Hoops Habit
Fansided

25 Greatest Performances In NBA Finals History

By Bill Speros

PHILADELPHIA, PA - May 16: Earvin Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with team owner Jerry Buss after they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA finals 4 games to 2 on May 16, 1980 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Johnson played for the Lakers from 1979 - 91, 96. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - May 16: Earvin Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with team owner Jerry Buss after they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA finals 4 games to 2 on May 16, 1980 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Johnson played for the Lakers from 1979 - 91, 96. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 26
Next
BOSTON – UNDATED: Boston Celtics’ John Havlicek #17 dribbles the ball down court against the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at the Boston Garden circa 1970’s in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
BOSTON – UNDATED: Boston Celtics’ John Havlicek #17 dribbles the ball down court against the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at the Boston Garden circa 1970’s in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

22. John Havlicek, Boston vs. Milwaukee, Game 6 (1974)

History and the voice of Johnny Most have defined John Havlicek’s most infamous play at the moment where he stepped in front of Hal Greer and “stole the ball” from Philadelphia in the 1965 Eastern Division Finals.

Nine years later, Havlicek delivered an encore of sorts with one of the greatest single-game performances in NBA Finals history.

In the 1974 Finals against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Bucks, Havlicek almost single-handedly won Game 6 in the Boston Garden, scoring 36 points in a 102-101 double-overtime loss to Milwaukee.

He sent the game into both overtimes and put the Celtics ahead by one in the second overtime, hitting four of Boston’s final five baskets, before Kareem hit his famous sky-hook to send the series back to Milwaukee.

The Celtics won Game 7 in Beer City as Dave Cowens scored 28 and Hondo added 16 in clinching series MVP honors. The Bucks would deal Jabbar the following year and have not been back to the NBA Finals since.

Next: Setting The Tone