The 25 greatest playoff games in NBA history

This game is best known for Michael Jordan's "The Last Shot," which put the Bulls ahead with just seconds left. MJ finished the game with 45 points, over half of his team's scoring output as they won 87-86 to clinch the championship. This was Jordan's last game before his second retirement, and quite the way to go out (before his eventual Wizards return).

This was the culmination of multiple narratives: The 73-9 Warriors blew a 3-1 lead, LeBron brought Cleveland its first title in decades, and LeBron picking up his third title moved him even more into the GOAT conversation. The game also had a legacy-making play, his chase-down block on Andre Iguodala.

With the series tied going into Game 5, picking up this game was pivotal, and both teams played like it. A big John Havlicek shot late in regulation made fans storm the court early. For Phoenix, Gar Heard's big-time jumper forced a third overtime. Finally, the Celtics outlasted to pick up the 128-126 victory, going on to win the title the next game.

The Spurs were seconds away from clinching a title. Down three, LeBron James missed a triple, but Chris Bosh secured the offensive rebound. He immediately spotted Ray Allen backpedaling into the corner, passed him the ball, and Allen nailed a three, tying the game that Miami would win in OT. It was one of the best shots in Finals history.

Despite it being relatively early in the postseason, this was still one of the most exciting moments in NBA playoff history. It was looking grim for Boston with seconds left, but as Isiah Thomas inbounded the ball, Larry Bird came up with a phenomenal steal, passing it off to Dennis Johnson for a game-winning layup.

This game featured one of the biggest shots of Magic Johnson's career. Down one with seconds remaining, Johnson swept across the lane and landed a "baby sky hook" over multiple defenders, securing the victory. The win gave the Lakers a commanding 3-1 lead in the series, which they would ultimately win.

The Bulls and Celtics had one of the greatest first-round series in NBA history. In seven games, there were seven total overtime periods. Game 6 in particular was wild, a 3-OT thriller that saw Ray Allen hit 9 threes en route to a 51-point explosion, which overshadowed Rajon Rondo's astounding 19 assists.

The Blazers led by as much as 15th in the fourth quarter of Game 7. Shaq and Kobe didn't roll over, though, mounting a 15-0 run to get back in it. Portland missed 18 shots in the fourth, making it both an incredible comeback by LA and a devastating collapse by the Blazers.

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were forging an intense new chapter of the Celtics-Lakers rivalry, and one of its biggest moments was Game 7 of the '84 Finals. LA's stars put up big performances: 29 points for Kareem, 15 assists from Magic. It wasn't enough to counteract Boston's balanced attack, though, with Bird, Cedric Maxwell, and Dennis Johnson scoring at least 20 apiece.

In the fourth quarter, it looked like the Suns were ready to extend the series to seven games. Then, John Paxson came through with a heroic moment, the bench guard hitting a go-ahead three with seconds remaining. Paired with MJ's 33 points and standout performances from Scottie Pippen and BJ Armstrong, it was enough to win the game and give the Bulls the trophy, clinching the three-peat.

For a three-season stretch in the late 2000s and early 2010s, the Lakers and Celtics were once again the teams to beat in their respective conferences. Game 7 of the Finals was gritty and low-scoring, with both teams not even at 60 points at the start of the fourth quarter. Kobe had a down shooting night but still was the emotional leader of a fourth-quarter comeback that gave LA the championship, after losing to Boston in the 2008 Finals.

This is the game most famous for the iconic moment when Iverson stepped over Tyronn Lue after hitting a shot. That might overshadow just how unreal Iverson was in the contest, scoring 48 points to surprise the heavily favored Lakers and go up 1-0 in the series. LA won the next four games, but that first one is emblematic of the heights to which AI pushed an overachieving 76ers team.

Thomas was playing through a severe ankle sprain, but it didn't slow him down. That was especially true in the third quarter, when he exploded for 25 points, which was a new Finals record for points in a quarter. Despite Thomas' gutsy 43-point night, though, the Lakers managed to squeak out a one-point win and went on to win the series.

It's "The Flu Game" (although the actual cause of MJ's illness was food poisoning, apparently from pizza the night before). Regardless, Jordan was feeling awful, and the image of Scottie Pippen helping his exhausted teammate stay upright was instantly iconic. Jordan put up 38 points, giving the Bulls a 3-2 lead on their way to a title.

Olajuwon and Ewing, two of the best bigs of the '90s, were both a game away from their potential first championship. New York's Ewing and John Starks both struggled from the field, and Houston capitalized, especially Hakeem, with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. They came away victorious, securing the Rockets' first-ever NBA title.

After losing three straight games and going down 3-2 in the series, LeBron James needed to come up big to save Miami's playoff hopes. He did, as he had the Heat in control all night with a masterful 45 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists on ultra-efficient 19-for-26 shooting. Miami ended up winning the series in seven and going on to secure the championship.

The Mavericks were down big late in the game, but then they went on a 22-to-5 run to close it out. Nowitzki, playing through an injured finger, hit a go-ahead layup with seconds remaining, and Miami was unable to answer. The win tied the series, an important one in preventing the Heat from picking up momentum.

Game 5 was an absolute thriller, neck-and-neck all the way through. Robert Horry lived up to the "Big-Shot Bob" nickname here, hitting a game-winning three-pointer with seconds left to put the Spurs up by one. Tim Duncan also made major contributions, scoring 26 points and grabbing 19 rebounds. Detroit was unable to answer, and Horry's moment swung the series.

The Warriors were about to get eliminated from the playoffs on the road. Instead, Klay Thompson showed up in a big way, scoring 41 points thanks in part to 11 threes, a playoff record for most in a game. Steph Curry chipped in with 31 points of his own, and Golden State was able to stay alive to complete the 3-1 comeback.

Miami needed a win to avoid elimination. Jimmy Butler understood the assignment, delivering a 35-point triple-double along with five steals. LA went on to win the series, but the run added to the legacy of "Playoff Jimmy."

Kobe Bryant put up one of his best-ever scoring performances, dropping 50 points on efficient 20-for-35 shooting. It wasn't enough to counter a balanced Phoenix attack, though. The Suns had five players with at least 19 points, including 32 (and 13 assists) from Steve Nash. Phoenix managed to stay alive in the series and later closed it out in seven.

The two teams' stars turned in stellar performances: Lillard had 55 points while Jokić turned in a 38-point near-triple-double. Lillard was clutch all night, but it wasn't enough to outlast the Nuggets in overtime. The Nuggets took the series but lost to Phoenix in the second round.

Draymond Green had a well-rounded triple-double, and Klay Thompson enjoyed a hot shooting night, but Steph Curry struggled from the field. The Raptors pounced, with four players scoring at least 22 points. The effort was enough to land the franchise its first-ever championship.

The Celtics were chasing just their second championship since the prosperous '80s, and their first since 2008. In the deciding Game 5, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown silenced those who doubted the two could form a championship-winning core with well-rounded performances. Even with an injured Kristaps Porziņģis, Boston still flexed one of the league's deepest rosters, and it was clear in this gentleman's sweep.

The Blazers were up 3-1 in the series, and in Game 5, they were tied with seconds remaining. Lillard went isolation on Paul George, pulled up from deep, and at the buzzer, won the series. That shot also put him at 50 points for the game, instantly making it one of the most iconic moments in Blazers history.