NBA Playoffs: 30 best Game 7 performances in NBA Playoffs history

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Dikembe Mutombo (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images) /

Best Game 7 performances in NBA Playoffs history: 30. Dikembe Mutombo (2001)

Stat line:

23 points
19 rebounds
7 blocks

Dikembe Mutombo wasn’t a natural scorer. In fact, his teammates hated seeing him with the ball in his hands in scoring position. His highest points per game average came in his rookie year as he poured in 16.6 a night. His next highest is 13.8. Mutombo also had eight seasons in which he scored less than double figures, including seven straight.

Simply put, he wasn’t a scorer but he was a great rebounder and defender.

During the 2001 NBA Playoffs as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, Mutombo’s role was simple. Rebound, defend, block shots and don’t even look at the basket on offense, just give it to Allen Iverson. On most nights, that’s exactly what Mutombo d

id but during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks, Mutombo knew his MVP would need help.

Iverson may have scored 44 that night but it’s hard to argue that Mutombo didn’t have an equal impact as well. He somehow managed to score 23 points, pulled down a ridiculous 19 boards including eight on the offensive end. He then wrapped up his night by sending seven shots into the stands. The 76ers went on to win the game by 17. And while Iverson deserves all the credit in the world, let’s stop for a second and give Mutombo his flowers as well.