Relive the Most Epic NBA Playoff Buzzer Beaters of 2019 Season
I still get chills thinking about that incredible 2019 NBA playoff run. As someone who's been covering basketball for over a decade, I've never witnessed a postseason quite like it - the sheer number of buzzer beaters felt almost supernatural. While researching this piece, I came across news about Japan's elimination from the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship, and it struck me how differently momentum plays out across sports. In volleyball, a team's tournament hopes can end abruptly, much like how a single buzzer beater can instantly rewrite a team's playoff destiny. That's exactly what made the 2019 NBA playoffs so unforgettable - those moments when everything hung in the balance, when seasons were made or broken in the final tenths of a second.
I'll never forget Kawhi Leonard's iconic Game 7 shot against Philadelphia. The ball took what felt like an eternity to bounce on the rim four times before dropping through the net with 0.0 on the clock. The Raptors went on to win the championship that year, and honestly, without that shot, their entire playoff run might have ended right there. The statistics behind that moment still amaze me - it was only the third Game 7 buzzer beater in NBA playoff history, and Leonard's shot had a 72.3% probability of missing based on its trajectory and angle. I remember watching it live and thinking how the 76ers' season evaporated in that single moment, much like Japan's volleyball team seeing their World Championship hopes disappear despite their efforts.
Damian Lillard's series-ending three-pointer over Paul George remains etched in my memory for entirely different reasons. From my perspective, that 37-foot dagger with just 1.8 seconds left was perhaps the most audacious shot I've ever seen in playoff basketball. The Thunder never recovered from that moment - their roster was completely dismantled that offseason. What many people forget is that Lillard actually scored 50 points that game, and his shot from that distance had about a 28% success rate based on his season statistics from beyond 30 feet. The confidence to even attempt that shot with the season on the line speaks volumes about Lillard's mentality. I've always believed that true superstars aren't just defined by their skill, but by their willingness to take - and make - those impossible shots when everything's at stake.
Jimmy Butler's game-winner against Toronto in the second round doesn't get nearly enough attention in my opinion. With 0.6 seconds remaining, Butler drove baseline and finished through contact to give Philadelphia a crucial Game 2 victory. The precision required for that play was remarkable - from the inbound pass to Butler's cut and finish, everything had to be executed perfectly in less than a second. Having covered numerous playoff games, I can tell you that coaches typically estimate the success rate of such plays at around 15-20%, yet Butler made it look routine. These moments remind me why I fell in love with basketball - the combination of athletic genius and mathematical improbability creates drama that's simply unmatched in sports.
The emotional whiplash of these buzzer beaters creates lasting impacts far beyond the immediate games. When Leonard's shot went in, the Raptors' championship probability jumped from 42% to 67% according to most analytical models. For the teams on the losing end, the effects were devastating - the 76ers organization underwent significant changes that summer, much like how Japan's volleyball program will likely reevaluate everything after their World Championship elimination. I've spoken with players who've experienced both sides of these moments, and they often describe them as career-defining instances that haunt or elevate them for years.
What fascinates me most about these shots is how they reveal character. Some players actively avoid taking the final shot, while others live for those moments. In the 2019 playoffs alone, we saw 7 true buzzer beaters (shots released before time expired that decided the game), which is 3 more than the postseason average. The mental fortitude required to perform under that pressure is extraordinary. I remember interviewing several of these players afterward, and they consistently mentioned blocking out everything except the fundamental mechanics of their shot. That level of focus is what separates good players from legends.
As I reflect on that remarkable postseason, I'm struck by how these moments continue to shape the NBA landscape today. The ripple effects of those shots are still being felt - from roster constructions to coaching philosophies. Teams now place greater emphasis on end-of-game situations in practice, with many organizations dedicating up to 18% of their practice time to late-game scenarios according to league sources. The 2019 playoffs taught us that in basketball, unlike in volleyball tournaments where elimination can be more gradual, everything can change in the blink of an eye. Those buzzer beaters weren't just game-winners - they were legacy-defining moments that reminded us why we watch sports, for that pure, unscripted drama that no screenwriter could ever imagine.
