Cleveland forward became the main hero of the day in the NBA Max Strus. In the regular season match, the Cavs lost to Dallas by one point with 2.9 seconds left in the game. It would seem that everything has already been decided, but the ball fell into the hands of Strus, who shot it from his own half of the field and fell right under the sound of the siren.
This rescue was definitely the most spectacular this season. Strus' game-winning shot was the second-longest in league history, second only to New Orleans' Devonte Graham's attempt against Oklahoma in December 2021. However, this shot brought Cleveland only one more point in the regular season wins column. Sports remembers winning shots when there was so much more at stake.
Ralph Sampson, Houston, 1986 In 1986, Houston was racing full speed toward the NBA's biggest battle, battling the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Lakers in the conference finals. In the decisive game of the series, with the score 3:1 in favor of Houston, Sampson snatched a ticket to the next stage by performing a stunning throw with a turn in the air right before the final siren.
Damian Lillard, Portland, 2019 The fifth game of the first round of the playoffs against Oklahoma became a match named after Lillard. With the score tied 12 seconds before the end of the fourth quarter, Portland's leader was already standing with the ball and waiting for that very moment to shoot. The moment when the opponent no longer has time to recoup. With a long-range three-pointer through Paul George, he personally knocked Oklahoma out of the tournament, simultaneously reaching the mark of 50 points per match.
Michael Jordan, Chicago, 1989 Decisive game of the first round of the playoffs against Cleveland. “Chicago” is on the verge of elimination — three seconds before the end of the match they lose by one point. A partner is looking for an addressee to pass from behind the sideline. Jordan gets the ball… and, of course, saves the team with a perfect throw.
John Stockton, Utah, 1997 The shot that took Utah to the NBA Finals. In Game 6 of the conference finals, with the score tied, Stockton got the ball with less than three seconds left and capped the run with a three-pointer. Later, Utah would lose in the decisive match against Chicago, but this in no way diminishes the importance of that hit.
Kawhi Leonard, Toronto, 2019 The most epic ending to the series in NBA history. All the factors came together here: a decisive seventh game, a tied score with four seconds left, the first ever NBA final on the line for Toronto. And Leonard taking a shot from the very corner of the court. The ball was still bouncing around the hoop when the siren sounded, and any basketball fan remembers these moments of complete uncertainty.
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