The Most Dramatic Final Moments in NBA History

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These are the most dramatic last-minute moments in NBA history. And first, the time the Sacramento Kings had everybody paying attention again. It's March 2023 The Kings are tied 114-114 on the road against the Chicago Bulls. The clock is winding down. No timeouts, no time to waste. One shot decides it. And who better than DeAndre Fox?
It's a moment of wizardry. But what Luka Donchis did December night in 2022 was historic. Mazz vs. Nix. Dallas is down by 9 points with just over half a minute left in regulation. A deficit most teams can't call back from. But Luka isn't most guys. He goes to work. The Nicks think they've got it locked. They've defended. They've led. They've controlled momentum. Then Luka forces a turnover. Then a three. Then another bucket. The Mazz are coming back. Then it happens. With 15 seconds left, he has a free throw to tie up the game, complete the comeback, and get his 50th point. And Luka, he just wants to do it the hard way.

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And that true rim, it's still Luka, he got it back.

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The commentators can barely keep up. The match is hurled into overtime, where Luka finishes the masterpiece. By the end, he's dropped 60 points, 21 rebounds, 10 assists. The first 60 point triple-double in NBA history. That man is built different. But so are the Bulls. And even though the Kings may have stolen one against them, they are a team built on big time moments. I mean, y'all don't even need me to tell you about this one.

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Chicago with the lead!

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Yeah, we know the story, but what happened two days before Christmas in 2022 was straight up crazy. The Bulls vs. Knicks at the United Center. The game's hanging by a thread, 112 to 112 It's anyone's game. Julius Randall bullies his way into the paint and grabs the bucket, securing the foul and putting the Knicks ahead by three.
Then it's an end-to-end game of all misses and no hits, as each team fails to score and it ends with a foul on Grimes and two at the line for the Knicks. But Grimes, he decides to hand the Bulls a get out of jail free card and fold at the line.

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This man is fearless though, misses both.

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It's still on.

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On the drive, goes inside, layup is good.

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Time's running out, but there's still hope, until RJ. Barrett lands a hammer blow with 30 seconds on the clock.

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Gets inside, the runner's up. It's good!

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Levine takes the Bulls up to 116 with just six seconds left. The Knicks are point ahead and going to the line for two free throws. It looks like a little too late, but the spirit of MJ must have still been in the air in this arena or something, as what happened next is completely crazy.

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This is another! And DeRozan the rebound!

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Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau can't believe it. A gift wrapped one last chance for the Bulls. And at the death, DeMar DeRozan does this.

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It's good! And a foul!

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The Knicks are heartbroken. The Bulls are in delirium. The crowd doesn't know what the heck they just witnessed. It's just in the blood. But speaking of heartbreak, no team knows that pain quite like the 2009 Orlando match. See, they weren't even expected to make the finals, let alone beat Kobe's Lakers, once they got there. The White Howard and company had already shocked the world by taking out LeBron's Cavaliers, but against the top seed of Lakers, they were clear underdogs. But in game two at the Staples Center, their chance came. It's 86-86 in the last minute of the fourth quarter, when Jiro Turcalu nails a jumper to put Orlando up by two.

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Turcalu looking. Turcalu pulls up, puts it up, knocks it down! A two-pointer for Turcalu!

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Suddenly, the door cracks open, but Paul Gasol ties it at 88 The Lakers have possession with nine seconds left on the clock. Kobe gets the ball and drives in. Somehow, magic stops him. The magic call timeout. Kobe storms back to the bench, and it looks certain he was going to kill the game. But a giant hand from Turcalu denies him. The magic have 0.6 seconds left to try to pull off a major upset away from home. And here's the thing. They really should have. It was right there. Courtney Lee makes a bold run onto the paint, and Turcalu plays the perfect pass. Time stands still. Lee flies through the air, leaps to convert the alley you and misses. Buzzer goes before Howard can put in a rebound. Nobody can believe he missed it. It was the perfect play. And even though it's hard to tell over that mask, you know Courtney Lee is fuming. Overtime arrives, the Lakers tighten up, and they win the game. From there, they never look back, taking the series and the championship. With the Orlando Magic, it was almost, but not quite. But I think it's time we talk about the villains themselves, because the Lakers have always been collecting rival tiers like it's second nature. And with some of the most clutch players in history, they've got too many big moments to pick from. I mean, where do I start? Kobe? That man was a demon on the court. 2000 Finals, game four, Lakers vs. Pacers. Shaq fouls out in overtime. It looks like the Pacers might steal it, seize control of the series. But Kobe Bryant, just 21 years old, takes over.