes, it was clutch anyway.
#20. "Little Brother, No More"
Shooter: Alonzo Mourning
Game: Game 4, 1993 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Date: 5/5/1993
Alonzo Mourning was pretty good at basketball, but he spent much of his rookie season in Shaquille O'Neal's shadow, the big man selected No. 1 ('Zo was No. 2) in the 1992 draft. 'Zo however, was the only one to make the playoffs and Shaq certainly couldn't have nailed this clutch jumper that put the creaky Celtics (yup, that's Kevin McHale and Robert Parish) down for good, giving the Hornets their first playoff series victory.
#19. "Michael, Who's Open?"
Shooter: Steve Kerr
Game: Game 6, 1997 NBA Finals
Date: 6/13/1997
Towards the end of Game 5 of the 1991 Finals, when Michael Jordan was struggling and the Lakers were intent on prolonging the series, Phil Jackson called a timeout. The Zen Master challenged his star player, asking him "Michael, who's open?" Jordan responded that Paxson was and Jackson asked him politely to get him the damn ball. Paxson would drill several crucial jumpers and the Bulls would celebrate their first NBA Championship. Six years later, with another chip in the balance, Jordan didn't need any instruction. Neither did Steve Kerr.
#18. "The Microwave Is Set to 'Clutch'"
Shooter: Vinnie Johnson
Game: Game 5, 1990 NBA Finals
Date: 6/14/1990
With the championship on the line and the ball in Isiah Thomas' hands, you'd expect him to take the shot. But when the double team comes and he's forced to give up the rock, you'd better be ready. Vinnie Johnson was and the Pistons were back-to-back Bad Boy champs.
#17. "The Kiss of Death"
Shooter: Mario Elie
Game: Game 7, 1995 Western Conference Semifinals
Date: 5/20/1995
The 6th seeded Rockets had already pulled off an upset in the first round by defeating the Jazz in five games, but they topped themselves in this second round matchup with the Suns. Trailing 3-1 in the series, Houston forced a 7th game in Phoenix, where Mario Elie nailed the series-deciding three with just seven seconds remaining. The Rockets became the first team in league history to defeat the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd seeds in their conference en route to their second consecutive chip and Elie still holds the dopest nickname for a game winner.
#16. "Tip Drill"
Shooter: Ralph Sampson
Game: Game 5, 1986 Western Conference Finals
Date: 5/21/1986
The game was tied, so it wasn't of dire consequence. It wasn't an off-balance three or a driving hook, so it wasn't particularly hard. But when there's only one second on the clock and everyone knows where the ball is going, yet Ralph Sampson completes this alley-oop over Kareem anyway, that's still pretty effing clutch.
#15. "Memorial Day Miracle"
Shooter: Sean Eliott
Game: Game 2, 1999 Western Conference Finals
Date: 5/31/1999
Sean Elliot was suffering from a kidney ailment which required a transplant later that year. He shouldn't have been playing. The inbounds pass was nearly stolen by Stacey Augmon. It shouldn't have been completed. Elliot caught the ball on his toes and had his heels touched the floor, they would've landed out of bounds, resulting in a turnover. Yet, Sean got off a three over a determined Rasheed Wallace and made it, giving the Spurs a one-point lead. That is a miracle, indeed.
#14. "Pushed to the Limit"
Shooter: Reggie Miller
Game: Game 4, 1998 Eastern Conference Finals
Date: 5/25/1998
Despite all of his clutch '90s playoff performances, Reggie Miller had never been to the Finals. Of course, Michael Jordan standing in his way didn't help matters. Staring at a 3-1 deficit in the next three seconds, Reggie did the only thing he could: He shoved Jordan and chucked his way into history. Unfortunately, history will also remember that dance, Reg. Act like you've been there before.
#13. "Sheed Learns a Lesson"
Shooter: Robert Horry
Game: Game 5, 2005 NBA Finals
Date: 6/19/2005
Robert Horry didn't score until the final play of the third quarter in this game. And then he didn't stop. 5-6 from three and 21 points off the bench, including a wide open game winner in OT after Rasheed Wallace inexplicably left him to double Manu Ginobili. The Spurs would win in seven and Horry would capture his 6th ring, having earned every one of them. But this may have been his greatest performance.
#12. "Ya Heard?!?"
Shooter: Gar Heard
Game: Game 5, 1976 NBA Finals
Date: 6/4/1976
The Celtics were used to getting their way. So when the buzzer sounded after John Havlicek's leaner put the Celtics up by one in double overtime, Boston Garden erupted. The fans stormed the court, the players rushed off it. The C's had pulled out an overtime shocker of their own, just days after Phoenix won Game 4 in OT. But after further review, there was one second left on the clock. A formality for everyone except Garfield Heard, who decided to stick around a little longer.
#11. "Double Overtime"
Shot: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Game: Game 6, 1974 NBA Finals
Date: 5/10/1974
Kareem Abdul Jabbar is all too familiar with the Celtics. But before the Showtime showdowns with Bird, he was just another young Buck trying to get past Hondo & Co. Havlicek gave Boston the lead after a runner dropped in with seven seconds remaining in double OT, but Kareem was determined, flipping in a 17-foot sky hook to tie the series at three a piece. The Bucks would lose Game 7, but the shot lives on.
#10. "Eight Points, Nine Seconds"
Shooter: Reggie Miller
Game: Game 1, 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals
Date: 5/7/1995
Everyone hates Reggie Miller. No one liked him as a player, and no one likes him as a broadcaster either. He probably prefers it that way. But moments like this are why we put up with him. Did he push Greg Anthony? Do you even remember if the Pacers won that series? Who cares? This is why we watch, and the man continually delivered on the sport's biggest stage. (By the way, the Pacers did win in 7. And that was a push. Again.)
#9. "Picket Fence"
Shooter: Sam Jones
Game: Game 4, 1969 NBA Finals
Date: 4/29/1969
Down by one in the last possession of yet another Lakers vs. Celtics classic, Boston opted for the "Picket Fence." Three players set a pick for Sam Jones, who came curling around and launched a shot that hit every part of the rim before settling through the net. Instead of a 3-1 hole, the series was tied at two and the Celtics would win the chip in seven games.
#8. "Threepeat"
Shooter: John Paxson
Game: Game 6, 1993 NBA Finals
Date: 6/20/1993
Charles Barkley told anyone who'd listen that the Phoenix Suns were a team of destiny. Down 0-2 to the Bulls, they eked out a victory in a triple overtime classic. Down 1-3, they stole another game in Chicago and headed back home. With a two point lead in the waning seconds of Game 6, people were starting to believe him. The Bulls had only scored 9 points in the fourth, all of them coming from Michael Jordan. Until John Paxson fulfilled his destiny and delivered the Bulls their third straight title.
#7. "Triple, No Assist"
Shooter: John Stockton
Game: Game 6, 1997 Western Conference Finals
Date: 5/29/1997
John Stockton was widely known for his assists, but that doesn't mean the man couldn't shoot. With seconds left in a tie game and Houston clinging on for dear life, Mr. Short Shorts flung this dagger that sent the Jazz to their first NBA Finals.
#6. "The Longest Two"
Shooter: Jerry West
Game: Game 3, 1970 NBA Finals
Date: 4/29/1970
Trailing by two, looking down the barrel of a 2-1 series deficit, with three seconds left and no timeouts should've been enough to make even Mr. Clutch himself give up. But Jerry West heaved a desperate 45-footer that found the mark. If it were anyone else, it'd have been chalked up as a lucky shot. For West? Just another page to add to the legend. The only problem was the NBA didn't adopt the three-point line until 1979. The Lakers would go on to lose in overtime. Nice shot, though.
#5. "0.4 Seconds"
Shooter: Derek Fisher
Game: Game 5, 2004 Western Conference Semifinals
Date: 5/13/2004
Tim Duncan had just made a running 18-footer over Shaq to give the Spurs the lead in Game 5 and presumably the series. Despite the additions of Gary Payton and Karl Malone, for the second straight year the Spurs were ready to eliminate La Lakers. But in all the celebration, no one noticed he'd make a mistake. It's impossible to even count to 0.4 seconds, but that's all it took for Derek Fisher to snatch away the victory. Lesson learned, Timmy?
#4. "Lucky?"
Shooter: Robert Horry
Game: Game 4, 2002 Western Conference Finals
Date: 5/26/2002
Things weren't looking so good. The Lakers were on a mission to threepeat, but the Sacramento Kings had plans of their own. Up 2-1, Sac Town came to Staples to bury the champs, busting out to a 24-point lead. But what's a trip to Hollywood without drama? The Lakers would come storming back, and, down by two with seconds remaining, Kobe drove the lane. Then Shaq attempted a put back. Then, there was Horry. Game over. Afterward, Vlade Divac would say "It was a lucky shot. That doesn't take any skill." Horry's response? "I've been doing this my whole career. You better tell him to read a paper or something." Word. And maybe he wouldn't have been so "lucky" if you just grabbed the rebound, Vlade.
#3. "The Shot"
Shooter: Michael Jordan
Game: Game 5, 1989 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Date: 5/7/1989
Before he made a career of torturing the Knicks and Jazz, Michael Jordan made his bones burying the Cleveland Cavailers. Winless against Cleveland in six games that season, Jordan made good on his promise of an upset in classic fashion. This shot would be the first of many playoff game winners to come for MJ, and the Cavs wouldn't be the same until another high-flying No. 23 broke their hearts 21 years later.
#2. "The Baby Hook"
Shooter: Magic Johnson
Game: Game 4, 1987 NBA Finals
Date: 6/9/1987
The sky hook might be the most unstoppable shot in basketball. It's also the hardest. To take it while running across the lane, over the outstretched arms of two seven-footers is damn near impossible. But that's exactly what Magic Johnson did to give the Lakers a 3-1 series lead and put an end to the Celtic dynasty. The Lakers won the Finals in six games and Boston wouldn't make it back for another 21 years.
#1. "The Last Shot"
Shooter: Michael Jordan
Game: Game 6, 1998 NBA Finals
Date: 6/14/1998
Ruh-oh. Scottie was hobbled with a bad back and the Bulls were on the brink of their first Game 7 in Finals history. Instead, just another case of Karl being Karl and Michael being Michael. 23 points in the first half, 45 for the game, and a shot for the ages. How ironic. If you wrote a movie that ended this way, no one would believe it. It didn't end this way, of course, but we can always pretend.
