John Stockton Hit Biggest Shot In Franchise History 22 Years Ago
May 29, 2019, 9:50 AM | Updated: 10:16 am
John Stockton of the Utah Jazz (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – It was 22 years ago on Wednesday, May 29 that Utah Jazz legend John Stockton nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the Jazz to their first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history.
It was on Thursday, May 29 in 1997 when Stockton hit the biggest shot in franchise history in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals to eliminate the Houston Rockets with a 4-2 series win.
Bryon Russell in-bounded the ball with 2 seconds left and the score tied at 100 when Russell found Stockton wide open off of a screen from Karl Malone. Stockton had one second to set his feet and launch the three and drilled it over Charles Barkley.
It was awesome on the 20th anniversary of "The Shot" to watch John Stockton recreate the greatest moment in Utah Jazz history. #takenote #NBA #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/0b9xE5bz6L
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) May 29, 2019
Stockton finished with 25 points and 13 assists, while Malone poured in 24 points and 11 rebounds. Jeff Hornacek chipped in 18 points, Greg Ostertag had 16 points and 14 rebounds and Russell added 15 points.
Clyde Drexler led the Rockets with 33 point, Barkley contributed 20 points and Hakeem Olajuwon added 16 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocks.
#OTD in 1997, John Stockton beat the buzzer and sent the @utahjazz to the NBA Finals. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/eEDfj13fki
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 29, 2019
The Jazz went on to face the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals with the Bulls winning the first two games at home before the Jazz won the next two games at the Delta Center. Chicago took the next two games and the NBA title. The two teams would battle again in the 1998 NBA Finals with Chicago taking the championship once again in six games.
