Shutterstock
Shutterstock
The NBA has always been home to some of the greatest clutch moments in history. When you think about some of the best moments, you have to think about crunch time shots to send the game into overtime or crunch time plays to get their team the win. Some of the greatest moments have come when time is winding is down, and the pressure is on. Let’s take a look at some of the greatest clutch NBA moments.
10. LeBron Ties Up The Series
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkvTLOhm-TQ
The 2009 Eastern Conference matchup saw LeBron and the Cavaliers take on the reigning defensive player of the year in Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. It was a back and forth game, but the Magic would force a comeback, and it would come down to one more play for the Cavaliers. With one second left on an inbound play, LeBron would get the ball and hit a three to give the Cavaliers the win.
9. Dame Calls Game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mejFtEY5faU
Game 6 of the western conference 1st round matchup saw Damian Lillard and the Portland Trailblazers take on James Harden and the Houston Rockets. The Rockets were down 3-2 in the series and needed to win this game to extend the series. The Rockets were up 98-96 and only required a stop, but that was not the case in a play that was drawn up nicely. Lillard would get around the screen and made the most crucial shot in his career.
8. Jerry West Half-Court Heave
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzWGnA4Ll-0
Jerry West has had many nicknames during his tenure in the NBA one of the most memorable is obviously the logo. One nickname he was given was “Mr.Clutch” for his ability to come up big in crunch time. West would prove that in game 3 of the 1970 finals against the Knicks. The Lakers were down two. Chamberlain would inbound to West, and West would hit a half-court runner to send the game to overtime. This was before the three-point line was introduced.
7. Magic Johnson Skyhook
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqUCum1y8Kg
1987 NBA Finals saw the storied rivalry between the Lakers and Celtics. In-game 4 of the finals, the Lakers were up 2-1 on the Celtics. The Lakers were down 16 earlier in the game, and a late-game rally would make it a one-possession game with seven seconds left. Micheal Cooper would inbound the ball to Magic Johnson and would do a junior skyhook to give the Lakers the lead and the win.
6. Stockton sends Jazz To First Finals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGtGQQUMDjs
1997 Western Conference Finals saw the Utah Jazz and the Houston Rockets going through a hard-fought series. In-game 6 of the series, the game was tied with 2.6 seconds left on the clock. A defensive miscommunication between Rockets players left Stockon open for a three-pointer to send the Jazz to their NBA finals.
5. Kobe Cashes In Twice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACZnF87Iy84&t=7s
In a first-round matchup between the Lakers and Suns, game 4, the Suns would look to inbound the ball to Steve Nash, but Smush Parker was there to intercept the ball and get the steal. On a fast break, the ball would find its way to Kobe and would hit a layup to tie the game to send it into overtime. In the closing moments of overtime, Bryant would get the ball again and hit the clinching shot to get the win.
4. Jordan Iconic Moment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk0aErTKtqI
In-game 5 of a first-round matchup between the Bulls and the Cavaliers, it was a back and forth affair between both teams. Craig Ehlo would give the Cavaliers a one-point lead in the closing moments of that game. With three seconds left, the ball would be put in Jordan’s hands, and he would hit a shot over Craig Ehlo to give the Bulls the win.
3. T-mac Scoring Spree
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-8FksMVAdU
This is an overall clutch moment in the NBA, The Houston Rockets were taking on the San Antonio Spurs in a regular-season matchup. Down eight with less than a minute left, Tracy McGrady took over and went on a scoring spree. McGrady would go on to score 13 points in 35 seconds with a game-winner.
2. Cavaliers First NBA Title
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgVOgGLtPtc
The closing moments of Game 7 of the 2016 NBA finals were one for the ages. The Cavaliers and Warriors were going to war, but a chase-down block by LeBron James and a dagger three-pointer would give the Cavaliers their first NBA championship in franchise history.
1. Jordan Rains On Jazz Parade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=530z-_yjdlU
Arguably the most iconic moment in basketball history. Game 5 of the 1997 NBA finals saw Jordan and the Bulls against Malone and the Jazz. What made this game so iconic was that the series was tied 2-2, and Jordan was battling the flu, but he was not missing the game. In-game 6 Jordan and the Bulls were down one got, and Jordan got a defensive stop and would hit the game-winning shot to give the Bulls their sixth NBA championship.
