In the world of basketball, there's nothing quite like a buzzer-beater to send fans into a frenzy. Two such moments came in the 2021-22 NBA season, with Luka Dončić of the Dallas Mavericks and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors both delivering game-changing shots in their respective playoff series. While both shots were impressive in their own right, a comparison of the two reveals which one stands out as the more iconic moment.
In Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Clippers, Dončić's shot was a moment of pure drama. With time winding down and the Mavericks trailing by two points, Dončić attempted to drive the lane to tie things up. However, his approach was cut off by Clippers center Ivica Zubac, who peeled away from his original defender to stop Dončić from getting an easy bucket.
Seeing this, Dončić reversed course and decided to go for the win. He dribbled back out behind the arc and fired up a possible game-winner. The shot hit the rim just in front of the backboard, bounced straight up into the air, and eventually fell through the net. The Mavericks rushed the court and mobbed Dončić, who celebrated with a choking gesture.
While the shot on its own was impressive, the circumstances surrounding it enhanced its significance. Dončić's shot was the culmination of the Mavericks' improbable comeback against the Clippers, who had led by 14 points with just 2:51 left to play. Despite watching that lead dwindle away in the final minutes, the Clippers still led by two points with 7.1 seconds to play. However, Dončić wouldn't be denied, and his shot pushed the game into overtime, where Dallas came out on top 126-125.
Stephen Curry's Game-Winner vs. the Celtics
In a must-win Game 7 of the Western Conference finals against the Boston Celtics, Curry delivered a shot that will be remembered for years to come. With the game tied 102-102 and just 3.9 seconds left on the clock, Curry received an in-bounds pass at midcourt and dribbled to his left, with both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum giving chase. He found his spot and fired up a potential game-winning shot from just inside the 3-point line. The ball hit the side of the rim closest to Curry, bounced up in the air, hit that same side of the rim again, and then bounced over to the far side before dropping through the net.
Curry's shot not only ended the game but sent the Celtics home, eliminating them from postseason contention. There aren't many higher leverage situations than that, making it a back-breaking way for the Celtics to get eliminated from the playoffs. And to make matters more impressive, Curry delivered his shot in a must-win Game 7 of a hard-fought series against an evenly matched team.
The Verdict: Stephen Curry Takes the Cake
After evaluating all the data, Curry's buzzer beater comes out on top. While Dončić's shot had its own late comeback narrative and drama, Curry's came in a must-win Game 7 that sent his team to
