Heartstoppers; we take a look at the top 30 playoff moments of pro basketball's last 30 years

This time MJ victimized self-professed "Jordan Stopper" Gerald Wilkins in continuing his reign of terror on Cleveland. While this clutch jumper had little of the drama of his 1989 heart-stopper--the outcome of this series was never in doubt--it was yet another fitting example of Jordan as assassin.

29. Fo, Fo, Fo

1983 NBA Playoffs

Moses Malone's guarantee that the Sixers would sweep to the NBA title in "Fo, Fo, and Fo" games was probably the boldest in sports since Broadway Joe called Super Bowl III. Malone's 76ers were one of the greatest teams ever, but Bird, Magic, and Kareem still stood in the way. Malone's prediction is an inextricable part of the lore of the team that not only won the title, but came within one game (12-1) of pulling it off.

30. "The Invisible Upset

1975 NBA Finals

The Washington Bullets boasted a frontcourt of future Hall-of-Famers Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld. Although Golden State boasted the best individual player on the floor in Rick Barry, the Warriors were heavy underdogs, with most observers predicting a Bullets sweep. Golden State's clutch play stunned the Bullets and the entire basketball world, and the Warriors instead swept Washington for the title.

1988's Shootout, Shot-by-Shot

LIKE A GREAT GUNSLINGER, LARRY BIRD talked tough before Game 7 of the Eastern finals vs. the Atlanta Hawks: "They might as well forget it," he said. "They've got no chance."

And then, like a great gunslinger, Bird backed up his brash talk.

In the final minutes of the game, which the Boston Celtics won, 118-116, Bird and Atlanta's Dominique Wilkins had a shootout for the ages, Here's the scoring play-by-play of the stretch run:

Atlanta: Wilkins 20-footer with 5:55 left: 99-99.

Boston: Bird push shot with 5:36 left: 101-99.

Atlanta: Wilkins 25-footer with 5:28 left: 101-101.

Boston: Bird 20-footer with 5:10 left: 103-101.

Atlanta: Wilkins Dank shot with 4:32 left: 103-103.

Boston: Two Kevin McHale free throws with 4:23 left 105-103.

Atlanta: Randy Wittman 20-footer with 3:48 left: 105-105.

Boston: Bird drive on a double team with 3:29 left: 107-105

Boston: Two McHale free throws with 2:10 left: 109-105.

Boston: Bird three-pointer with 1:43 left: 112-105.

Atlanta: Wilkins drive with 1:26 left: 112-107.

Atlanta: Two Wilkins free throws with 0:58 left: 112-109.

Boston: Bird drive with 0:26 left: 114-109.

Atlanta: Wilkins tip-in following his miss with 0:20 left: 114-111.

Boston: Danny Ainge layup on a touchdown pass from Bird with 0:17 left: 116-111.

After Bird hit his three-pointer in front of the Atlanta bench, he saw Hawks forward Cliff Levingston shaking his head in amazement. Bird, still in gunslinger mode, caught Levingston's eye and smiled.

Our Next 30

31. Tim Duncan's near quadruple-double, 2003 NBA Finals, Game 6

32. Vinnie Johnson's series-winner, 1990 NBA Finals, Game 5

33. Larry Bird fuels Boston's 1981 Eastern finals comeback

34. Sacramento's collapse, 2002 Western finals