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Top 15 Super Bowl Sunday Performances In NBA History

By Phil Watson

Feb 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; General view of the Blue Angels during a fly over at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; General view of the Blue Angels during a fly over at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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BOSTON – FEBRUARY 01: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics talks to Al Jefferson #25 of Minnesota Timberwolves after the game on February 1, 2009 at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-101. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON – FEBRUARY 01: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics talks to Al Jefferson #25 of Minnesota Timberwolves after the game on February 1, 2009 at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-101. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

14. Al Jefferson, Minnesota Timberwolves at Boston Celtics, Feb. 1, 2009

Two teams moving in vastly opposite directions came together at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston on Super Bowl Sunday in 2009, with the Minnesota Timberwolves—losers of two in a row and just 16-29 on the season—came to visit the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics, who came in riding a 10-game winning streak and were a sterling 39-9.

Minnesota big man Al Jefferson had been the centerpiece of a 2007 trade that sent former MVP Kevin Garnett to Boston and this would be Jefferson’s second trip back to the city where his NBA career began.

Predictably, the Celtics jumped out to a big early lead and were up 62-44 at the half, despite 16 points from Jefferson.

Jefferson lit up Boston in the third period, scoring 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting, but Minnesota was only able to cut into their deficit a little and still trailed 87-73 entering the final period. The Celtics held on for a 109-101 win.

But Jefferson had a huge day, scoring 34 points on 15-of-21 shooting to go with 11 rebounds and four blocked shots.

Big Classic’s season came to a premature end a week later, when he sustained a torn ACL in a loss at New Orleans and missed the final 32 games. In the 50 games he appeared, he averafed 23.1 points, 11 boards and 1.7 blocks in 36.7 minutes per game, shooting .497/0-for-4/.738.

In a thrilling Super Bowl XLIII that night at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium, MVP Santonio Holmes caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger with 42 seconds remaining to lift the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Next: Rudy T. Has A Career Day In Toronto