10 Most Clutch Plays in NBA Finals History | The Countdown

By DeQwan Young
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Updated: June 3, 2026

10 Most Clutch Plays in NBA Finals History

What’s up everybody, I’m DeQwan Young and this is The Countdown. As the old adage goes, big time players, make big time plays, in big time games. From Allen Iverson’s amazing game winning shot in the 2001 Finals, to Jerry West’s 60-foot heave, we live for big moments. With this year’s NBA Finals kicking off, we want to look at some of the most clutch moments of all-time. So today on the Countdown, we present, the 10 Most Clutch Plays in NBA Finals History.

Now the criteria for this list goes as follows:

Was it Significant? As time marches on, will we look back and remember this as a play that outlines the spectacle that is the NBA Finals?

Was it legacy defining? Did the play elevate a player into another stratosphere?

Clutchness. Did it lead to a victory? Was it a game winner?

Without further ado, let’s count em down.

Artest, That’s a Three, BANG

There’s nothing like a big shot, accompanied by a Mike Breen “Bang”. It happened in game seven of the 2010 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. A struggling Kobe Bryant, went six for twenty four on the night. With the Lakers up three points, seventy-six to seventy-three, he found Ron Artest for three and BANG!

Dr. J No Way

Although this play didn’t help Philadelphia win the series, it’s one of those magical moments in the NBA Finals that gets replayed over and over again.

The Lakers would send the Sixers packing in six games, but Dr. J’s layup off the glass is one of the greatest plays in NBA Finals history no matter the outcome.

Paxson for Three

In game 6 of the 1993 NBA Finals, Jordan gave the ball up early on a double team, finding Scottie Pippen, who passed it to Horace Grant, who found a wide open John Paxson to lead the Bulls to their third championship and their first three-peat.

In 1997, it would be Steve Kerr on the receiving end of a Michael Jordan assist, that would lead to a wide open three pointer, and the Bulls fifth NBA Championship.

Remember kids, always make the right play.

Shot Heard Round the World

In its era, its regarded as the greatest finals game of all-time. Towards the end of the second overtime, and the Celtics up three, Paul Westphal would hit a jumper, steal the ball, and Curtis Perry would hit a shot to put the Suns up by one.

With the series tied 2 games a piece, John Havlicek called glass and hit a runner to put the Celtics up one, with no time remaining on the clock. The crowd stormed the court, one fan was ballsy enough to start a fight with a referee and everyone thought the game was over. The problem was, Havlicek’s shot went in with two seconds remainaing and the clock had to be stopped on a made basket.

Paul Westphal would intentionally take a timeout, to get the ball back, and after the Celtics hit a technical free throw, Gar Heard caught an inbound pass and sunk a turn-around jumper to send the game to triple overtime.

Big Shot Bob

Is Robert Horry a Hall of Famer? A lot of people say no, but I say yes. First and foremost, It’s the basketball hall of fame, not the NBA hall of fame; which is a big distinction for me. Also, if you look at some of the members, guys like Dutch Denhart and Paul Endacott, I think Big Shot Bob deserves some consideration.

The reason Horry earned the moniker, Big Shot Bob, is because of his tendency to hit some of the most clutch shots, in the playoffs. Including this go-ahead three pointer he hit in game 5 of the 2005 NBA Finals, in Detroit, against the Pistons. This three pointer in overtime would put the Spurs ahead by one point, as they would win the game. Though they would lose game six at home, the Spurs finished off the series in game 7.

Magic Johnson’s Baby Hook

This sky hook punctuated the end of an era for the NBA.

The Celtics led the Lakers by 16 at halftime, but the Lakers would rally to cut the lead to one. With seven seconds left, and trailing 107-106 Magic took an inbounds pass and put up his baby sky hook.

Magic Johnson would send Larry Bird packing for GOOD.

Ray Allen Heats Up

There’s nothing more exciting than clutch shots, and this might possibly be the clutch-est shot of them all. In a must-win game, down three games to two against the San Antonio Spurs, King James and the Heat saw themselves down 5 with thirty seconds to go in the game. The Larry O’Brien Trophy was all but wrapped up, until Lebron hit a three to make it a one possession game.

A missed Kawhi Leonard free throw would keep the Heat within striking distance and after a front iron miss by Lebron, a rebound from Chris Bosh and a corner three from Ray Allen would send the game into overtime. The Heat wound up winning game 6 and 7 in dramatic fashion.

Jesus Saves.

Blocked by James

Nobody in NBA history had ever come back from a three games to one deficit and won an NBA Finals. We heard that throughout the course of this series after the Golden State Warriors took their commanding lead.

Then Draymond Green gave em the old dick twist. The Cavs would tie the series and force a decisive game 7, to be played in Oracle arena.

Fast forward to the fourth quarter of game 7, and this fast break led by Steph Curry, would come to an end at the basket, as Andre Iguadola would elevate, only to face rejection, by The King. This is one of the most memorable plays and playcalls from the NBA Finals. You can hear Mike Breen’s voice on the call in your head and that’s why it’s the greatest play in NBA Finals history.

Jordan. Game 6

MJ and the Bulls were road warriors looking to cap off their second three peat in 8 years.

It was game 6 with less than thirty seconds left in the game, when Jordan stole the ball from Karl Malone on the baseline, dribbles the clock down and hits the go-ahead bucket, with 5.2 remaining on the clock.

The greatest exit/last shot/image, in history. Jordan goes out on top of game 6, on the road in Utah, after making the final steal and shot in the game. Then he would unretire and just ruin all that.

Kyrie for Three

In the closing moments of game 7, all the momentum had shifted to the Cavaliers, as they we’re looking to bring the city of Cleveland it’s first championship in over half a century. With less than a minute to go, and after both teams had missed 12 consecutive shots between them, Irving splashed a 25-foot step back three, over Steph Curry for the win.

The shot was hailed as “The Biggest Shot in NBA history” by the Wall Street Journal. The Journal’s analytics team argument, factored in win probability, the urgency of Game 7, Golden State’s 73-win season, the 3-1 deficit, the crowd inside Oracle Arena, and the fact that the cumulative score of the ’16 Finals when Irving shot it — through more than 335 minutes of basketball — was 699-699.

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Did we get it wrong? If you think so, head on over to the Qwality Sports Twitter account and vote in our poll. What’s the best Play in NBA Finals History? Was it Michael Jordan’s Game Winner in Game 6, “Blocked by James”, or was it the Game Winning 3 by Kyrie and Cleveland’s first championship in 52 years. We’ll announce the viewer results in our next video. Also, don’t forget to comment below and voice your opinion. As always, like the video and subscribe to the video for more Qwality Sports content.

I’m DeQwan Young with The Countdown saying we’ll be back in 10.

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