30 Greatest Game-Winning Shots In NBA History

Darren - May 27, 2021

30 Greatest Game-Winning Shots In NBA History

Darren - May 27, 2021

4. LeBron James vs. Indiana Pacers (2018)

In 2018, James returned to Cleveland and inspired them to that elusive championship. But the victory wasn’t a clean sweep. They had to slog and struggle on the road to glory and relied heavily on their star man. It was lucky that he was able to live up to the hype and pressure because he kept them moving forward. One display against the Indiana Pacers was key to their victory.

They met the Pacers in the first round of the playoffs with the series in the balance. The teams were tied 2-2 and level in their fifth game. Victor Oladipo blocked LeBron’s game-winning effort but King James wasn’t finished. He produced a stunning buzzer-beater to win the game. It was crucial because this series went all the way to the seventh game. In the end, ‘The King’s’ shots played a massive role.

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3. Derek Fisher vs. San Antonio Spurs (2004)

Fisher produced one of the most clutch shots ever seen when the L.A. Lakers took on the Spurs in 2004. Tim Duncan’s men took the lead and it looked like they had stolen the game in the dying moments. But Fisher didn’t receive that memo. He took it upon himself to unleash one of the most important shots he ever scored. This one was truly magnificent and crucial.

With just 0.4 seconds on the clock, Fisher didn’t think. The Lakers trailed 73-72 when he fired off his buzzer-beater. Then, without hesitation, he sprinted off of the court in celebration. Fisher said that he didn’t want the Spurs to think that they had any doubt that it went in. The Lakers guard produced a sensational moment when it counted the most. That’s definitely a story to tell the grandkids.

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2. Tracy McGrady vs. San Antonio Spurs (2004)

One of the unluckiest players ever, McGrady had the potential to be a superstar. But injuries prevented him from achieving everything that he could have. While his teams maintained horrendous postseason records, McGrady was brilliant as an individual. One performance against the Spurs showed exactly what he was capable of.

The Rockets trailed 76-68 with less than a minute to go. Then, McGrady burst into life as he scored a ridiculous 13 points in the final minute to win the game for Houston. All of his shots found their target as he scored a buzzer-beater with just 1.7 seconds left on the clock. This was one of McGrady’s greatest ever performances. It’s almost sad in hindsight because he could have achieved much more.

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1. Michael Jordan vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (1989)

Ironically, Jordan’s greatest buzzer-beater came before his title-winning exploits. In 1989, a young MJ made the playoffs against the Cavaliers. It was the fifth game of the first round in the Eastern Conference and the Bulls trailed by a single point. The clock was ticking down and the game was slipping away but Jordan stole the show. He showed his devastating potential with one glorious moment.

Jordan rose above Craig Ehlo and scored a phenomenal buzzer-beater. It was one of the most glorious shots of his career as helped the Bulls to a 101-100 win. It was dynamic and explosive from Jordan who was one of the most exciting prospects in the league. This was his coming-of-age moment and gave the Bulls some cheer. They didn’t win the championship that year but they knew the future was bright.

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30 Greatest Game-Winning Shots In NBA History