Fansided

30 best shots in NBA Playoffs history

By John Buhler

June 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) moves the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the second half in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
June 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) moves the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the second half in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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HOUSTON – MAY 29: Head Coach Jerry Sloan, Karl Malone #32 and John Stockton #12 of the Utah Jazz talk with Jim Gray against the Houston Rockets during Game Six of the Western Conference Finals on May 29, 1997 at the Summit in Houston, Texas. The Utah Jazz defeated the Houston Rockets 103-100. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON – MAY 29: Head Coach Jerry Sloan, Karl Malone #32 and John Stockton #12 of the Utah Jazz talk with Jim Gray against the Houston Rockets during Game Six of the Western Conference Finals on May 29, 1997 at the Summit in Houston, Texas. The Utah Jazz defeated the Houston Rockets 103-100. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /

16. John Stockton takes over versus Houston Rockets: 1997 Western Conference Finals, Game 6

John Stockton built a hall of fame career on his elite distribution and pick-pocketing skills. He was a fearless competitor into his early 40s for the Utah Jazz. While he made a living feeding power forward Karl Malone in the low post, his greatest moment in NBA history came on a shot he made with the ball in his hands.

Utah was tied with the Houston Rockets at 100 with 2.8 seconds left in Game 6 of the 1991 Western Conference Finals. The Jazz had the opportunity to in-bound the ball with a chance to win it.

Everybody on the Rockets defense keyed in on Malone and the other Jazz scorers, leaving Stockton laughably wide open to drain an uncontested three-pointer to send the Jazz to their first NBA Finals in franchise history.

Doing this in Houston was validation for the Jazz’s right to face Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in the 1997 NBA Finals. Houston had been the best team in the Western Conference for the last several years. Utah finally managed to get past the Western Conference goliath that was the Rockets and into the NBA Finals.

Though Utah didn’t win an NBA title that season or in the 1998 NBA Finals, this remains the greatest shot in Jazz basketball history. It’s only fitting that it came from their legendary pass-first point guard in Stockton.

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