NBA Finals: The best decisive shots in history
From Magic to Jordan, remember some of the iconic shots that were lived in the decisive moments of the NBA finals.
The greatest part of the NBA, the finalshave been the scene of several the best shots in the history of the League. In 2025, Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers added his name among the players who left their brand on the largest stage of the NBA, Taking a dramatic shot with 0.3 for playing To overcome Oklahoma City Thunder 111-110 in game 1 of the NBA finals 2025 series on June 5.
Next, our experts remember several of the legendary shots in the clutch that created unforgettable moments in the tablet.
Kyrie Irving: NBA Finals 2016, Game 7
As the party clock accelerated at the last minute of Game 7 of the 2016 NBA finalsthe Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors They were tied at 89 points. The total series score to that point was also tied, 699-699. After a screen of JR Smith forced a defensive change, Irving He met the ball in his hands at the end in front of the MVP of the League, Stephen Curry.
As one of the best handling of the ball, Irving He got into his style. Dribbling with his right hand, Irving He used an escape fest inside out to configure his triple to the network with 53 seconds.
Steph Curry He lost to Kevin Love In possession, and Cavs They reached their first title in the history of the franchise.
Irvingwho was only 24 years old at that time, was responsible for breaking a 52 -year -old drought to Cleveland. The fact that in triple Irving He faced one of the best three -point shooters of all time, playing in a sand where Warriors They had lost only three games throughout the season, to complete the first return after falling 1-3 in the NBA ends, He made this moment even sweeter. –– Dave McMenamin
Ray Allen: NBA End 2013, Game 6
Before considering the majesty of the shot of Allenit is good to point out two moments that configured it, an incredible and the other sublime. The first arrived about 15 seconds before, just before LeBron James made a triple to reduce the advantage of Spurs to two. Boris Diaw and Kawhi Leonard They had a bounce of fire that they lost and that gave him James A second chance after a yerro. It is surprising that neither Diaw neither Leonard They have taken the ball. Seeing the repetition Table per table is amazing. There are three hands of Spurs There, two of them Leonard, some of the biggest hands than the NBA world has seen. Somehow none of them ensures the ball. It is a bounce of 99 of 100, the championship is over. Forget about lost free throws, that is the most difficult time to overcome for Spurs.
The second moment is the pass of Chris Bosh. People remember their rebound, which was fierce. But the pass, with recoil, diagonal and in the perfect shot position for the white in motion Allenmade the symphony of the movement work.
As for the shot itself, it is the most iconic shot of one of the most important three -point shooters in the history of the League. Allen He was born to make that shot, not only because it was one of three but because it was a product of the muscle memory of repetition. Part of his practice routine was to retreat from the bounce position to the corner after an offensive rebound. He did it again and again for years. I knew that even the three -point line were six steps. I didn’t have to look down, I didn’t have to measure. I had done the job for a long time. –– Brian Windhorst
Historical bets for Chicago Bulls They settled long before Game 6 of the 1998 NBA finals. Phil Jackson was saying goodbye as a coach, the relationship of Scottie Pippen With the organization he had weakened and seemed possible, perhaps even likely, that Jordan will announce a second more permanent retirement at age 35.
Throughout its six championship, the Bulls They never faced a final elimination game, but now the possibility of a game 7 was viable when a triple of John Stockton He gave Utah an 86-83 advantage with 41 remaining seconds. So Jordan He took over. First, after a while outside, he beat Bryon Russell In the hand in hand a two -point tray. At the far end, Jordan surprised to Karl Malone To steal the ball.
With Chicago below, Jordan He wasolated against Russell and dribbled the clock in less than 10 seconds before making his play. He led to the right, unbalanced Russell and guided him to the ground, or pushed him, depending on his perspective. Jordan It stopped for the shot of the advantage, which splashed the network with 5.2 seconds.
“Who knows what will happen in the coming months,” sang the nbc host, Bob Costas, “but that may have been the last shot that Michael Jordan will do in the NBA. “
It was not, unfortunately, but it was the last shot of Jordan in the bulls uniform and, after Stockton One triple failed at the other end, it served as an adequate conclusion for the dynasty of Chicago. –– Kevin Pelton
MAGIC JOHNSON: NBA Finals 1987, Game 4
Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson He yearned to add new weapons to his arsenal every low season. In the summer of 1986, after a bitterly disappointing defeat against Houston’s rocks in the western conference finals, Johnson He insisted his teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to show him his hook for heaven. Abdul-Jabbar He showed him the body angle, the right foot game and, most importantly, how to start the scan movement sufficiently far from the body so that it was not possible to block the shot.
Let’s quickly advance to game 4 of the 1987 finals at Boston Garden, when Los Angeles Lakers They were going back on the scoreboard in the absence of seven seconds. A victory for Boston Celtics I would tie the series. A defeat would be his death sentence.
Michael Cooper He sent the ball to Johnsonand the eave of the Celtics, 6 and feet 10 inches, Kevin Mchalehe went to meet him. Johnson He hesitated when he passed with him when the Robert Parish center was in his search. Larry Bird Vio a Johnson driving to the hoop and also hurried to help.
In recent years, Johnson I would draw the defense, then let go skillfully to Abdul-Jabbar either James Worthy. This time. Johnson He showed his ‘junior hook, junior’, a great arched and masterful play on the extended arms of the best basketball line that, like his teammate Kurt Rambis He would later notice, “hung there forever.” The iconic shot of Johnson fell, achieving the victory of the Lakersthe eventual championship and its place among the best shots in the history of postseason basketball. –– Jackie Macmullan.
Don Nelson: NBA Finals 1969, Game 7
The party was prepared in the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles since before the start of the seventh game between Lakers and Celtics.
The Angels, especially the owner of the Jack Kent Cook team, expected the victory of their team against the eternal rival. The owner had sent to mount from the stadium thousands of balloons with the inscription “Lakers World Champions” hanging from the Forum beams.
In addition, flyers were placed in each seat that said: “When the Lakers win the title, not if they do it, balloons will be released from the beams, the USC music band will play ‘Happy Days are here Again’ and the speaker Chick Hearn will interview Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlainin that order. “
That same statement came to hand of the rival team and in the locker room, its star (in addition to captain and coach) Bill Russellgave a speech challenging his team to win the title.
The Celtics They had 103-102 advantage with 1:33 for playing and possession of the ball. Keith Erickson The ball passed to John Havicek who was about to lose the ball although he managed to give the pass to Don Nelson Who, from about 4.5 meters, took the shot before the time of possession. The ball bounced in the hoop, rose and fell directly on the basket to put the score 105 to 102.
This double gave an undesonable advantage to the team of Bostonwho won the tenth title of its history and ruined the party to the Lakers. After the conquest, Bill Russell He announced his retirement after a 13 -seasons in which he played 12 finals and won 11 titles, a brand that is still valid. – Marcelo Bousquet
Ron Artes, NBA Finals 2010, Game 7
It was not another final between Lakers and Celtics. For the Angels it was the possibility of getting the title in consecutive years and taking revenge of the final they lost in Boston in 2008.
For the Celticson the other hand, it meant the great possibility of winning a seventh game to his historic rival as they had done in 1969.
Boston He had an advantage of 13 points in the middle of the third quarter, and the ghosts of 1969 seemed to be around at the Staples Center 41 years later. But tonight of June 17, 2010 there was a miracle. An epic comeback of 40 to 24, allowed the Lakers get to 3 points with 1:23 for playing.
Kobe Bryant He had barely turned 6 of his 24 field shots and had the ball in his hands. At the culminating moment, he could not find a clear shot but to Ron Artes Who, with a triple, put the Lakers up 79-73 with a minute to play against a Staples Center exploited by the cry of his fans.
At the subsequent press conference, Kobe He answered the question about the meaning of this new title answering “I have one more than Shaq”, who added four in his career. And later, when he had to face the press, Artes exclaimed “Kobe The ball passed me! ” An end to the best Hollywood style.– Marcelo Bousquet
Robert Horry: NBA Finals 2005, Game 5
‘Big Shot Bob’ He had already won his nickname when San Antonio Spurs They faced the defending champions Detroit Pistons In game 5 of the Late 2005. With the tied and playing at the monarch’s house, Horry took advantage of the moment – as did before with Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers On stage – to leave your brand in the history of San Antonio.
Horry34 years at that time, he scored 13 points in the fourth final to extend the game to an extension, where he added five more, including the triple winner in pass of Manu Ginobili with 5.9 seconds to play and San Antonio Below on the 95-93 score.
Horrysurprisingly, he was left open in the play when he took the ball after the Time Out, receiving the Argentine pass to sentence the game with his fifth triple of the confrontation. Detroit would recover to extend the series seven games, but his spirit was probably broken at that moment courtesy of Horry.
The title with San Antonio It was the first of Horry With the franchise. He would add one more to close his career with seven, the greatest amount of a non -member of the Celtics of the 1950 and 1960. – Víctor O. López
