Three Unforgettable NBA Playoff Moments

If you’re a fan of the NBA in general and the NBA playoffs in particular, chances are you can recite many of the best moments in the history of the postseason. It’s no surprise that every team can point to game- and/or series-changing plays, whether they’ve been on the right or “wrong” side of circumstance. 

As of this writing, during the early portion of the 2025 playoffs, some of those unforgettable moments were made by both current and past stars. 

3: 1970 NBA Finals Game 7

New York Knickerbockers’ captain Willis Reed, who suffered a torn muscle (right leg) two games earlier, limped onto the Madison Square Garden floor after taking an injection. Having missed the previous game, Reed willed his team to its first-ever title. Scoring just four early points, it was the captain’s presence spurring New York to a blowout win.

2: 1976 Finals Game 5

With the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns tied at two wins, this was a triple-overtime, Boston Garden epic with a season’s worth of twists and turns. If you remember the Suns’ Garfield Heard, think back to his buzzer-beater at the end of the second overtime. If you remember the Celtic reserve Glenn McDonald, think back to his very-late-game heroics as the Celtics staved off the Suns by two points en route to the title.

1: 1998 NBA Finals Game 6

It’s illegal to discuss greatness in the NBA Finals without mentioning Michael Jordan. The waning seconds of this Delta Center game saw Jordan muscle his way in between a John Stockton-to-Karl Malone pass before he “delicately” asked Jazz defender Bryon Russell to get out of the way. Jordan then hit a jumper as the Bulls completed their second three-peat.

That’s the three moments chosen by this author. There are many others on the NBA schedule.   

Has an NBA Team Ever Come Back From 3-0?

It’s not easy winning four NBA games in a row, especially in the playoffs. There’s no team to win a series after losing the first three games. Four times, however, a team has forced a seventh game, but lost it. So, no “reverse sweeps” as far as the NBA and NBA scores are concerned.

Which Teams Have Never Won a Title in the NBA?

At last count, there were 10 current teams/franchises without a title in the NBA. Alphabetically, the Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and Utah Jazz.

That’s exactly one-third of the league’s 30 teams. 

While these teams have had varying degrees of success in the NBA playoffs, there’s no title.

Does BetUS Have Constant Updates on NBA Teams’ Championship Betting Odds? 

Indeed. At the outset of the postseason in the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder were +175 favorites to win the title. Sitting second on the board were the defending-champion Boston Celtics (+190), then the Cleveland Cavaliers (+550, or 11-2). It was that way over the course of the season during the progression of the NBA standings. 

Any Final Thoughts?

If you can get past the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, and Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA championship odds of 2025, there is money to be made. Do your homework, starting with keeping tabs on tonight’s NBA game.