The NBA postseason creates new “where were you when?” moments every spring. But some of these shots stand out a bit more than others in the scope of NBA playoff history. Whittling the list down to just ten shots was no easy task, but we got there by factoring in the following:
How much did the shot swing the series?
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Did it lead to a win, and subsequently a championship?
How much historical significance did the shot have?
How purely shocking was the moment?
Here are the Top 10 Most Clutch Shots in NBA Playoff History
10.
Mario Elie, Game 7 1995 Western Conference Semifinals
JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images
In the 1995 Western Conference Finals, the defending NBA champion Rockets were a 6 seed and underdogs to the Charles Barkley-led Suns. The Rockets showed their championship mettle to even force a Game 7, and then Mario Ellie made sure that this ’95 Houston team would be one that the NBA would never forget. Ellie drained a corner 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds left to break a 110-110 tie. After draining the 3, Ellie pressed two fingers to his lips and blew a kiss to the Phoenix bench. Houston would go on to beat the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals to secure its second straight title.
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9.
Kawhi Leonard, Game 7 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals
Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Kawhi Leonard spent just one season in Toronto, but will forever dine for free in Ontario’s capital city. The biggest moment of that championship run occurred in Round 2 against the 76ers, when Leonard hit the first game-winning buzzer-beater in a Game 7 in NBA history. Adding to the drama was the way the shot actually went in. Leonard jacked it up from the corner with a leaping Joel Embiid in his face. The ball wound up bouncing on the rim four times before dropping through the net and giving the Raptors a 92-90 win. Toronto would go on to beat the Warriors in the NBA Finals to win its only NBA title.
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8.
John Paxson, Game 6 1993 NBA Finals
Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
A big criticism of Michael Jordan early in his NBA career was that he did not trust his teammates enough. After winning the title in 1991 and 1992, that criticism was mostly put to bed. The fact that it was John Paxson taking the final shot for the Bulls in the final seconds of the 1993 NBA Finals truly put that thought to rest. Trailing 98-96 with 14.1 seconds left, Jordan brought the ball up the floor. MJ passed to Scottie Pippen, and Pippen drove to the paint. Pippen was cut off and tossed it to Horace Grant on the left block with seven seconds remaining. Grant quickly passed it backwards to Paxson, who was wide open beyond the 3-point line. Paxson buried the shot with just 3.9 seconds remaining, and subsequently buried the Suns. The shot won the Bulls their third straight NBA championship.
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7.
Sam Jones, Game 4 1969 NBA Finals
Bettmann / Contributor
The dynastic Celtics of the 1960s would have been less of a dynasty had it not been for the presence of “Mr. Clutch,” Sam Jones. Jones’ most clutch bucket came in Game 4 of the 1969 NBA Finals. Losing 88-87 with seven seconds left, Boston ran a triple screen to get Jones open. Jones caught the ball and went up to shoot just to the right of the top of the key. His shot hit the front of the rim, then bounced off the backboard and in to give the C’s the victory. The shot tied the series, 2-2, and the old, rickety Celtics went on to upset a loaded Lakers team that featured Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor in seven games.
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6.
Klay Thompson, Game 6 2016 Western Conference Finals
Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images
Klay Thompson is known as “Game 6 Klay,” and this is the contest that solidified that nickname. The Luigi of the “Splash Brothers” drilled an NBA playoff-record 11 3-pointers in this game against Kevin Durant and the Thunder. The biggest of those 3-point shots was the last as it came with 1:35 left and broke a 101-101 tie. Golden State trailed in the series 3-1 at one point, but this performance by Thompson propelled them to a Game 7 back in Oakland. The Dubs took care of business in Game 7, beating OKC, 96-88. However, Thompson and the Warriors did not win that year’s title… more on the 2016 NBA Finals later in the list.
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5.
Robert Horry, Game 5 2005 NBA Finals
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Any list of clutch moments in NBA history is going to include a play or two … or eight … by “Big Shot Bob.” Horry delivered unforgettable moments in the 1990s and 2000s for the likes of the Rockets, Suns, Lakers and Spurs. His stint in San Antonio was his last in the NBA, and one of his final clutch moments happened in Game 5 of the 2005 NBA Finals against Detroit. The series was tied, 2-2, for Game 5, which went to overtime. With 9.4 seconds left in OT, and the Spurs trailing 95-93, Horry inbounded the ball to Manu Ginobili in the corner. The Pistons double-teamed Ginobili, leaving Horry wide open for 3. Manu passed it right back to Horry, who—of course—drilled the shot. San Antonio won the game, 96-95, and then the series in seven games.
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4.
Robert Horry, Game 4 2002 Western Conference Finals
John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
In hindsight, it seems almost unfair that Horry (widely regarded as the most clutch role player in NBA history) was a part of this Lakers era that featured prime Kobe and Shaq. Horry was the glue of that team, and in Game 4 of the 2002 West Finals vs. the Kings, the glue guy shifted the series. The Lakers were in serious danger of going down to the Kings 3-1 in the series, as they trailed 99-97 with 10 seconds left in Game 4. Kobe drove in traffic and missed. It was rebounded by Shaq, who also missed at the rim. The ball hung in the air for a split second before it was tipped backwards towards the 3-point line by Kings center Vlade Divac. The ball fell directly into the waiting hands of Horry, who was wide open and fired up the shot just before time expired. It, of course, went in and the Lakers won. LA won this highly controversial WCF over the Kings in seven games, and ultimately won the title by blasting New Jersey in the Finals.
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3.
Michael Jordan, Game 6 1998 NBA Finals
Photo by Scott Cunningham/ NBAE/ Getty Images
The image of Jordan following through after crossing up Byron Russell is nearly as recognizable as MJ’s “Jumpman” logo itself. “The Last Dance” of the dynastic Bulls all led to that one moment, where Jordan would put a stamp on his GOAT claim. With 21 seconds left and the Bulls trailing, 86-85, MJ stole the ball from Karl Malone. Jordan crossed mid-court with 16 seconds left, and then sized up the location of where he was going to create his iconic masterpiece. MJ drove to the middle of the floor with 10 seconds left, crossed up (or pushed off, depending on your allegiance) Russell, and then drained a 20-footer with 5.2 seconds remaining. John Stockton narrowly missed a 3-pointer that would have won the game on the other end, and Jordan’s Bulls had won their sixth NBA title.
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2.
Kyrie Irving, Game 7 2016 NBA Finals
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
The Cavaliers had lost to the Warriors in the Finals the year prior, 4 games to 2. Golden State, which had set the record for most wins in an NBA regular season with 73 in 2015-16, also went up 3-1 over the Cavs in the 2016 Finals. Needless to say, few thought Cleveland stood a chance the rest of the way in this series. Not only did the Cavs force a Game 7 in Oakland, they wound up winning Cleveland its first major professional sports title in 52 years. With Game 7 tied, 89-89, Kyrie Irving pulled up from 3 with Steph Curry right in his grill. Kyrie drilled it, putting the Cavs up 92-89. It proved to be the final field goal of the game, as Kyrie and “The Land” shocked the world.
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1.
Ray Allen, Game 6 2013 NBA Finals
Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
Many Heat fans won’t admit to it, but hundreds of them were exiting American Airlines Arena when Allen’s shot went down, considering the Spurs were leading 94-89 with 28.2 seconds remaining. NBA officials had even started using yellow tape to cordon off the floor in anticipation of presenting the Larry O’Brien Trophy to the Spurs, who were up 3-2 in the series. LeBron hit a 3 to cut it to a 2-point game and Kawhi Leonard missed one of two free throws to give the Heat a chance. LeBron pulled up from 3 again, with 10 seconds left, but missed. Chris Bosh grabbed an offensive rebound, and found Ray Allen – who was backpeddling towards the corner. With Tony Parker draped all over him and a bit off-balance, Allen sank the biggest shot of his career and the most clutch shot in NBA postseason history. Allen’s incredible 3 tied the game, 95-95. The Heat won Game 6 in overtime, and the momentum from that shot carried over to Game 7, which Miami won, 95-88 to give the Heat their second straight title.
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