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When the NBA stars align
LeBron James played arguably the finest game of his career in Miami’s Game 6 victory over Boston on Thursday night, becoming the first player to record 45 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a playoff contest since Wilt Chamberlain in 1964.
That 98-79 win set the stage for Saturday’s Game 7 win, which sent the Heat to the NBA Finals for the second straight season. With James about to lead Miami to Oklahoma City for a much-anticipated matchup, Express-News staff writer Dan McCarney takes a look at other signature playoff performances over the years from the NBA’s best. (Charles Krupa / Associated Press)
CHARLES BARKLEY, SUNS
Stat line: 44 points, 24 rebounds
Result: 123-110 over SuperSonics
When: Game 7, 1993 West finals
Details: Sir Charles had struggled in Game 6, scoring just 13 points on 4-for-14 shooting two days after recording a monster triple-double. He bounced back in a huge way with the season on the line, setting a career playoff high for rebounds and coming within three of his postseason scoring best to lead the Suns to the Finals. (Vince Bucci / AFP/Getty Images)
TIM DUNCAN, SPURS
Stat line: 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, eight blocked shots
Result: 88-77 over Nets
When: Game 6, 2003 NBA Finals
Details: Duncan saved the best of his remarkable 2003 playoffs for last with perhaps the greatest closeout performance in NBA history. The near quadruple-double — which would have been the first in postseason annals — brought his gaudy playoff averages to 25 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and 3.3 blocks. (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
MAGIC JOHNSON, LAKERS
Stat line: 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists
Result: 123-107 over 76ers
When: Game 6, 1980 NBA Finals
Details: A misnomer about this legendary performance: Johnson jumped the opening tip, but did not actually replace the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at center. He more than made up for the reigning MVP’s production, however, leading the Lakers to a road victory with a quintessentially magical display of versatility. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
MICHAEL JORDAN, BULLS
Stat line: 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists
Result: 90-88 over Jazz
When: Game 5, 1997 NBA Finals
Details: For all his majesty, what made Jordan truly great was his relentless competitive drive. That was the only thing that kept him going during the famous “Flu Game,” carrying Chicago to a two-point road victory despite a debilitating intestinal virus. Scottie Pippen helped his teammate walk off the court at game’s end in one of the more indelible images in NBA history. (Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images)
DIRK NOWITZKI, MAVERICKS
Stat line: 48 points, 12 of 15 field goals, 24 of 24 free throws, six rebounds, four assists, four blocks
Result: 121-112 over Thunder
When: Game 1, 2011 West finals
Details: There have been more than 2,500 playoff outings with at least 25 true shot attempts (field goals and free throws) in the shot-clock era. None were more efficient than the one registered by Nowitzki, whose 93.9 true shooting percentage broke the previous record by more than 10 points. (Eric Gay / Associated Press)
HAKEEM OLAJUWON, ROCKETS
Stat line: 39 points, 17 rebounds, five blocked shots
Result: 100-95 over Spurs
When: Game 6, 1995 West finals
Details: The Dream had plenty of gaudier performances, including one of four quadruple-doubles on record and six “five-by-fives” (at least five in the five major statistical categories). But on the postseason stage, he put the finishing touch on a legendary series in which he averaged 35.3 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.2 blocks against David Robinson and the Spurs. (Jeff Haynes / AFP/Getty Images)
BILL RUSSELL, CELTICS
Stat line: 30 points, 40 rebounds
Result: 110-107 (OT) over Lakers
When: Game 7, 1962 NBA Finals
Details: Russell’s teams were 10 for 10 in Game 7s, and performances like this were a big reason why. Russell, the most prolific winner in the history of United States professional sports, simply refused to let Boston lose with a Finals single-game record for rebounds. He likely would have had more than a few blocks had they been recorded at the time. (Associated Press file photo)
By Dan McCarney
LeBron James played arguably the finest game of his career in Miami’s Game 6 victory over Boston on Thursday night, becoming the first player to record 45 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a playoff contest since Wilt Chamberlain in 1964.
That 98-79 win set the stage for Saturday’s Game 7 win, which sent the Heat to the NBA Finals for the second straight season. With James about to lead Miami to Oklahoma City for a much-anticipated matchup, Express-News staff writer Dan McCarney takes a look at other signature playoff performances over the years from the NBA’s best.
CHARLES BARKLEY, SUNS
Stat line: 44 points, 24 rebounds
Result: 123-110 over SuperSonics
When: Game 7, 1993 West finals
Details: Sir Charles had struggled in Game 6, scoring just 13 points on 4-for-14 shooting two days after recording a monster triple-double. He bounced back in a huge way with the season on the line, setting a career playoff high for rebounds and coming within three of his postseason scoring best to lead the Suns to the Finals.
TIM DUNCAN, SPURS
Stat line: 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, eight blocked shots
Result: 88-77 over Nets
When: Game 6, 2003 NBA Finals
Details: Duncan saved the best of his remarkable 2003 playoffs for last with perhaps the greatest closeout performance in NBA history. The near quadruple-double — which would have been the first in postseason annals — brought his gaudy playoff averages to 25 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and 3.3 blocks.
MAGIC JOHNSON, LAKERS
Stat line: 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists
Result: 123-107 over 76ers
When: Game 6, 1980 NBA Finals
Details: A misnomer about this legendary performance: Johnson jumped the opening tip, but did not actually replace the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at center. He more than made up for the reigning MVP’s production, however, leading the Lakers to a road victory with a quintessentially magical display of versatility.
MICHAEL JORDAN, BULLS
Stat line: 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists
Result: 90-88 over Jazz
When: Game 5, 1997 NBA Finals
Details: For all his majesty, what made Jordan truly great was his relentless competitive drive. That was the only thing that kept him going during the famous “Flu Game,” carrying Chicago to a two-point road victory despite a debilitating intestinal virus. Scottie Pippen helped his teammate walk off the court at game’s end in one of the more indelible images in NBA history.
DIRK NOWITZKI, MAVERICKS
Stat line: 48 points, 12 of 15 field goals, 24 of 24 free throws, six rebounds, four assists, four blocks
Result: 121-112 over Thunder
When: Game 1, 2011 West finals
Details: There have been more than 2,500 playoff outings with at least 25 true shot attempts (field goals and free throws) in the shot-clock era. None were more efficient than the one registered by Nowitzki, whose 93.9 true shooting percentage broke the previous record by more than 10 points.
HAKEEM OLAJUWON, ROCKETS
Stat line: 39 points, 17 rebounds, five blocked shots
Result: 100-95 over Spurs
When: Game 6, 1995 West finals
Details: The Dream had plenty of gaudier performances, including one of four quadruple-doubles on record and six “five-by-fives” (at least five in the five major statistical categories). But on the postseason stage, he put the finishing touch on a legendary series in which he averaged 35.3 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.2 blocks against David Robinson and the Spurs.
BILL RUSSELL, CELTICS
Stat line: 30 points, 40 rebounds
Result: 110-107 (OT) over Lakers
When: Game 7, 1962 NBA Finals
Details: Russell’s teams were 10 for 10 in Game 7s, and performances like this were a big reason why. Russell, the most prolific winner in the history of United States professional sports, simply refused to let Boston lose with a Finals single-game record for rebounds. He likely would have had more than a few blocks had they been recorded at the time.
dmccarney@express-news.net