The NBA 60 Greatest Playoff Moments were chosen in 2006 to honor the 60th anniversary of the founding of the National Basketball Association (NBA). These 60 moments (in total, there were sixty-two moments; the last three were deemed tied) were selected through a vote by a 25-member panel of experts made up by media members and former players. The last 50 moments (from the eleventh to the sixtieth) were ranked by the panel. The top 10 moments were instead ranked by fans who voted online. The voting ended on June 5, 2006, and the results were announced in a television special aired on NBA TV the following day.
As the name suggested, all of these moments happened during the NBA playoffs. Forty moments selected happened in the Finals round, with 19 of them happening during the 1980s and 18 of them happening during the 1990s.
List No. Moment Year 1 Jordan jolts Jazz in Game 6
When John Stockton passed the ball to Karl Malone, Michael Jordan pushed the ball away and dribbled to the front. Guarding him was Bryon Russell, one of the Jazz's perimeter defenders. Jordan drove inside the three-point line, executed a quick crossover—possibly pushing off Russell, but the officials did not call a foul—and made a 20-foot jumper to give the Chicago Bulls an 87–86 lead with 5.2 seconds left. The Bulls went on to win the game and captured their sixth title. Game 61998 NBA Finals 2 Magic fills in at center
Los Angeles Lakers captain Kareem Abdul-Jabbar suffered from a sprained ankle in the previous game and could not play. Magic Johnson, who was a rookie at the time, stepped in for Abdul-Jabbar. Though he was a point guard, he eventually played all five positions throughout the game, including Abdul-Jabbar's center position. In the end, he had 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists as the Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 123–107 to win the NBA championship. Game 61980 NBA Finals 3 Reed inspires Knicks to victory
New York Knicks captain Willis Reed suffered from a torn muscle in his right leg in Game 5, and did not play in Game 6 when Wilt Chamberlain scored 45 points, allowing the Los Angeles Lakers to tie the series. Despite his injury, Reed was determined to play in the decisive Game 7. He took an injection to lessen the pain and entered the game just before tipoff. Reed finished the game with only four points, but his presence alone was able to bring the Knicks to a 113–99 victory and the franchise's first title. Game 71970 NBA Finals 4 Bird picks Pistons' pockets
In this series, the aging defending champion Boston Celtics met the young Detroit Pistons. Near the remaining seconds of Game 5, Boston was down by a point. During an inbound made by Isiah Thomas to Bill Laimbeer, Larry Bird stole the ball. Pivoting just before going out of bounds, he quickly passed it to Dennis Johnson. Johnson laid the ball in to take a 108–107 lead with one second left. The Celtics went on to advance to the finals, where they lost to the Lakers. Game 51987 Eastern Conference Finals 5 "Havlicek stole the ball!"
With five seconds remaining, the Boston Celtics were hanging on to a one-point lead at 110–109 as the Philadelphia 76ers regained possession of the ball. During an inbound made by Hal Greer to Chet Walker, John Havlicek poked the ball away toward Sam Jones, who took possession as time expired. The Celtics won the series and advanced to the finals. Game 71965 Eastern Division Finals 6 Greatest game ever?
Going into the game, the series between the Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns was tied 2–2. The game, like the series, was heavily contested as it took three overtime periods to determine the winner. Near the end of the first overtime, Boston's Paul Silas attempted to call a time-out that the team did not have, but officials ignored it and the game was tied. In the second overtime, Phoenix led by one with four seconds left. John Havlicek scored to retake the lead and spectators rushed onto the court to celebrate. Afterward, it was determined that Havlicek scored before the game ended and one second should be added back to the clock. Suns' Paul Westphal, immediately called a time-out that they did not have and a technical free throw was awarded to Boston. Boston was then up by two and Suns' Gar Heard was able to tie with a jumper. A third overtime period was played. With most key players fouled out, reserve players were used. The Celtics' Glenn McDonald scored six points and led Boston to a 128–126 win. Game 51976 NBA Finals 7 Mr. Clutch sinks a 60-footer
With 3 seconds remaining and the score tied at 100, Dave DeBusschere made a basket to put the New York Knicks up two. As the Los Angeles Lakers were out of timeouts, the team had to throw an inbounds pass. Jerry West got the ball, dribbled as far as he dared and sank a 60-foot shot to push the game into overtime. At the end, the Knicks won 111–108. (The three-point line was not implemented until the 1979–80 season, so West's shot was worth only two points instead of three, which would have enabled the Lakers to win in regulation.) Game 31970 NBA Finals 8 Magic's junior, junior sky hook beats Boston
The Celtics were leading 106–105 after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's missed free throw. Boston lost possession after the ball went out of bounds. Magic Johnson then took an inbound pass and dribbled toward the key. Before Celtics defense could come and stop him, Johnson took a "junior" hook shot – the much taller Kareem's signature shot – to give the Lakers a one-point lead. Larry Bird missed the final shot after hitting a three-point shot with 12 seconds left, and the Lakers won the game, 107–106. Game 41987 NBA Finals 9 Pettit's revenge
During the 1957 NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics defeated the St. Louis Hawks in seven games as Bob Pettit missed a scoring attempt. One year later, they met again in the finals. In the series-clinching sixth game, Pettit redeemed himself by scoring 50 points, bringing the Hawks a win and their only championship to date. Pettit's 50 points matched the NBA record at the time, which has since been broken by Elgin Baylor. Game 61958 NBA Finals 10 "God disguised as Michael Jordan"
Michael Jordan missed most of the Chicago Bulls' regular-season games after breaking a bone in his left foot, but returned in time for the playoffs. He scored 63 points against the Boston Celtics during Game 2. The Celtics eventually won the game and swept the Bulls, but Jordan's 63 points remains the playoffs scoring record. Game 21986 Eastern Conference First Round 11 Ralph Sampson game winner vs. Lakers
Ralph Sampson caught a pass from teammate Rodney McCray in mid-air, turned around and launched the ball toward the basket. The ball hit the front rim, bounced, hit the back rim and rolled into the basket as the game ended. The shot enabled the Houston Rockets to move into the finals, beating the Lakers in a 4–1 upset. Game 51986 Western Conference Finals 12 Bill Russell's 30-point, 40-rebound performance, Frank Selvy missed shot, Cousy dribbles out clock
Frank Selvy missed what could have been the championship-winning shot at the end of regulation and pushed the game into overtime. In the end, the Boston Celtics won 110–107, thanks to Bill Russell's 30 points and 40 rebounds as well as Bob Cousy's time-consuming dribbling around the court. Game 71962 NBA Finals 13 Isiah, 43 points (25 in 3rd), 8 assists on bad ankle
With a severe ankle injury, Isiah Thomas still was able to score 25 points in the third quarter (it remained as the Finals record for points in a single quarter). His effort, however, did not help the Detroit Pistons, as they lost the game and the series to the Los Angeles Lakers. Game 61988 NBA Finals 14 Julius Erving's ultimate baseline scoop move vs. Lakers
With the Philadelphia 76ers down 2–1 in the series, Julius Erving converted a difficult shot to will the Sixers to a 105–102 victory. Erving elevated baseline, went behind the backboard, and then was able to make the reverse layup for the score. Game 41980 NBA Finals 15 Elgin Baylor's 61-point, 22-rebound performance vs. Celtics
Elgin Baylor scored 61 points and notched 22 rebounds against the Celtics. His effort allowed the Los Angeles Lakers to lead the series 3–2, but the Lakers ultimately lost to the Celtics. Game 51962 NBA Finals 16 Kareem hooks Celtics in 2OT
With seven seconds left in the second overtime, John Havlicek scored and brought the Celtics up by one. Oscar Robertson passed the ball to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who hit his signature sky hook over his defender Henry Finkel. This gave the Milwaukee Bucks the win and sent the series to Game 7. The Boston Celtics went on to win the series. Game 61974 NBA Finals 17 MJ flu game
Affected by the flu virus, Michael Jordan could barely play in the pivotal Game 5 which was hosted in Utah. Against all odds, however, Jordan was still able to bring the Bulls to a 90–88 win and a 3–2 series lead. He had 38 points and 7 rebounds. Game 51997 NBA Finals 18 Derek Fisher's miracle shot
With 0.4 seconds left in the game, Derek Fisher hit a fade-away jumper from the left corner over Manu Ginóbili at the buzzer. The Los Angeles Lakers won and took a 3–2 series lead. Game 52004 Western Conference Semifinals 19 Stockton's game winner sends Jazz to Finals
In the fourth quarter, John Stockton scored 15 points including a buzzer-beating three-pointer off of a screen by Karl Malone to dispatch the Houston Rockets and send the Utah Jazz into the NBA Finals. Game 61997 Western Conference Finals 20 Michael Jordan's game-winner over Craig Ehlo/Cavs
Catching an inbound pass, Michael Jordan dribbled across the court and hit a game winner over the Cleveland Cavaliers's Craig Ehlo. The spectators were stunned as Jordan celebrated by pumping his fists. Game 51989 Eastern Conference First Round 21 Nelson's shot, Russell's championship farewell
Leading by one at the final minute, Don Nelson got the ball after it was poked away from John Havlicek. He launched a shot at the free throw line. The ball hit the rim and rolled into the basket, giving Boston the win and Bill Russell his 11th title. Game 71969 NBA Finals 22 Michael Jordan's 3-pointers vs. Blazers
Michael Jordan hit a record six three-pointers in the first half of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers. His 35 points in the first half was also the Finals record. Game 11992 NBA Finals 23 Rookies Heinsohn, Russell and Ramsey lead Celtics to first title
After defeating the Celtics in Boston 125–123, the St. Louis Hawks went on to lose the following in double overtime with Bob Pettit missing the final shot. Rookies Tom Heinsohn and Bill Russell were instrumental in leading to a Celtics victory as they combined to have 56 points and 55 rebounds. Game 71957 NBA Finals 24 Pacers defeat Knicks
Down by six points, Reggie Miller scored eight points in an 8.9-second span to lead the Indiana Pacers over the New York Knicks at the Madison Square Garden. Game 11995 Eastern Conference Semifinals 25 Robert Horry's 3-pointer vs. Pistons
Robert Horry's clutch shooting led the Spurs to a win and a 3–2 series lead. He scored all of his points in the fourth quarter and overtime periods, including a three-point shot with 5.8 seconds left. The San Antonio Spurs went on to defeat the Detroit Pistons and win the series. Game 52005 NBA Finals 26 G. Henderson steal vs. Lakers
With 18 seconds remaining, the Boston Celtics were down by two at 111–113 as the Lakers gained possession of the ball. Gerald Henderson then made a crucial steal off of James Worthy and scored the game-tying layup shot. The Celtics went on to win the game and the series. Game 21984 NBA Finals 27 Nique vs. Bird 4th quarter duel
Dominique Wilkins's 47 points was not enough to bring the Atlanta Hawks to victory as Larry Bird scored 20 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter and led the Celtics to a 118–116 win. Game 71988 Eastern Conference Semifinals 28 Robert Horry's 3-pointer vs. Sacramento