What does it take to produce one of the best plays in NBA history? If posterizing dunks, buzzer beating game winners and brutal power is your thing, then you’re at the right place.<\/p>\n
We took a list of Sports Illustrated’s favorite moments<\/a>, took into consideration the internet’s most timeless NBA moments<\/a> and factored in the importance of each play to work out the 10 best plays in NBA history.<\/p>\n The Boston Celtics came up against Detroit’s “Bad Boys” in the 1987 Eastern Conference finals. With the series locked at two-all, a win for Detroit would have led to a likely series clinching Game 6 at home. With five seconds left, Detroit’s Isiah Thomas was inbounding the ball from the sideline.<\/p>\n Bird caught a quick glance at Thomas looking toward Bill Laimbeer in the low post an instant before he released the ball. Bird instinctively launched himself to intercept the ball. It looked like his momentum would take him out of bounds but he gathered his balance at the baseline.<\/p>\n Bird then spotted Dennis Johnson making a cut and passed it to him with Johnson sinking the layup with one second remaining. The Celtics went on to win the series in seven games and advanced to the NBA Finals where they lost to the Lakers in six games.<\/p>\n 36 years ago today… Larry Legend \ud83c\udf40<\/p>\n Larry Bird gets the last-second steal and dishes to Dennis Johnson to secure the win for Boston!#NBAVault<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/P6LiGtNko3<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 26, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n10. Larry Bird’s Steal<\/h3>\n
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