Memorial Day Miracle
Encyclopedia
The Memorial Day Miracle is a game-winning three-pointer
by Sean Elliott
of the San Antonio Spurs
during Game 2 of the 1999 Western Conference Finals
between the Spurs and the Portland Trail Blazers
. The game was played at the Alamodome
in San Antonio
on May 31, 1999, Memorial Day
.
called a time out to break the Spurs momentum, but the Spurs scored nine unanswered points and cut Portland's lead to three.
The momentum would shift back and forth until Portland's Damon Stoudamire
was fouled late in the fourth quarter. He made one of two free throws, extending Portland's lead to 85-83 with just twelve seconds left. The Spurs called time out, which by rule allowed them to advance the ball to halfcourt. Following the time out, Spurs guard Mario Elie
inbounded the ball past a diving Stacey Augmon
to forward Sean Elliott
.
Elliott, who was privately battling a kidney ailment which would require kidney transplant surgery, caught the inbounds pass very near the sideline. He stayed balanced on his tiptoes while turning to shoot a three point shot
, careful not to set his heels down on the sideline and turn the ball over. With Rasheed Wallace
leaping at him trying to block
the shot attempt, Elliott arched his attempt over Wallace's outstretched hand and into the hoop. The basket gave the Spurs an 86-85 lead, their first lead of the ballgame. Time expired some nine seconds later, and the 86-85 score held up as a final.
, then defeated the New York Knicks
in the 1999 NBA Finals
, four games to one, to win their first NBA Championship.
Three-point field goal
A three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
by Sean Elliott
Sean Elliott
Sean Michael Elliott is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.-Early life:Elliott was born in Tucson, Arizona and was youngest of three boys. He was a very intelligent boy growing up and attended the G.A.T.E. program at Toleson Elementary School in Tucson, Arizona...
of the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
during Game 2 of the 1999 Western Conference Finals
1999 NBA Playoffs
The 1999 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1998-99 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs by defeating the eighth-seeded Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks four games to one...
between the Spurs and the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
. The game was played at the Alamodome
Alamodome
The Alamodome is a domed 65,000 seat, multi-purpose facility that is primarily used as a football/basketball stadium and convention center in San Antonio, Texas, U.S...
in San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
on May 31, 1999, Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
.
The play
Portland, who narrowly lost Game 1, emphatically outplayed the Spurs in the first half of Game 2. In the third quarter, Portland increased its lead to eighteen points before the Spurs responded with an 8-2 scoring run. Blazers coach Mike DunleavyMike Dunleavy, Sr.
Michael Joseph Dunleavy is a retired American professional basketball player, former head coach, and former general manager of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. He is the father of Indiana Pacers player Mike Dunleavy, Jr.-Early life:...
called a time out to break the Spurs momentum, but the Spurs scored nine unanswered points and cut Portland's lead to three.
The momentum would shift back and forth until Portland's Damon Stoudamire
Damon Stoudamire
Damon Lamon Stoudamire is a retired American professional basketball player who is currently an assistant coach for the Memphis Tigers men's basketball team. The , point guard was selected with the 7th overall pick by the Toronto Raptors in the 1995 NBA Draft and won the 1995–96 NBA Rookie of the...
was fouled late in the fourth quarter. He made one of two free throws, extending Portland's lead to 85-83 with just twelve seconds left. The Spurs called time out, which by rule allowed them to advance the ball to halfcourt. Following the time out, Spurs guard Mario Elie
Mario Elie
Mario Antoine Elie is an American former professional basketball player and coach. Currently, he works as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings.-Early life and career:...
inbounded the ball past a diving Stacey Augmon
Stacey Augmon
Stacey Orlando Augmon is a retired American professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA. He gained the nickname "Plastic Man" due to his athletic ability to "stretch"...
to forward Sean Elliott
Sean Elliott
Sean Michael Elliott is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.-Early life:Elliott was born in Tucson, Arizona and was youngest of three boys. He was a very intelligent boy growing up and attended the G.A.T.E. program at Toleson Elementary School in Tucson, Arizona...
.
Elliott, who was privately battling a kidney ailment which would require kidney transplant surgery, caught the inbounds pass very near the sideline. He stayed balanced on his tiptoes while turning to shoot a three point shot
Three-point field goal
A three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
, careful not to set his heels down on the sideline and turn the ball over. With Rasheed Wallace
Rasheed Wallace
Rasheed Abdul Wallace is a retired American professional basketball power forward and center who played from 1995 to 2010 in the National Basketball Association...
leaping at him trying to block
Block (basketball)
In basketball, a block , not to be confused with blocking, occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player. The defender must not touch the offensive player's hands or otherwise a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot...
the shot attempt, Elliott arched his attempt over Wallace's outstretched hand and into the hoop. The basket gave the Spurs an 86-85 lead, their first lead of the ballgame. Time expired some nine seconds later, and the 86-85 score held up as a final.
Significance
The "Miracle" designation relates to the combination of circumstances involved:- Elliott was playing with a serious kidney condition and would likely have not been involved in the game had he gone through with the transplant surgery sooner.
- The Spurs trailed by eighteen points in the third quarter; more often than not, a lead that large that late holds up in a playoff game.
- The Spurs' last play itself succeeded despite a near stealSteal (basketball)In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player...
(Augmon), a near block (Wallace) and a near turnover (Elliott shooting from his toes with heels above the sideline).
Aftermath
The Spurs went on to win the last two games in Portland for a four game sweepSweep
-Cleaning :* Chimney sweep* Street sweeper* Swept quartz, a cleaning of quartz crystal from alkali metal ions-Sports: * Sweep * Sweep , winning a five game series 3 games to none, or winning a seven game series 4 games to none; typically fans bring brooms to ballparks or ball courts in the final...
, then defeated the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the 1999 NBA Finals
1999 NBA Finals
The 1999 NBA Finals was the championship round of the shortened 1998–99 NBA season or the 1999 season. The San Antonio Spurs of the Western Conference took on the New York Knicks of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Spurs holding home court advantage...
, four games to one, to win their first NBA Championship.