HONORABLE MENTIONS

2000 Western Conference Finals Game 7 – L.A. Lakers 89 Portland 84
The day the Earth stood still. That’s what it felt like after the Lakers finally broke through, after years of disappointment, to make the NBA Finals. For a while, it seemed they were going to choke and fall apart again, down 15 in the fourth quarter to what was probably the most talented team in the NBA (Portland) after blowing a 3-1 series lead.

The iconic lob from Kobe to Shaq punctuated a comeback that propelled the Lakers to three straight titles, and at the same time, broke the backs of this Blazer team. They never seriously challenged again. It could probably be higher simply because people were used to seeing the Lakers fall apart in the playoffs. No one would’ve been surprised had they blown a Game 7 at home.

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1992 NBA Finals Game 6 – Chicago 97 Portland 93
While it wasn’t as deep a comeback as a few others on his list, Chicago’s second team did the unthinkable: When Michael Jordan and the starters couldn’t, the backups came through in the final quarter against Portland to win a championship for the Bulls. Down 15 at the start of the quarter, players like Bobby Hansen, B.J. Armstrong and Stacey King were the difference between a second-straight title and an all-or-nothing Game 7.

2002 Western Conference Finals Game 4 – L.A. Lakers 100 Sacramento 99
Robert Horry. All I have to say…