On the NBA calendar, May 7 is a date which lives in basketball infamy.
Let’s start with how on this 17 years ago today, then-Philadelphia 76er Allen Iverson ranted for nearly 15 minutes about practice in a clip that went viral before going viral was really even a thing.
Also on this date in 1995, Indiana’s Reggie Miller scored eight points (two three-pointers, two free throws) over the final 16.4 seconds of a game at Madison Square Garden to shut Spike Lee up and lead the Pacers to a 107-105 over the Knicks. The Pacers went on to win the Eastern Conference Semifinal series in seven games.
On this date 25 years ago, the Denver Nuggets made NBA history when they became the first No. 8 seed to oust a No. 1 seed in a five-game playoff series. Led by Dikembe Mutombo, Denver won the last three games of their series against the Seattle SuperSonics, including the clinching contest 98-94 in overtime.
Dikembe Mutombo’s celebration for shocking 1 seed Sonics is No. 21 in #NBArank Best Playoff Vines https://t.co/TpAotb1yV9
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 26, 2016
And finally, on this date 30 years ago, Michael Jordan hit what has since become known as “The Shot” in the fifth and decisive game of a first-round playoff series. On the play, with his team trailing by one, No. 23 drove inside the top of the key and nailed an 18-footer over the fingertips of leaping Cleveland Cavaliers’ defender Craig Ehlo. The fallaway jumper secured a 101-100 victory for Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.
Tonight, with both second-round playoff series tied at two games apiece, the 76ers will take on the Raptors in Toronto and the Trail Blazers will take on the Nuggets in Denver.
If past history is any indication, it should shape up to be a pretty entertaining night of basketball.
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