1. Lakers vs Celtics – Game 4 – 1987 NBA Finals: Magic’s Baby Hook
So we are down to number one. What a surprise, it’s Magic Johnson.
The Lakers and Boston Celtics form the NBA’s all-time best rivalry. It’s arguably the greatest rivalry in sports, but that’s another conversation for a different day.
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The Celtics had historically owned the Lakers in the NBA Finals, until the Lakers finally broke the streak in 1985.
Game 4 was in Boston and the Lakers had a 2-1 lead entering the game. The Celtics got up early and led 55-47 at halftime. Boston’s lead got up to 16 at one point, but the Lakers cut the deficit to seven as they entered the final period.
Both teams fought and the game was coming down to the wire. The Celtics were up 106-105 with about seven seconds remaining in the game. What followed was one of the most clutch moments in NBA Finals history.
Magic got the ball near the left sideline and Kevin McHale was on him. Magic drove towards the middle of the key where McHale and Robert Parrish were there to meet him. Johnson then shot a baby hook and he hit nothing but net. The Lakers were now up 107-106.
Surprisingly, Larry Bird got a wide open look from the corner, but he could not hit the three. The Lakers went up 3-1 and closed out the series in Game 6 with a 13 point victory in Los Angeles.
Once again, the Lakers had won the NBA championship at the expense of the Boston Celtics.