2. LeBron James against the Orlando Magic (Game 2 ECF 2009)
After winning the Eastern Conference Finals in 2007 and losing the Conference Finals in 2008, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers were in the Conference Finals once again looking to book a NBA Finals spot. However thier job was easier said than done with their opponent the Orlando Magic being no pushovers. The Magic took Game 1 on the home court of the Cavs and led Game 2 by a point with just over a second left.
Everybody knew James was going to get the ball yet, nobody could stop him from knocking down this crazy fading three pointer for the win. The buzzer beater helped Cleveland square the series as the headed to Orlando for Games 3 and 4 but couldn’t help them win the series. The Cavaliers fell short in the Conference for the second season in a row as the Magic wrapped it up in 6 games.
While LeBron’s free agency talks took over after the series loss, his game-winner wasn’t forgotten for a long time. Here it is:
1. Damian Lillard against the Houston Rockets (Game 6 West First Round 2014)
The Portland Trailblazers hadn’t won a Playoff series since 2000. In Game 6 of their first-round match-up with the Houston Rockets, they were 2 points down with just 0.9 second left on the game clock. Given the number of fourth quarter points he had and the number of game winning buzzer beaters he had during the regular season, it didn’t take a genius to know that sophomore Damian Lillard was going to get the ball.
He navigated his way past two screens at the three point line and knocked down a fading three-pointer to send his team into the second round of the Playoffs for the first time in 14 years. There are not many cases like this but not only was his shot a game winner but it was a series clincher as the Portland eliminated Houston 4-2.
Watch the 23 years old clutch shot, its the top Playoff buzzer beater of the last 10 years:
Guess the Bulls players in this quiz and it's not going to be easy!
