The most memorable Game 4s in NBA Finals history

Well, would you look at that! After being demolished by the Warriors in Oakland the first two games of the NBA Finals, the Cavaliers returned to Cleveland and paid back the favor, obliterating the Dubs by the score of 120-90 in Game 3.

This now sets us basketball fans up for what will be a critical Game 4 on Friday. If the Warriors take Game 4, they’ll be up 3-1 in the series and have a stranglehold over the Cavs. However, if the Cavs can win their second straight game, the series will be tied at two games apiece, and an NBA Finals that once looked like it might be a sweep for Golden State could turn into a seven-game series classic.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at few other classic Game 4s in NBA Finals history.

1) Mavericks vs. Heat, 2011

With LeBron James and the Miami Heat up two games to one headed into Game 4 of the 2011 NBA Finals, King James and company smelled blood in the water. Unfortunately for James and Miami, Dirk Nowitzki and a resilient Dallas Mavericks team stood in their way. Led by a 21-points, 11-rebound performance from the German-born All-Star, the Mavs clawed their way back into the contest in the fourth quarter and won Game 4 by the score of 86-83. The Mavs would go on to win the next two games of the series and claim their first championship in franchise history.

King James would have to wait another year to earn his first ring.

2) Lakers vs. Pacers, 2000

By 2000, Lakers fans knew Kobe Bryant was likely going to be an all-time great, but Game 4 of that year’s NBA Finals was the night Bryant made that clear to all basketball fans. Up 2-1 in the series against the Indiana Pacers, the pivotal Game 4 went to overtime, where Lakers alpha dog, and 2000 regular-season MVP, Shaquille O’Neal fouled out.

One superstar had left the court for the Lakers, but another was still on it. A 21-year-old Bryant, who had missed the previous game with sprained ankle, led the Lakers to a 120-118 victory in which he scored 28 points, including three field goals in the final two minutes of overtime. The Lakers would win the series in six games, and Kobe would earn his first of five rings.

3) Bulls vs. Jazz, 1997

Down by four with less than two minutes remaining and with the ball, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls had the Utah Jazz in dire straights. But Jazz guard John Stockton, as he did so many times his Hall of Fame career, would make a clutch defensive play, stealing the ball away from MJ and earning a pair of free throws at the other end of the floor.

On the following Chicago possession, Jordan missed a long jump shot, and Stockton grabbed the rebound and fired the ball down court to teammate Karl Malone for an easy bucket to give the Jazz the lead. It was a lead the Jazz would not relinquish, as Utah won Game 4 by the score of 78-73 to tie the series at two games apiece.

Of course, Jordan and his Bulls would be the victorious party in the series, winning it in six games, but for at least one night in Utah, Jazz fans truly had hope they would see their beloved team win a championship.

4) Bulls vs. Suns, 1993

Down two games to one in their NBA Finals series against the Bulls, the Phoenix Suns needed a wondrous performance from regular-season MVP Charles Barkley to avoid a two-game hole in Chicago. Barkley delivered, recording a triple-double with 32 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.

Unfortunately for Barkley and the Suns, the greatest player in basketball, Michael Jordan, also happened to have one his best playoff performances ever that night. Jordan scored an incredible 55 points on 21-37 shooting, leading the Bulls to a 111-105 victory. The Bulls would go on to win the series in six games.

5) Pistons vs. Lakers, 1989

After Magic Johnson pulled his hamstring in Game 3, the Detroit Pistons had a chance to do the unthinkable: sweep the two-time defending NBA champion Lakers in the 1989 NBA Finals. Without their Hall of Fame point guard, the Lakers put up as strong of a fight as possible, as James Worthy played 46 minutes and scored 40 points in Game 4.

But the “Bad Boy” Pistons were just a little too much for the Lakers. Led by Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Bill Laimbeer, the Pistons took down the Lakers by the score of 105-97 at the Great Western Forum and won their first championship in franchise history.

6) Lakers vs. Celtics, 1987

It was another classic Finals contest between the rival Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. In Game 4 of the 1987 Finals, the Celtics largely controlled the run of play, holding on to the lead until the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

But the final three minutes of the ball game proved to be a back-and-forth affair, in which the Lakers would take the lead for the first time since the first quarter, only to see Boston retake a two-point lead with 12 seconds left via a Larry Bird three.

On the ensuing play, the Celtics fouled Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, putting the L.A. center at the free throw line. After Kareem made the first free throw, his second free throw glanced off the rim, but the Celtics were unable to control the rebound, giving the Purple and Gold a chance to steal Game 4 in Boston. Magic Johnson would then make his legendary “baby hook” shot to give the Lakers a 107-106 victory.

The Lakers would go on to defeat the Celtics in six games for their fourth championship of the decade, their Game 4 comeback the biggest reason why.

7) Celtics vs. Lakers, 1984

Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals saw Celtics legend Larry Bird give a performance for the ages. On the road in Los Angeles, and down two games to one in the series, Bird put the entire Celtics team on his shoulders, scoring 29 points and nabbing an incredible 21 rebounds. The Celtics needed overtime to get the job done, but Boston pulled off the road victory by the score of 129-125.

The series would go all the way down to a decisive seventh game, where the Celtics won their 15th NBA championship in franchise history. Bird was named Finals MVP as well.