Over the course of an NBA Season, us as fans get to treat ourselves to see clutch shots almost every night. This is a list of the top 10 clutch shots or sequences we have seen this season.
10. Joe Johnson vs Denver Nuggets
Now there have not been many exciting moments for Nets fans this season, but they sure must have been happy about this one. Joe Johnson, who they later waived, banked home a game winning three pointer at the buzzer. This shot was incredible because they were down by two, but went for the win anyways. I guess that is what teams do when they are 19-50, they got nothing else to lose.
9. Jimmy Butler vs Indiana Pacers
Everything about this play is amazing. Pau Gasol delivers the perfect pass on time to a cutting Jimmy Butler and over a defending Paul George. Then Jimmy tips it just enough to make the shot go in. The play is a thing of beauty, and this win could come into play later on if the Bulls and Pacers have to have a tiebreaker if they finish with the same record.
8. Avery Bradley vs Cleveland Cavaliers
The Celtics for a long time have had a rivalry against LeBron James. Basically since he entered the league he has given Boston trouble and last year he swept the Celtics out of the playoffs. Avery Bradley got his revenge when he nailed a buzzer beating 3 in Cleveland to win the game. Brad Stevens also can add this play to the highlight tape of all his game winners he has drawn up, because it sure feels like a lot since he has started coaching the Celtics.
7. Nikola Vucevic’s Identical Game Winners
Even though Orlando is having a sub-par year, they still have had some “Magic” happen on their home floor. Especially Nikola Vucevic, where he hit two nearly identical game winners against the Atlanta Hawks and the Los Angeles Lakers. They both were fadeaway shots at the buzzer to win the game.
6. Corey Brewer vs Portland Trailblazers
Corey Brewer hit made one of the craziest shots you will witness all year. The Blazers, up 3, were looking to foul James Harden when he had the ball, so then he would only get two shots and could not tie the game. But Harden jumped up in the air as if to shoot it, so then Portland would not foul. So Harden scrambled in the air and tossed the ball to Brewer, who then jumped up and shot the ball floater-style and nailed the triple to force OT. Houston went on to win the game.
5. Kyle Lowry vs Cleveland Cavaliers
All season, the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers have been battling for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Come playoff time, these two teams expect to meet up in the Conference Finals. It sure would be a good series, as there have been good games between the teams already. One of those games included a Kyle Lowry game winner. In this game Lowry dropped a career high 43 points.
4. Rodney Hood and Gordon Hayward get Clutch in Dallas
In this game, Rodney Hood looked to be the hero for Utah. Down 3 with 7.1 seconds left, Utah inbounded the ball and sent Hood through a series of screens. He then got the ball in the corner and threw up a falling down 3 pointer and left 1.4 seconds on the clock. That sent the game to overtime. In the extra period, the Jazz had the ball with 4.2 seconds left. They inbounded the ball to Gordon Hayward who dribbled across the top of the key, and drove to the baseline. He then shot a step back jumper from the same corner that Hood shot his shot from and went on to make the game winner over Dallas’ Zaza Pachulia.
3. The Grizzlies-Pistons 2015-2016 Rivalry
Trust me, I do not believe the Grizzlies and Pistons actually have a rivalry. But since they are in opposite conferences they meet twice a year. And both games they played this season ended in Grizzlies game winners. Both are incredible. The first meeting took place in Detroit. The sequence to end this game is very confusing. Detroit has the ball with a five second difference between shot clock and game clock. They shoot the ball, airball, and then tip the ball up hoping it touches the rim. Finally, the ball bounces off the rim, and Matt Barnes of the Grizzlies comes down with it. Barnes dribbles to half court, and with 3.1 seconds on the clock, shoots a half court shot. I can almost guarantee everybody thought “What are you doing?”, but only thought that for a second, because the shot went in. Memphis was down 2 at the time, so he should have tried to take a better shot, but the Grizzlies have nothing to complain about now.
In the second meeting, the Grizzlies mid-season acquisition Mario Chalmers was the one who broke Detroit fans hearts. This play is a miracle play. Coaches do not draw this stuff up. Once again the Pistons had the ball late in the game, but the Grizzlies stole it and took it back down the court with about 6 seconds on the clock. Chalmers looks to shoot a 3-pointer for the win, but loses the ball. He picks up the ball inside the line and shoots a jumper while getting fouled, and of course it went in. He put Memphis up with .8 left on the clock and got them the win.
2. The Thunder-Magic season series
The season series between the Thunder and Magic was crazier than the one between the Grizzlies and the Pistons. The first meeting featured a double-OT thriller. But Oklahoma City would not have gotten to overtime without the heroics of Russell Westbrook. In the game, Westbrook had 48 points and Durant had 43 for the Thunder. Oklahoma City was also down 18 entering the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Magic thought they had stopped the Thunder’s comeback when Oladipo sank a 3 pointer with 3.9 seconds to put Orlando up by 3. However, Russell Westbrook pulled up from just inside half court and banked a deep 3 to tie the game up again. Just like Matt Barnes, Westbrook I believe shot a little too early, but just like Grizzlies fans, Thunder fans will not complain. In Overtime, Oladipo made a buzzer beating 3 to send the game to a second overtime, where the Thunder would prevail.
In the other meeting between these two teams, Kevin Durant won the game. On one end of the court, the Thunder got a block, which lead to this incredible crossover and deep 3 by KD to win the game with .5 seconds left on the clock.
1. Steph Curry vs Oklahoma City Thunder
This was an easy choice for the #1 spot. Stephen Curry made one of the best game winning shots of the year in a Primetime game vs the Oklahoma City Thunder. The whole game was intense, and in overtime, Curry casually steps up and makes 38 foot 3 pointer to win the game. The play leaves me speechless, I mean there really is nothing else I can say about it other than it is incredible how much confidence this Warriors team has. Steve Kerr believes in Steph that much where they do not call a timeout, and allow Curry to shoot a 3 pointer like that because they know he is that good. Simply put, it is unbelievable.
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