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1970

Terrell Brandon is born in Portland, Oregon.

For the second consecutive FIBA World Championship, the United States pulls off a second round win over the Soviet Union, a 75-72 victory in Ljubjana, Yugoslavia. But just like the 1967 edition, the U.S. falls apart from there, in this case losing their next three games to finish in fifth place.

Gail Goodrich is traded from the Suns to the Lakers in exchange for Mel Counts.

1972

The Indiana Pacers win their second ABA title with a 108-105 victory over the New York Nets in game six of the ABA Finals. Freddie Lewis is named Playoffs MVP. Rick Barry finishes with 23 points for the Nets in his final ABA game, as he would re-sign with the Warriors in the ensuing offseason.

1974

Pete Maravich is traded from the Hawks to the New Orleans Jazz in exchange for Bob Kaufmann, Dean Meminger, two first round picks, two second round picks, and a third round pick.

1979

Backup point guard Larry Wright is an unlikely hero for the Bullets in game one of the NBA Finals, finishing with 26 points off the bench and hitting the game winning free throws with no time left on the clock to give Washington a 99-97 victory over the SuperSonics. Seattle would go on to win the next four games to take the series.

1983

Magic Johnson partially blocks a George Gervin potential buzzer beater and the Lakers defeat the Spurs 101-100 in game six of the Western Conference Finals, clinching the series and their third NBA Finals appearance in four years.

1991

Michael Jordan is named NBA league MVP for the second time. Magic Johnson finishes second in voting, followed by David Robinson in third.

1992

Enes Freedom (nee Enes Kanter) is born in Zurich, Switzerland.

1993

Charles Barkley finishes with 28 points and 21 rebounds and hits the game winning jumper with 1.8 seconds left over David Robinson’s outstretched hand to give the Suns a 102-100 victory over the Spurs in game six of the Western Conference Semifinals, clinching the series.

1994

The Bulls play their final home game at the legendary Chicago Stadium, a 93-79 win over the Knicks in game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Bulls moved into the new United Center for the ’94-’95 season and Chicago Stadium was soon after demolished.

1997

The Heat make their Eastern Conference Finals debut with an 84-77 loss to the Bulls in game one. Michael Jordan leads all scorers with 37 points, while Alonzo Mourning sets the pace for Miami with 21 points and eight rebounds. Chicago would go on to win the series in five games.

2000

While driving home from teammate Kevin Garnett’s birthday party, Malik Sealy of the Timberwolves is struck in his car by a drunk driver and passes away at age 30 from injuries suffered.

Hack-a-Shaq reaches new heights in game one of the Western Conference Finals, as the Trail Blazers send Shaquille O’Neal to the line for an NBA postseason record 25 free throws in the fourth quarter. O’Neal makes only 12 of them but finishes the game with 41 points as the Lakers prevail 109-94.

2001

Vince Carter attends graduation ceremonies at the University of North Carolina after earning his degree in Afro-American studies, then flies to Philadelphia, where his Raptors drop the winner-take-all game seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the 76ers 88-87. Carter finishes with 20 points and nine assists but misses a potential game winning shot in the final seconds.

2005

Steve Nash torches his former Dallas teammates with 39 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds, as the Suns defeat the Mavericks 130-126 in the clinching game six of the Western Conference Semifinals.

2018

A 19-year-old Luka Doncic is named Final Four MVP after leading Real Madrid to an 85-80 victory over Fenerbahce Dogus in the EuroLeague championship game.

2019

Stephen Curry puts on a masterful performance, with 37 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, to lead the Warriors to a 119-117 victory over the Trail Blazers in game four of the Western Conference Finals, completing a series sweep and advancing the Warriors to their fifth consecutive NBA Finals appearance. It’s the second longest streak in league history behind only the Bill Russell era Celtics, who made it to 10 straight.

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