San Antonio Spurs: Greatest Playoff 3-Pointers Of The Tim Duncan Era
During the Tim Duncan era, the San Antonio Spurs have delivered some great playoff moments. Some of these moments have come from huge 3-pointers that either won games or forced overtime. While the Spurs have hit many big 3-pointers in the playoffs over the last 16 years, these are probably the five greatest and most meaningful playoff San Antonio Spurs 3-pointers of the Tim Duncan era:
5. Gary Neal‘s 3-pointer to force overtime against the Memphis Grizzlies: Game 5, 2011 Western Conference First Round
This was such a bittersweet shot. Bitter, because the Spurs had won 60 games that season as Coach Gregg Popovich successfully revamped the entire team’s identity as an offensive juggernaut. Even though the Spurs tore through the regular season, they found themselves down 3-1 to the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies. The Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph frontcourt were too much to handle for a very small Spurs team and would eventually eliminate the Spurs in Game 6. Only the second time in NBA history, an eighth-seeded team had eliminated a No. 1 seed in a seven-game first-round series. However this shot was sweet, because, holy hell what a shot. It looked like the Grizzlies were going to end the Spurs’ season in Game 5, at home. The Spurs were up most of the game until the fourth quarter when the Grizzlies took what appeared to be an insurmountable lead. But the Spurs would hit back to back incredible shots, first this one by Manu Ginobili, then the Gary Neal 3. Neal was a rookie that year. Granted Neal was a 26-year-old rookie who had been vetted through the European leagues, but still, a rookie. The way he caught the pass, squared up and nailed the shot as time expired and O.J. Mayo in his face is unbelievable. The Spurs went on to win the game.
4. Manu Ginobili’s game-winner against the Golden State Warriors: Second Overtime of Game 1, 2013 Western Conference Semifinals
This shot edges out Gary Neal’s shot for fourth place for several reasons. First, this was one of the greatest games in recent playoff history. Stephen Curry has a third quarter for the ages en route to a 44-point night. The Spurs were down by 16 points with just a few minutes left in the fourth quarter, but went on a wild, game-ending run to send the game into overtime. The game then goes into a second overtime and comes down to this possession by the Spurs. Manu Ginobili had an awful shooting night, but found himself wide open at the 3-point line after a huge defensive breakdown by the Golden State Warriors. Kawhi Leonard executed a perfect cross-court pass and Ginobili launched a beautiful rainbow 3-pointer as Kent Bazemore ran at him. Ginobili hit the shot and the Spurs went on to an improbable Game 1 victory.
3. Robert Horry‘s 3-pointer at the end of overtime against the Detroit Pistons: Game 5, 2005 NBA Finals
This shot capped an incredible game by Robert Horry. Robert Horry scored 21 points in the second half and hit what might possibly be the biggest “Big Shot Rob” shot of his career. The series was tied at 2-2 and entering Game 5, Detroit had all the momentum, having blown out the Spurs in the previous two games. But, as he has done so many times in his storied career, Robert Horry came through and hit that clutch 3-pointer to send the Spurs back to San Antonio with a 3-2 series lead and eventually to their third championship.
2. Tim Duncan’s 3-pointer at the end of overtime against the Phoenix Suns: Game 1, 2008 Western Conference First Round
This shot is No. 2 because of the sheer unlikeliness of the shot. Tim Duncan is a career 18 percent 3-point shooter. I do not know if Tim Duncan was supposed to be standing at the 3-point line to receive that pass, but as the defense collapsed on Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan was left wide open at the 3-point line. Manu hit Duncan with the pass and Timmy lined up and drained the game-tying 3-pointer from the break. The Spurs went on to win the game in the second overtime on this incredible Manu Ginobili shot.
1. Sean Elliott‘s Memorial Day Miracle Shot: Game 2, 1999 Western Conference Finals
This should be the undisputed greatest shot in San Antonio Spurs history, period. It is a shot of legend and lore around San Antonio and its anniversary is celebrated every year. At this point the San Antonio Spurs had never made it to the NBA Finals. They were up 1-0 on a feisty Portland Trail Blazers team that made it known that they thought they were much better than the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs were down the whole game, but rallied late in the fourth. With the Spurs still down two Coach Popovich ran a quick play for Sean Elliott to catch and shoot a 3-pointer out of the corner. However, the play did not go as planned, as the pass was nearly stolen and Elliott caught the ball almost out of bounds. As Elliott caught the pass, he squared up and had the wherewithal to keep his heels up. If Sean Elliott would have lowered his heels he would have stepped on the out-of-bounds line. Sean Elliott hit the shot and the Spurs went on to win the game, the series and their first NBA championship.