The ending of Game 6 between the Celtics and Heat was one of the most surreal in recent NBA history.
Miami looked as if it had won the Eastern Conference when Marcus Smart's three-point attempt rimmed out, but Derrick White saved Boston's season by grabbing the offensive rebound and releasing a putback with one-tenth of a second on the clock. The Celtics won at the buzzer, 104-103.
DERRICK WHITE SENDS THE EAST FINALS BACK TO BOSTON FOR GAME 7!
— NBA (@NBA) May 28, 2023
HE WINS IT FOR THE CELTICS AT THE BUZZER #TissotBuzzerBeater | #TimingEmotions pic.twitter.com/ybUb5CT6l1
White's improbable shot joins the list of best last-second shots in NBA postseason history. Let's take a trip down memory lane to relive some of the other iconic clutch buckets we've seen over the years during the NBA playoffs.
Miami Heat, 2013: Ray Allen's three to tie NBA Finals Game 6
After the punch to the gut Heat fans felt Saturday night watching a trip to the NBA Finals evaporate, it's only fair to begin this journey with Allen's clutch three that sent Game 6 of the Finals against San Antonio to overtime, where the Heat would win 103-100.
"BANG! TIE GAME WITH FIVE SECONDS REMAINING."
— ESPN (@espn) June 18, 2020
Seven years ago, Ray Allen saved the Heat's title hopes with a clutch corner three to force OT in Game 6 of the NBA Finals pic.twitter.com/qUrzp0sOEs
While not a buzzer-beater, Allen's three—like White's layup—helped force a Game 7. Miami won the following game, securing back-to-back championships.
Los Angeles Lakers, 2002: Robert Horry's tip-out three in the Western Conference Finals
#OTD in 2002, Robert Horry stunned the Kings with this buzzer-beater in Game 4 of the WCF pic.twitter.com/H6WfqlSRFd
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 26, 2021
Trailing 2-1 and trying to complete a 20-point comeback in Game 4, Los Angeles was on the brink of facing a 3-1 deficit against the Kings. In the final seconds, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal failed to tie the game at 99 with two attempts in the paint before Kings center Vlade Divac tapped the ball toward midcourt, where Horry was waiting for his stunning buzzer-beater.
The Lakers won the series in seven games, making Horry's winner in Game 4 even more memorable.
Los Angeles Lakers, 2004: Derek Fisher gets shot off with 0.4 seconds left in West semifinals
0.4 seconds ⏰
— ESPN (@espn) May 13, 2020
That's all the time Derek Fisher needed to hit this clutch buzzer beater 16 years ago. pic.twitter.com/T2kebMoZdc
Two seasons later, the Lakers' good luck continued when Fisher stunned the Spurs in Game 5 of a 2-2 series by making an attempt with only 0.4 seconds on the clock. San Antonio won the first two games of the series and was on the verge of going up 3-2 before Fisher's shocking make. Los Angeles won the next game of the series at home, eliminating San Antonio in six games.
Toronto Raptors, 2019: Kawhi Leonard gets the friendly bounce in East semifinals Game 7
Four years ago, Leonard delivered one of the greatest shots in NBA history in the final seconds of Toronto's second-round series against Philadelphia.
IS THIS THE DAGGER?
— Raptors Nation (@RaptorsNationTO) March 19, 2020
Kawhi Leonard drops 41 points including 15 in the fourth quarter to beat the 76ers in a Game 7 buzzer beater! pic.twitter.com/nJI9Kc8cMP
Leonard's three bounced on the rim for what felt like an eternity before the ball went through the net for a 92-90 Raptors win. The incredible shot wasn't as vital as White's shot for the Celtics, however. If Leonard missed, the Raptors' season wouldn't have ended; they would have gone to overtime. Still, as far as buzzer-beaters are concerned, it's hard to think of another that feels as ripped from the pages of a Hollywood script as much as this one.
Chicago Bulls, 1989: Michael Jordan staves off elimination with "The Shot"
30 years ago today
— Andscape (@andscape) May 7, 2019
Michael Jordan nails an iconic 18-foot buzzer beater over Craig Ehlo to eliminate the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs with a 101-100 victory.
(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/MHDYFStlp0
Arguably Jordan's most iconic shot, his in 1989 is the closest to White's. The two are the only buzzer-beaters in NBA postseason history that won a game for a team trailing and facing elimination. Horry's and Fisher's makes in 2002 and 2004 came in non-elimination games while Allen's three only tied Miami's game against San Antonio.
But Jordan's shot is even better than White's considering it ended Chicago's first-round series against Cleveland and didn't merely extend it. White's will look even better if Boston makes history and pulls off the first comeback from 3-0 down in a best-of-seven series in NBA history.
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