NBA Playoffs 2011: Last Decade's 10 Most Exciting Overtime Games
May 26, 2011NBA Playoffs 2011: Last Decade's 10 Most Exciting Overtime Games
This postseason has brought us a plethora of exciting and absolutely mind-blowing games.
The last decade has provided us with a great source of entertainment when it comes to overtime games.
In no particular order, here is my ranking of the 10 most exciting games of the last decade that went into the extra frame.
Game 6, 2009 Eastern Conference First Round
Every NBA fan remembers this game.
It was a 3-2 series leads for the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference's first round, but the Chicago Bulls simply wouldn't go away.
It was the fourth game of the set that headed to extra periods, and this one was the most exciting because it provided us with a triple-overtime thriller.
Joakim Noah's three-point play sealed a 128-127 victory.
Ray Allen led all scorers with an astounding 51 points.
Game 5, 2007 Eastern Conference Finals
This game could perhaps be the one where LeBron James sealed his legacy as an all-time great.
With the series tied at two and a trip to the NBA Finals on the line, James scored the final 25 points for the otherwise-mediocre Cavaliers, including all the overtime points.
The Cavs won the game in the closing seconds of the second extra frame.
Game 4, 2009 Eastern Conference First Round
You didn't think this series was over, did you?
While Game 6 definitely was the most exciting, that's not to say the fourth installment wasn't great either.
20-year-old Derrick Rose led the Bulls to a double-overtime win, effectively evening the series at two.
Game 4, 2011 Western Conference Finals
A picture is worth a thousand words, so instead of waxing poetically about how Dirk Nowitzki led an epic comeback from 15 points down to take the game into overtime and win it easily, I'll show you the picture.
Oops. I guess I just spilled the beans.
Game 5, 2009 Eastern Conference First Round
What is this blasphemy? Three games out of one series in the slideshow!
In the all-time greatest first-round series, there were seven overtimes in as many games.
This one took place in Game 5, where the already-gassed teams played one of the closest battles ever.
Neither team held a double-digit lead, and the C's emerged victorious at the hands of Rajon Rondo's 28 points and 11 assists.
Game 4, 2009 NBA Finals
With a roster featuring the likes of Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol, no one expected Derek Fisher to drill the game-winning shot in overtime.
Yet he did, boosting the Lakers to a 94-91 lead in overtime of Game 4 of the 2009 NBA Finals.
The victory gave Los Angeles a 3-1 series lead.
Game 5, 2004 Eastern Conference Finals
Brian Scalabrine was the hero of this game, putting 17 on the board in overtime to help the Nets take a 3-2 series lead.
After the Pistons hit a buzzer-beater to send the game into overtime, the "White Mamba" seized control and orchestrated a 127-120 victory that saw two extra frames.
Game 4, 2011 Western Conference Semifinals
This game was an absolute thriller, and it's a shame half the country was sleeping when it ended around 1:45 a.m. EST.
Nonetheless, a game that seemed to fall out of the both the Thunders' and Grizzlies' hands came to a halt in triple overtime when Oklahoma City came out of nowhere and sealed the deal with a 133-123 victory.
It was exciting in the process, though. Three buzzer-beaters were barely missed by the two clubs.
Marc Gasol had 26 points and 21 rebounds, and Zach Randolph had 34 points and boards—and they lost.
Game 1, 2001 NBA Finals
Allen Iverson put on one of the greatest playoff performances of the last decade when he scored 48 points in Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals.
In a game the Sixers won, lost, and won again, all within the span of 24 minutes, Iverson remained calm and hit every big shot he needed to, and Philly won in overtime by a score of 107-101.
Game 7, 2002 Western Conference Finals
You didn't think I was leaving this one off the list?
As controversial as it may be, Game 7 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals might be the most exciting game of the last decade.
There were 19 lead changes in the game, and the Lakers edged the Kings by a score of 112-106.
Mike Bibby of Sacramento proclaimed there would be more playoff games between the two, but there hasn't been one since.