NBA History: 5 Shots that defined the last decade

#2 Kyrie Irving - Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals

Kyrie Irving drained the three to secure the title for the Cavs (Picture NBA.com)

Against the odds, the Cleveland Cavaliers managed to force a Game 7 in the 2016 NBA Finals despite trailing 3-1 to a Golden State team that had finished the regular season with a 73-9 record. Nevertheless, the Cavs still faced a sizeable task to secure the title in Game 7 at Oracle Arena and when Kyrie Irving picked up the ball with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter, the score was tied at 89-89.

The two teams had combined for 12 consecutive misses, and after Irving had failed to find a way past Steph Curry with the shot clock running down, he sidestepped the MVP and threw up a three-pointer from 25 feet away. Despite Curry's best defensive efforts, the shot landed, and the Cavs went on to close out the game after the Warriors failed to score in the final 53 seconds.

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#1 Ray Allen - Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals

San Antonio Spurs v Miami Heat - Game 6The Miami Heat's 'Big 3'

The Miami Heat's 'Big 3' of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh made it to four straight NBA Finals between 2011 and 2014, however, if not for Ray Allen's game-tying three-point shot in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals, the Heat would have just a single championship to show for their dominant era.

With the Heat 3-2 down in the series and just 11 seconds to play, James missed an open three, however, Bosh gathered the rebound to find Allen in the corner, who connected with a huge three despite an excellent defensive effort from Tony Parker. The three was enough to tie the game, and after going on to win in overtime, the Heat took home Game 7 to win their second consecutive NBA championship