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The decade is quickly drawing to a close and it is the perfect time to reflect on some of the most memorable NBA moments from the past 10 years.
The past decade has provided no shortage of highlights and exciting moments, and basketball fans have witnessed a number of unforgettable shots late in games that have altered the course of either a series or game.
So, with plenty to choose from, here we will take a look at five shots that have left a lasting impression and helped define the past decade.
#5 Dirk Nowitzki - Game 2 of the 2011 NBA Finals
Heading into the 2011 NBA Finals, the Miami Heat were the clear favorites. Having finished the regular with a 58-24 record, the Heat had the advanced to the Finals having dropped just three games during series wins over the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls.
The Dallas Mavericks had also impressed during the postseason, but Miami eased to victory in Game 1 of the Finals, and they also led 88-73 with just 7 minutes remaining in Game 2.
It appeared that the Heat were destined to win the title in LeBron James' first season in Miami, but the Mavs quickly put together a fourth-quarter run and a Dirk Nowitzki drive to the basket leveled the score at 90-90 with just one minute remaining.
The Heat missed the following attempt, and with just 30s econds on the clock, Nowitzki knocked down a huge three-pointer that put Dallas in the lead. The Mavs went on to pick up a crucial win, and the German was named Finals MVP as they defeated the Heat in six games.
#4 Damian Lillard - Game 5, 1st round of WC 2019 playoffs
Unlike the majority of the shots that have defined the past decade, Damian Lillard's three-pointer against the Oklahoma City Thunder didn't come in the NBA Finals, although his effort cemented one of the most complete individual performances in playoff history while also effectively breaking up the Thunder.
The Trail Blazers had been swept by the Thunder during the regular season, but Lillard's individual brilliance had been enough to give Portland a 3-1 series lead in the playoffs. Game 5 was heading towards overtime, but with time expiring, Lillard cooly dribbled the ball up the court before firing a 37-foot three-pointer over the outstretched arm of Defensive Player of the Year candidate Paul George.
The shot landed as time expired, capping a 50-point effort for the All-Star point guard, while also securing Portland's progression to the next round. Lillard's effort also went on to have a bigger impact during the offseason as George and Russell Westbrook left the Thunder for rival teams.
#3 Kevin Durant - Game 3 of the 2017 NBA Finals
Following the Cleveland Cavaliers' unlikely comeback in the 2016 NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors returned for their rematch a year later with Kevin Durant in tow. The superstar had completed a shock move to the Warriors the previous summer, and Durant enjoyed the most memorable moment of his three-year stint with the team during the 2017 Finals.
Golden State entered Game 3 with a 2-0 series lead, but the Cavs led 113-111 on their home court with just 45.3 seconds left. However, then came Durant's huge moment as he casually dribbled the ball up the court before throwing a huge three-pointer up in the face of James - which effectively clinched the series for the Warriors.
#2 Kyrie Irving - Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals
Against the odds, the Cleveland Cavaliers managed to force a Game 7 in the 2016 NBA Finals despite trailing 3-1 to a Golden State team that had finished the regular season with a 73-9 record. Nevertheless, the Cavs still faced a sizeable task to secure the title in Game 7 at Oracle Arena and when Kyrie Irving picked up the ball with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter, the score was tied at 89-89.
The two teams had combined for 12 consecutive misses, and after Irving had failed to find a way past Steph Curry with the shot clock running down, he sidestepped the MVP and threw up a three-pointer from 25 feet away. Despite Curry's best defensive efforts, the shot landed, and the Cavs went on to close out the game after the Warriors failed to score in the final 53 seconds.
#1 Ray Allen - Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals
The Miami Heat's 'Big 3' of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh made it to four straight NBA Finals between 2011 and 2014, however, if not for Ray Allen's game-tying three-point shot in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals, the Heat would have just a single championship to show for their dominant era.
With the Heat 3-2 down in the series and just 11 seconds to play, James missed an open three, however, Bosh gathered the rebound to find Allen in the corner, who connected with a huge three despite an excellent defensive effort from Tony Parker. The three was enough to tie the game, and after going on to win in overtime, the Heat took home Game 7 to win their second consecutive NBA championship
