May 24, 1994: New York's Patrick Ewing dunks on Antonio Davis of Indiana during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Ewing finished with 28 PTS/11 REB/6 BLK and Charles Oakley had 20 PTS/13 REB in the Knicks' 100-89 win. Rik Smits had 27 PTS/10 REB for the Pacers.

May 24, 1979: NBA on CBS' intro for Game 2 of the NBA Finals (then known as the NBA World Championship Series), in which the Seattle SuperSonics tied the series at 1-1 with a 92-82 win over the Washington Bullets:

May 24, 1999: Latrell Sprewell with the steal and slam during New York's 79-66 series-clinching win over Atlanta in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. With the 4-game sweep of the Hawks, the Knicks advanced to play the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

May 24, 1991: A James Worthy breakaway dunk off the underhand lead pass from Magic Johnson during the Lakers' 106-92 Game 3 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals. Worthy scored 25 PTS. Magic had 14 PTS/19 AST as Los Angeles took a 2-1 series lead.

May 24, 1998: NBA on NBC's intro for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, in which the Utah Jazz would defeat the Lakers, 96-92, and advance to the NBA Finals with a sweep of Los Angeles:

May 24, 1991: Clyde Drexler drives past Byron Scott and finishes with a lefty dunk in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. Drexler had 18 PTS/8 REB/6 AST for Portland but the Lakers defeated the Blazers, 106-92, to take a 2-1 series lead.

May 24, 1995: Hakeem Olajuwon finishes with 41 PTS/16 REB/3 STL while battling league MVP David Robinson during Houston's 106-96 win at San Antonio in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. The victory gave the Rockets a 2-0 series lead over the Spurs.

May 23, 1993: NBA on NBC's intro for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls:

May 23, 1997: Houston's Sedale Threatt dishes to Kevin Willis for two points during the Rockets' 118-100 win over the Utah Jazz in Game 3 of the WCF. Also for the Rockets, Eddie Johnson scored 31 PTS (12-17 FG/5-8 3P) off the bench and Hakeem Olajuwon had 27 PTS/3 BLK.

May 23, 1990: In the final 30 seconds, Portland's Terry Porter hits a shot to tie, then a shot to win Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Porter scored 28 PTS and Jerome Kersey had 29 PTS/11 REB as the Blazers took a 2-0 series lead with a 108-107 win over the Phoenix Suns.

May 23, 1975: Golden State's Rick Barry finishes with 38 PTS/6 AST/5 STL in a 109-101 victory over Washington in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. The win gave the Warriors a 3-0 series lead. Kevin Porter had 21 PTS/6 AST and Elvin Hayes scored 24 PTS for the Bullets.

May 23, 1984: Houston wins a coin flip over Portland, and will draft first in the upcoming NBA Draft. Rockets head coach Bill Fitch says they will use the #1 pick to select Akeem Olajuwon. Blazers owner Larry Weinberg said his team is "very interested" in taking Sam Bowie at #2.

May 23, 1987: Boston's Larry Bird and Bill Laimbeer of Detroit are ejected for fighting during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Laimbeer was later fined $5,000. Bird was fined $2,000. The Pistons won, 122-104, to cut the Celtics' series lead to 2-1.

May 23, 1994: The Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly being sold for $152.5 million and moved to New Orleans, where they would be renamed the "Rhythm" or the "Angels." The Rhythm/Angels would play home games in the Superdome during the 1994-95 NBA season.

May 22, 1988: Atlanta's Doc Rivers drills Larry Epstein of CBS Sports in the head with an errant shot from roughly 100 feet away during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Here’s CBS Sports’ Tommy Heinsohn with the play-by-play of this important moment in NBA history:

May 22, 1985: A Larry Bird steal with five seconds to go seals Boston's 102-100 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Bird scored 17 PTS and Dennis Johnson had 23 PTS/8 AST for the Celtics, who advanced to face the Lakers in the NBA Finals.

May 22, 1985: A Larry Bird steal with five seconds to go seals Boston's 102-100 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Bird scored 17 PTS and Dennis Johnson had 23 PTS/8 AST for the Celtics, who advanced to face the Lakers in the NBA Finals.

May 22, 1977: Philadelphia’s Julius Erving dunks on Portland’s Bill Walton during Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Dr. J scored a game-high 33 PTS (14-24 FG) and Doug Collins had 30 PTS/6 AST/6 REB in the 76ers’ 107-101 win. Walton led the Trail Blazers with 28 PTS (11-17 FG)/20 REB.

May 22, 2004: Reggie Miller's only FG of Game 1 is the game-winning three with 31.7 seconds left in Indiana's 78-74 victory over Detroit in the ECF. The Pacers' Jermaine O'Neal had 21 PTS/14 REB/2 BLK. Richard Hamilton scored 23 PTS and Ben Wallace had 11 PTS/22 REB/5 BLK/5 AST for the Pistons.

May 22, 1975: Artis Gilmore had 28 PTS/31 REB/5 AST/3 BLK as the Kentucky Colonels won the ABA Championship in five games over Indiana. Seven Colonels players scored in double figures in their 110-105 win at Louisville's Freedom Hall. Billy Knight scored 40 PTS for the Pacers.

May 22, 2003: This Kenyon Martin dunk (off the lob from Aaron Williams) in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Martin scored 19 PTS and Jason Kidd had 34 PTS/12 REB/6 AST/4 STL in the New Jersey Nets' 97-85 win over the Pistons. Richard Hamilton scored 21 PTS for Detroit.

May 22, 1993: Highlights from overtime of Game 7 in the Western Conference Semifinals between Seattle and Houston. Sam Perkins had 23 PTS (10-13 FG)/9 REB and hit the game-winning shot in the SuperSonics' 103-100 victory. Hakeem Olajuwon had 23 PTS/17 REB/9 AST for the Rockets.

May 22, 1999: Tim Duncan with the and-1 slam (assisted by Mario Elie) in San Antonio's 103-91 Game 3 win at Los Angeles in the Western Conference Semifinals. Duncan had 37 PTS/14 REB/3 STL and Jaren Jackson scored 22 PTS for the Spurs, who took a 3-0 series lead on the Lakers.

May 22, 1988: Fourth quarter highlights from the Larry Bird-Dominique Wilkins ECSF Game 7 "duel." Bird scored 20 of his 34 PTS in the fourth quarter on 9-10 FG; Wilkins scored 16 of his 47 PTS in the fourth quarter on 6-9 FG. The Boston Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks, 118-116.

May 22, 1995: Houston's Clyde Drexler dunks on Sean Elliott during a 94-93 win at San Antonio in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Drexler finished with 25 PTS/12 REB and Hakeem Olajuwon had 27 PTS/8 REB/6 AST/5 BLK for the Rockets. Elliott scored 24 PTS for the Spurs.

May 22, 1983: Philadelphia's Julius Erving dunks on Magic Johnson during Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Dr. J had 20 PTS/10 REB/9 AST/5 BLK and Moses Malone had 27 PTS/18 REB in the 76ers’ 113-107 win. Magic had 19 PTS/11 AST/9 REB and Norm Nixon scored 26 PTS for the Lakers.

May 21, 1984: Postgame comments from Bucks coach Don Nelson, Milwaukee's Junior Bridgeman (20 PTS), and Celtics coach KC Jones after the Bucks beat Boston, 122-113, in Game 4 of the ECF. The Bucks' Paul Pressey scored 22 PTS. Larry Bird had 32 PTS/10 REB/8 AST/3 STL for the Celtics (who lead, 3-1).

May 21, 1978: Trailing by 19 late in the third quarter, Seattle goes on a 28-7 run over the next 9 minutes to take a 93-91 lead in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Fred Brown had 30 PTS off the bench for the SuperSonics in their 106-102 win. Kevin Grevey scored 27 PTS for the Bullets.

May 21, 2004: Shaquille O'Neal of the Lakers scores inside with a dunk on Minnesota's Michael Olowokandi in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. O'Neal finished with 27 PTS (9-16 FG)/18 REB/5 AST/4 BLK in Los Angeles' 97-88 win. Minnesota's Latrell Sprewell scored 23 PTS.

May 21, 1994: Charles Barkley and Vernon Maxwell are ejected during the final seconds of Game 7 in the WCSF, after Barkley fouled Houston's Hakeem Olajuwon with 7.4 seconds left and the Suns down by 7. The Rockets advanced to the Western Conference Finals with a 104-94 win.

May 21, 2000: NBA on NBC's intro for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, as the New York Knicks and Miami Heat face off in a series-deciding playoff game for the fourth straight season:

May 21, 1990: Portland's Buck Williams dunks on Mark West of Phoenix during Game 1 of the 1990 WCF. Williams scored 16 PTS, Clyde Drexler had 20 PTS/10 REB/3 BLK and Jerome Kersey added 19 PTS/11 REB in the Trail Blazers' 100-98 win. Tom Chambers scored 29 PTS to lead the Suns.

May 21, 2003: The Spurs defeat the Mavericks, 119-106, in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals to tie the series at 1-1. Tim Duncan had 32 PTS/15 REB/5 AST/3 BLK and Malik Rose scored 25 PTS off the bench for San Antonio. Michael Finley had 29 PTS/10 REB for Dallas. 📺 ESPN

May 21, 1986: Houston’s Akeem Olajuwon and the Lakers’ Mitch Kupchak are ejected for fighting with 5:14 to go in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. Olajuwon had 30 PTS. Kupchak exited his final NBA game with 6 PTS. The Rockets won, 114-112, and advanced to the NBA Finals.

May 20, 1990: Isiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons banks in a 40-footer during an 86-77 win over the Chicago Bulls in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

May 20, 2000: Shaquille O'Neal's postgame comments on Portland's "Hack-a-Shaq" in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Shaq had 41 PTS/11 REB/7 AST/5 BLK and shot 14-25 FG/13-27 FT in the Lakers' 109-94 win. He shot 25 free throws in the fourth quarter.

May 20, 1979: Bobby Dandridge hits two shots in the final 0:15 of the 3rd quarter during Game 1 of the NBA Finals, giving the Bullets an 11-point lead on Seattle. Dandridge finished with 23 PTS/11 REB and Kevin Grevey scored 19 PTS in Washington’s 99-97 win over the SuperSonics.

May 20, 1984: The Lakers win at Phoenix, 126-115, in Game 4 of the WCF. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar finished with 31 PTS/7 REB, Bob McAdoo scored 23 PTS off the bench, and Magic Johnson added 20 PTS/15 AST for the Lakers, who took a 3-1 series lead. The Suns' Larry Nance scored 27 PTS.

May 20, 2002: Sacramento's Vlade Divac drives and dunks on Samaki Walker of the Lakers during Game 2 of the WCF. Divac had 15 PTS/14 REB and Chris Webber had 21 PTS/13 REB/5 BLK in the Kings' 96-90 win that tied the series at 1-1. Shaquille O'Neal had 35 PTS/12 REB for L.A.

May 20, 1999: Latrell Sprewell with the drive and lefty finish during New York's 77-70 win at Atlanta in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Sprewell finished with 31 PTS off the bench for the Knicks, who took a 2-0 series lead. The Hawks' Mookie Blaylock scored 17 PTS.

May 20, 1996: Shawn Kemp dunks on Antoine Carr of the Jazz during Seattle's 91-87 win in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Kemp finished with 15 PTS and Gary Payton had 18 PTS/8 AST/4 STL for the Sonics, who took a 2-0 series lead. Karl Malone had 32 PTS/13 REB for Utah.

May 20, 2001: Glenn Robinson's running 3-pointer at the third quarter buzzer gives Milwaukee a 9-point lead over Charlotte in Game 7 of the ECSF. Robinson scored 29 PTS (3-5 3P), Ray Allen scored 28 PTS and Sam Cassell had 17 PTS/13 AST in the Bucks' 104-95 win over the Hornets.

May 20, 2000: Shaquille O'Neal attempts an NBA record 25 free throws in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' 109-94 win over Portland in Game 1 of the WCF. O'Neal had 41 PTS/11 REB/7 AST/5 BLK and shot 14-25 FG/13-27 FT for the game. The Blazers' Scottie Pippen had 19 PTS/11 REB.

May 20, 1995: Mario Elie's WCSF Game 7 “kiss of death” 3-pointer gives Houston a 115-114 win in Phoenix. Here's Elie describing this iconic Rockets moment to @abc13houstontexas.bsky.social, and explaining which Suns player his celebration was directed toward:

May 20, 1993: Charles Barkley hits the game-winner in San Antonio, and the Suns advance to the Western Conference Finals with a 102-100 victory in Game 6 of the WCSF. Barkley had 28 PTS/21 REB/4 STL/4 AST for Phoenix. David Robinson had 22 PTS/14 REB/5 AST/4 BLK for the Spurs.

May 19, 1985: Also, postgame comments from Cedric Maxwell of the Boston Celtics, who said Game 5 of the ECF against the Philadelphia 76ers would "end up being a mercy killing:"

May 19, 1982: Gerald Henderson finds Larry Bird on a Celtics fast break during Boston's 114-85 Game 5 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Bird had 20 PTS/20 REB/8 AST and Henderson (who started in place of injured Tiny Archibald) had 15 PTS/6 AST.

May 19, 2005: Tim Duncan hits the game-winner (assisted by Manu Ginóbili) with 0.5 seconds left in San Antonio's 98-96 series-clinching victory in WCSF Game 6 at Seattle. Duncan scored 26 PTS and Ginóbili had 13 PTS/7 AST for the Spurs. The SuperSonics' Ray Allen scored 25 PTS.

May 19, 1985: James Worthy tips in the game-winner with 0:20 left in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in Denver. Worthy finished with 19 PTS/13 REB as the Lakers took a 3-1 series lead on the Nuggets with a 120-116 win. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 29 PTS/12 REB/8 AST/4 BLK.

May 19, 1992: Terry Porter finishes with 41 PTS (12-14 FG/4-5 3P/13-14 FT)/7 AST/6 REB/3 STL in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals as the Blazers take a 2-0 series lead with a 119-102 win over the Utah Jazz. Also for Portland, Clyde Drexler had 36 PTS/12 AST/6 REB/3 STL.