Image via Complex Original
Tonight we celebrate the halfway point of the NBA season and the birthday of Mark Price. The Cleveland Cavalier guard was one of the best three-point shooters in his day and he's also a two-time NBA Three-Point Shootout champion. Being that there aren't much of his highlight clips floating around the 'net, we decided to make a list of timely treys. We included everything from Reggie Miller's last game to John Paxson in the Finals. So, before the main events start tonight, peep the Most Clutch Three-Point Shots in NBA History.
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21. Kevin Durant Rocks the Lakers to Sleep
Event: Western Conference: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Los Angeles Lakers
Date: 5/19/2012
Game 4 of the 2012 West second round. Too. Fucking. Easy. Goodnight!
20. Ray Allen Does It Again
Event: Eastern Conference 1st Round: Chicago Bulls @ Boston Celtics
Date: 4/20/2009
In an unbelievable first round series in which the upstart 7th seed Bulls forced a seven game series on the already established 2nd seed Celtics, Ray Allen hits a three in Joakim Noah's grill to win Game 2. The curl play Doc Rivers ran out of the timeout was absolute genius. Larry Brown would be proud.
19. Tim Duncan Gives the Gift of Free Basketball
Event: Western Conference San Antonio Spurs vs. Phoenix Suns
Date: 4/19/2008
The Suns were so worried about Tony Parker and Manu, they forgot about Tim Duncan. The Big Fundamental calmly hit a three to send it into double OT. The Spurs won 117-115.
18. Paul Pierce Strikes Again
Event: Eastern Conference Finals: Boston Celtics @ Miami Heat
Date: 6/5/2012
Paul Pierce is cold-blooded. Here, he hits a three in LeBron's face and in front of the Heat home crowd that broke Miami's back. Boston lost in seven, but folks thought Miami were toast after Boston won Game 5.
17. Jason Kidd's Dagger vs. the Thunder
Event: Western Conference Finals: Dallas Mavericks @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Date: 5/23/2011
Not many people realize that Jason Kidd is only third behind shooters like Ray Allen and Reggie Miller in all time three-point field goals. When you're around as long a Jason is and play at the level he has always played at, anything is possible and being clutch comes with the territory.
16. Derek Fisher: Kobe's Saftey Blanket
Event: NBA Finals: LA Lakers @ Orlando Magic
Date: 6/11/2009
Derek Fisher always seems to hit the big shot at the right time. In the Finals with time winding down, the pressure seems to only help D-Fish do what he does best. With the Lakers up 2-1 on Orlando, it was necessary for the Magic to win Game 4, especially at home. Apparently, Fish didn't get the memo. He hits a three with about 30 seconds to go to give LA the win.
15. Mike Miller Goes Off
Event: NBA Finals: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Miami Heat
Date: 6/21/2012
Not Lebron, not Dwayne Wade, not Chris Bosh, but Mike Miller. He came off the bench and puts on a shooting clinic from behind the arch that could only possibly be matched by Ray Allen.
14. Reggie Over MJ
Event: Eastern Conference Finals: Chicago Bulls @ Indiana Pacers
Date: 5/25/1998
After loseing the first two games of the series in Chicago, Reggie and the Pacers came back home for Games Three and Four. Reggie was determined to do all he could to even the series up and he did just that. With countless clutch three pointers on his resume, Reggie shoved Michael Jordan (which he recently confessed too) to free himself up and hit the eventual game winner.
13. Elie's Kiss of Death
Event: Western Conference Semifinals: Houston Rockets @ Phoenix Suns
Date: 5/20/1995
After coming back from being down 3-1 in the series, Elie delivered this dose of ether to the Phoenix Suns and sealed Game 7 for the Rockets. Muah! ©Jadakiss
12. Ray Ray Sets an NBA Finals Record
Event: NBA Finals: Boston Celtics @ Los Angeles Lakers
Date: 6/6/2010
In Game 2 of the series, Ray Ray went off, shooting 8-11 from three-point land to set an NBA Finals record. D-Fish, Mamba, and the rest of the Lakers were left straight impotent: None of 'em could deliver good D.
11. L.J.'s Four-Point Play
Event: Eastern Conference Finals: Indiana Pacers @ New York Knicks
Date: 6/5/1999
Larry Johnson's three and the subsequent foul shot won Game 3 for the Knicks, who went on to win the series over the Pacers. One of the greatest moments in MSG history? You betcha. But was it a foul?
10. Ron Artest Beats the Celtics
Event: Eastern Conference Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics
Date: 6/17/2010
Unlikely hero, Ron Artest hits a trey to give Kobe his fifth ring. There was still a minute left, but Boston was unable to pick themselves up after this. To top it off, Ron blows a kiss to the Laker faithful.
9. Bron Bron is KING
Event: Eastern Conference Finals: Orlando Magic @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Date: 5/22/2009
Back before LeBron James became public enemy No. 1, he was giving Cleveland gems like this. Kind of like looking at pics of your ex who's still a dime, huh? Just let it burn, Cavs fans...
8. Memorial Day Miracle
Event: Western Conference Finals: Portland Trail Blazers @ San Antonio Spurs
Date: 5/31/1999
Sean Elliott's three in Game 2 made Portland fans weak in the knees way before dudes like Greg Oden and Brandon Roy came to town. Side bar: Peep Damon Stoudamire's Pusha T-face at the 2:08 mark. Eghck!
7. Reggie Miller Refuses to Die
Event: Eastern Conference First Round: Indiana Pacers @ New Jersey Nets
Date: 5/2/2002
Facing elimination and possibly the last game of his career, Reggie Miller hit a three from Giants Stadium to force a Game 5 overtime. The Nets ended up winning the game 120-109, but all everyone remember's was Reggie's heriocs. Classic end to a classic career.
6. Stockton Sends Jazz to the Finals
Event: Western Conference Finals: Utah Jazz @ Houston Rockets
Date: 5/27/1997
The legend who's most known for passing the rock made the biggest shot in Jazz history with this Game 6 buzzer-beater over Charles Barkley. Yo Chuck: IT'S CALLED DEFENSE. IT'S IN THE DICTIONARY.
5. Big Shot Rob Beheads the Sacramento Kings
Event: Western Conference Finals: Sacramento Kings @ Los Angeles Lakers
Date: 5/26/2002
In Game 4, Vlade Divac's tip was all Big Shot Rob needed to even the series and send Staples Center into pandemonium.
4. Jason Terry Puts the Nail in the Coffin
Event: NBA Finals: Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat
Date: 6/9/2011
When the Big Three teamed up in South Beach, they didn't think it was going to be that hard to win their first title. The battle-tested Mavericks proved them wrong. Jason Terry had no business burying that three over the King, but he did and the rest is history.
3. Paxson Bails Out the Bulls
Event: NBA Finals: Chicago Bulls @ Phoenix Suns
Date: 6/20/1993
So, when the Bulls needed a clutch shot to win the 1993 NBA title who did they go to? MJ? Pippen? Nope. They went to Pax, son!
2. Jerry West's 60-Footer
Event: NBA Finals: New York Knicks @ Los Angeles Lakers
Date: 4/29/1970
Though it didn't count for three, since the three-pointer wasn't made official until the 1979-80 season, there's no denying Mr. Clutch on this list. Hitting a 60-foot shot (regulation three-pointer is about 24) with less than three seconds on the clock is only worth two measly points? FOH.
1. Miller Time
Event: Eastern Conference Semifinals: Indiana Pacers @ New York Knicks
Date: 5/7/1995
This clip still sends Knicks fans into convulsions. Miller scored six points in five seconds, and would go on to score eight points in nine seconds to give the Pacers a Game 1 victory. The Pacers went on to win the series in seven games. Good enough for an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, and good enough for No. 1 on this list. But is Reggie Reg a better overall player than Ray Ray? We'll leave that up to you.