The Best NBA Playoff Game-Winners of the Last Decade

Last-second winning shots quickly become one of the most iconic parts of the NBA playoffs every year.

The moment we say Damian Lillard, basketball fans conjure up memories of his buzzer-beaters in two separate postseasons. Or if we mention Kyrie Irving, a replay of a championship-deciding triple pops into our brains.

Clutch buckets in the playoffs are not soon forgotten.

While the choices and order are subjective, the primary factor is the context of a given series. For example, Game 7 moments or other series-deciding games have the highest stakes. The result of a matchup—as in, which team advanced—is also considered.

The shots are not necessarily buzzer-beaters, but each one happened in the closing minute of a game.

8. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers (2020)

During his first season with the franchise, Anthony Davis placed the Los Angeles Lakers on a championship track.

Los Angeles toppled the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the 2020 Western Conference Finals behind a 37-point performance from Davis. Then, he propelled the Lakers to a thrilling victory in Game 2.

While scoring a game-high 31 points, Davis buried a winning three at the buzzer. Denver held a 103-102 edge with 2.1 seconds left, but Davis lofted his triple over the outstretched right arm of Nuggets star Nikola Jokic to give the Lakers a valuable 105-103 triumph.

Los Angeles took a 2-0 series lead, dispatched the Nuggets in five games and soon beat the Miami Heat for the NBA title.

7. Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns (2021)

One year later, the Phoenix Suns stunned the Los Angeles Clippers in oddly similar fashion. Phoenix trailed 103-102 with 0.9 seconds remaining in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.

Just a little déjà vu, you know?

However, the Suns celebrated their victory in a particularly unique way. Jae Crowder lofted an in-bounds pass above the rim—mere centimeters beyond Ivica Zubac's desperate reach—and Phoenix center Deandre Ayton dunked the ball as time expired.

Thanks to the 104-103 victory, the Suns grabbed a 2-0 series lead and later advanced to the 2021 NBA Finals. Phoenix would fall to the Milwaukee Bucks but reached the Finals for the first time in 28 years.

6. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (2015 ESF)

If the series had ended the opposite way, we'd probably see Derrick Rose here. He drilled a buzzer-beating three against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of this 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The King, however, padded his legacy instead.

In an 84-all deadlock with 1.5 seconds on the clock in Game 4, LeBron James received an in-bounds pass, rose and fired a fadeaway jumper over Jimmy Butler. The shot splashed through the net, handing the Cavaliers an 86-84 triumph that evened the series at 2-2.

Perhaps the Cavs would've won in overtime anyway, but LeBron's shot ensured they'd return to Cleveland not facing a 3-1 deficit.

Cleveland took the next two games, swept the Atlanta Hawks and headed to the NBA Finals for the first of four consecutive matchups with the Golden State Warriors.

5. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers (2015)

One round earlier in the 2015 postseason, Chris Paul eliminated the reigning-champion San Antonio Spurs with a Game 7 dagger.

And it might've been the only fitting way to end an epic battle.

The game featured 31 lead changes and 16 ties, the last of which CP3 broke on his ridiculous shot with a second left. Most impressively, Paul banked in the winner over Tim Duncan while dealing with a hamstring injury that had visibly limited him throughout the night.

Los Angeles squeezed out a memorable 111-109 victory and advanced to the second round. Unfortunately for the Clippers, they squandered a 3-1 series advantage and bowed out to the Houston Rockets.

4. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers (2014)

Damian Lillard wasted no time making an impact with the Portland Trail Blazers, earning first-team All-Rookie honors in 2012-13.

The next season, he formally became a franchise icon.

During the first round of the 2014 postseason, Lillard helped the Blazers take a 3-2 series lead on Houston. Late in Game 6, however, the Rockets held a 98-96 edge and had a chance to force a Game 7 in Houston.

With only 0.9 seconds to play, Lillard went tearing around two screens to separate from Chandler Parsons, created space and dropped in a series-deciding triple at the buzzer.

Portland sent the Rockets home, advancing to second round of the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.

3. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers (2019)

Once is nice, twice is better.

Lillard's reputation was well-established by the 2019 season, but his Portland legacy grew in the opening round. Yet again, he closed out a series with a buzzer-beater three.

This time around, Dame buried a preposterous shot to eliminate the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5. For nearly the final 10 seconds of a 115-all game, he simply dribbled near the half-court line. He had plenty of time to attack the basket but never did, instead choosing to launch a pull-up trifecta from 37 feet over Paul George.

For you and me, that's a miserable look. Lillard, though, hardly touched the rim on his iconic, winning shot.

Portland knocked out OKC, clipped the Nuggets in the second round and lost to the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.

2. Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors (2019)

Shortly after Lillard's heroics, Kawhi Leonard managed to hit an even greater shot. Considering what the Toronto Raptors later accomplished, this is also the defining moment of their postseason run.

With a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals at stake, the Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers faced a 90-90 tie in Game 7. Toronto had possession with just 4.2 seconds left.

Everyone in the building knew the Raptors wanted the ball in Kawhi's hands. Would he make one final shot?

Leonard received an in-bounds pass at the top of the perimeter. Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid played good defense, ushering him toward the right corner with Embiid contesting Kawhi's leaning fadeaway at the buzzer. The shot clanged the rim. But it bounced again.

And again. And a fourth time. And then finally went in.

The friendly roll catapulted the Raptors into the ECF, where they defeated the Bucks before dethroning the Warriors in the NBA Finals.

1. Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers (2016)

The situation was a classic backyard scenario: Game 7 of the NBA Finals. All tied up. The defending-champ Warriors had an opportunity to cap a record-breaking 73-win season with another title.

Cleveland ruined the party, though.

LeBron James recorded a 27-point triple-double and made his clutch, memorable chase-down block. But the winning shot belonged to co-star Kyrie Irving, who drilled a tie-breaking three with 53 seconds left in the decisive game to stun the Warriors in their own building.

Two defensive stops later, the Cavs celebrated the franchise's first-ever championship—and snapped what had been a 52-year drought without a major sports title in the city.

Irving has a complicated legacy in Cleveland, but he also left an unforgettable, trophy-winning mark.