Over 400 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of NBA Playoff Buzzer Beaters That Fans Will Never Forget
Voting Rules
Vote up the greatest NBA playoff buzzer beaters of all time.
The NBA playoffs bring an all new intensity level that is nothing like the regular season. And with every possession of every game meaning so much, there is nothing better than watching a buzzer beater in the playoffs. These buzzer beaters have not only made for iconic moments that fans will never forget, but have helped shape the careers of many players in the NBA. Jordan jumping over Ehlo, Robert Horry beating the Kings, and Jerry West hitting a 60-footer to tie the game are just some of the great moments in NBA playoff history.Â
Many factors go into the ranking such as the importance of the game, the difficulty of the shot, and whether it was a game-winning or game-tying shot. In your opinion, which ones are the best NBA playoff buzzer beaters?
Most divisive: Gar Heard: Phoenix Suns vs Boston Celtics in 1976
1
226 VOTES
Michael Jordan: Chicago Bulls vs Utah Jazz in 1997
While this shot was not exactly as the buzzer sounded, it was close enough and a big enough shot to make this list. In what was originally thought to be Michael Jordan's last game, he gave fans an image to remember for the rest of their lives. Jordan hit Byron Russell with a crossover, and maybe a little push off, and rose up and hit the game-winner that would give Jordan his sixth and final championship. The image of Jordan holding his follow through as the ball goes through the net will forever be remembered in NBA history.
226 votes
2
144 VOTES
Kawhi Leonard: Toronto Raptors vs Philadelphia 76ers in 2019
In Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Toronto Raptor's Kawhi Leonard took an inbound pass with less than 5 seconds remaining and the game tied at 90. Defended by Philadelphia 76ers big men Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, Leonard put up a shot just before the buzzer. It bounced off the rim four times before falling in for one of the biggest Game 7 buzzer-beaters of all time.
As far as playoff buzzer beaters go, there isn't a more iconic shot than Michael Jordan hanging in the air over Craig Ehlo to send the Bulls to the second round of the playoffs in 1989. While the Bulls didn't win the championship that year, that shot set up the legend of Michael Jordan and will forever be remembered in his storied career.
After storming back from an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter, the Portland Trail Blazers had tied their first-round Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 115-115. Damian Lillard, who had already scored 47 points, had the ball in his hands in the final seconds with Thunder star Paul George guarding him. With time running out, Lillard hit a step-back 3-pointer from 37 feet out to win the game and the series.
You can't have a list of clutch plays and not include Kobe Bryant on it. In the 2006 Western Conference First Round, Bryant took the jump ball from Walton, dribbled to the elbow and rose up for the game winner to give the Lakers a 99-98 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Robert Horry had a knack for being one of the most clutch players in NBA history, thus earning him the nickname, "Big Shot Rob." With the Los Angeles Lakers trailing the Sacramento Kings in the series 2-1, the Lakers were on the verge of going down 3-1 before the Kings' Vlade Divac knocks the ball from underneath his basket thinking time will expire, however the ball ended up right into the arm's of Horry waiting at the top of the key for the game winner.
While this shot was not exactly as the buzzer sounded, it was close enough and a big enough shot to make this list. In what was originally thought to be Michael Jordan's last game, he gave fans an image to remember for the rest of their lives. Jordan hit Byron Russell with a crossover, and maybe a little push off, and rose up and hit the game-winner that would give Jordan his sixth and final championship. The image of Jordan holding his follow through as the ball goes through the net will forever be remembered in NBA history.
As far as playoff buzzer beaters go, there isn't a more iconic shot than Michael Jordan hanging in the air over Craig Ehlo to send the Bulls to the second round of the playoffs in 1989. While the Bulls didn't win the championship that year, that shot set up the legend of Michael Jordan and will forever be remembered in his storied career.More Michael Jordan
