The Shot (also known as Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals) refers to Ray Allen's game-tying three-point shot with 5.2 seconds left in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals. The game was played on June 18, 2013, in Miami, Florida at the American Airlines Arena. The Heat were down in the series 3 games to 2 and in the game 95–92 until Allen's three. The shot was considered series-changing, as had Allen missed the shot, the Heat would have lost the Finals in Game 6. The Spurs were so close to a championship that arena staff had prepared for a Spurs post-game celebration with yellow security ropes on the sideline and placed champagne in their locker room. Allen's shot has been referred to as one of the most clutch shots in NBA history.[1][2][3]
Game 7 featured a close affair as well, with the Heat prevailing 95–88, giving them back-to-back championships. Overall, the 2013 edition of the NBA Finals has been citied as one of the best ever.[4][5][6]
Game 6
Down 3–2 in the series, the Miami Heat entered Game 6 winners of their last three elimination games (Game 7 vs. Indiana in the Eastern Conference Finals and Game 6 and 7 vs. Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals from 2012). In these last three games, LeBron James had starred for the team, scoring 45 points and 15 rebounds in Game 6 vs Boston, 31 points and 12 rebounds in Game 7 vs. Boston, and 32 points and 8 rebounds vs. Indiana. However, James had come into Game 6 of the Finals struggling with his efficiency throughout series.[7] For the Spurs, they were looking to clinch their first championship since the 2006–07 season. In Game 5, they substituted out center Tiago Splitter for Manu Ginóbilli, which resulted in ABC's color analyst Jeff Van Gundy calling their offensive performance, "one of the best ever in NBA Finals history".[8] In Game 6, they Spurs stayed with the same starting line-up as Game 5 of Tony Parker, Ginóbilli, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, and Tim Duncan.
The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team leading by more than four points. In the beginning of the second quarter, the Heat put a little distant between themselves and the Spurs, but a Spurs 12–3 run at the end of the second quarter and the start of the third saw them go up by a game-high nine points. In the third quarter, they would continue to take control of the game, going up as high as 13 points. The Spurs continued their offensive out-put from Game 5, playing nearly flawless basketball. James was just 3-of-12 after three quarters, the Heat trailing by ten and frustration apparent among the players, but he led a fourth quarter comeback, losing his patented headband in process.[9]
"The Shot"
Ray Allen tied the game with a three-point shot with 5.2 seconds, in what is now known in Heat lore as "The Shot"
With under a minute to play, the Spurs were leading by five points and seemed to be on their way to their fifth championship. LeBron James, despite a relatively quiet game by his standards, stepped up with a crucial three-point shot to cut the lead to two points with 20 seconds remaining, giving the Heat a small but glimmer of hope. On the ensuing possession, Kawhi Leonard missed a free throw, opening the door for the Heat to tie the game with a three.
With Miami having all shooters on the floor, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich took out Tim Duncan to prioritize defensive speed and perimeter switching, hoping to prevent Miami from hitting a game-tying three-pointer.[10] This proved to be a mistake by the future Hall of Fame coach in hindsight,[11] as James would miss the game-tying three on the Heat's first attempt, but Chris Bosh hauled down the rebound and passed it to a backpedaling Ray Allen, as he was trying to tip-toe behind the three-point line. Allen, already the greatest three-point shooter in NBA in terms of makes,[12] swooshed the fade-away three to tie the game at 95 with just 5.2 seconds remaining.[13] On the final possession of regulation, Tony Parker missed a 12-footer to send the game into overtime.
Rebound BOSH, back out to ALLEN, his three-pointer… BANG! Tied game with five seconds remaining!
ABC play-by-play announcer Mike Breen's call on Allen's game-tying three
The Heat were so close to being eliminated that they noticed officials bringing yellow tape out to block off the court for the Spurs' trophy presentation. "We seen the championship board already out there, the yellow tape. And you know, that's why you play the game to the final buzzer," LeBron James said".[14] Not only did arena officials think the game and series was over, but hundreds of Heat fans left the arena in the final minute of the game.[15] Upon the game going into overtime, the fans who left were not permitted back into the game.[16]
In overtime, the game was mostly a slugfest. The Spurs offense that excelled for much of the series had gone cold and started to commit untimely turnovers.[17] The Heat ultimately outscored the Spurs 8 to 5 in the five minute overtime to miraculously tie the series at 3 apiece. Allen's defense was the highlight in overtime. With the Heat leading 101–100, Allen stole the ball from Manu Ginóbili under the Spurs' basket and drew a foul with 1.9 seconds remaining in the overtime period. Allen made both ensuing free throws to put Miami up 103–100, which was the final score of the game. After the game, some wondered how the Spurs could respond in Game 7 after being so close to a championship, comparing it to Bill Buckner's error in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series and the Texas Rangers near championship in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series just a few years prior.[18][19]
In Game 7, James scored 37 points, including five three-pointers, and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Miami to a 95–88. With the win, the Heat captured their second consecutive NBA championship.[20] After a three-point shot by Leonard, the Spurs trailed by just two with 50 seconds remaining in the game. They had a chance to tie the game, but Duncan, guarded by smaller Shane Battier, missed a shot under the basket and a follow-up tip-in attempt.[21] James went on to hit a 17-foot jumper that secured the victory. Dwyane Wade scored 23 points and had 10 rebounds, and Battier added 18 points on six three-pointers.[22]
Legacy
Ray Allen’s game-tying three-point shot added approximately +35% in win probability (WPA) for the Miami Heat, shifting their win chances from nearly zero to a 40.9% chance. Statistically, this is considered one of the most clutch shots in NBA history, with 30% of that value being "clutch WPA" above average.[23][24] In the media, Allen's game shot was also instantly referred to as one of the most clutch plays in NBA history.[25][26][27] Had Allen missed the shot, the series would have been over and the Heat would have been served an upset Finals defeat, as well as a possible re-tooling of the team the following season.[28][29] After the game, NBA legend Magic Johnson called Game 6 "one of the best two or three games" he had ever seen.[30]
On July 17, 2013, Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals received the 2013 ESPY award for Best Game.[31]
In 2020, ESPN highlighted the forgotten plays outside of Allen's shot that were vital in the last seconds of the game. The first came about 15 seconds of game time earlier, just before LeBron James made a three-pointer to cut the Spurs' lead to two. Boris Diaw and Kawhi Leonard had a friendly fire rebound they lost that gave James a second chance after a brick. The second was Chris Bosh's pass. What most remember was Bosh's rebound, but the pass – backhanded, diagonal and in the perfect shooting position for the moving target Allen – made Allen getting his shot off over Tony Parker's outstretched arms much easier.[32][33]
In 2021, Ray Allen stated LeBron James still calls him occasionally just to thank him for hitting the game-tying three in Game 6.[34]
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