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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PORTLAND, OR – 1985: Ralph Sampson #50 of the Houston Rockets walks to the bench against the Portland Trailblazers circa 1985 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. 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 1985 NBAE (Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – 1985: Ralph Sampson #50 of the Houston Rockets walks to the bench against the Portland Trailblazers circa 1985 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. 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 1985 NBAE (Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images) /

9. Ralph Sampson dethrones Los Angeles Lakers at the buzzer: 1986 Western Conference Finals, Game 5

When the Houston Rockets went back-to-back with collegiate standout centers with consecutive No. 1 overall picks, some ripped Houston, questioning how Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson would play together on the court?

It only took a few years before those critics realized that Houston was on the cusp of something special. Sampson’s promising NBA career took a turn for the worse due to injuries in the late 1980s, but before that he delivered the first clutch shot in Clutch City’s history.

Houston was up 3-1 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals versus the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. The game was tied at 112 with one second left on the clock. Olajuwon had been ejected and Houston had one shot at an in-bounds play to reach the NBA Finals.

Sampson would receive the in-bounds pass and launch a twisting, turnaround jumper to send the Rockets to the NBA Finals. Given that Los Angeles would win five NBA Finals during the Showtime era, this was one of the bigger series upsets of the 1980s.

Houston would go on to lose to the Boston Celtics in the 1986 NBA Finals in six games, but it wasn’t because of Sampson’s play. He still earned Springfield enshrinement for his prolific basketball career. Sampson and Bill Walton are two of the most physically gifted centers in NBA history. It’s a shame neither could stay healthy.

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