Every NBA team’s greatest playoff moment

Utah Jazz: John Stockton pulls through (1997 Western Conference Finals, Game 6)

In Utah and throughout the NBA-watching world, the franchise’s history is almost unanimously associated with John Stockton and Karl Malone. The duo didn’t exactly do much to revolutionize the way the pick-and-roll is run. But what the pair was able to do was perfect the simplest set in the game and forge Hall-of-Fame careers as a result of that. However, that set wasn’t a factor in the greatest playoff moment for the Jazz.

Facing the Houston Rockets in the 1997 Western Conference Finals, the Jazz went up 2-0 in the series before giving up the next two to even the series. Picking up a win in Utah, the Jazz had no plans of going back home. Though they fell behind at halftime, they fought back in the second half.

With the game tied at 100 with 2.8 seconds remaining, the Jazz had the ball on a side inbounds. At the top of the key, Malone set a screen to free up Stockton, who received the pass halfway between midcourt and the top of the key. The NBA’s assist king then stepped up to the 3-point line and, over the outstretched arm of Charles Barkley, drilled the triple as time expired to get the Jazz to the Finals.

Of course, Utah would suffer heartbreak at the hands of Jordan’s Bulls in the 1997 and 98 Finals. However, getting over the hump with Stockton and Malone on a play like that is something fans in Utah will not soon forget.