Knicks top Lakers even after Jerry West Buzzer Beater
On April 29, 1970 – 1970: Jerry West makes one of the most incredible buzzer-beating shots in NBA history. It comes after Dave DeBusschere’s jumper with three seconds left in the fourth quarter gives the New York Knicks a 102-100 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the Finals.
West takes the in-bounds pass from Wilt Chamberlain and from about 60 feet, lets it fly. Knicks guard Walt Frazier remembers thinking: “The man’s crazy. He looks determined. He thinks it’s really going in!”
The breath-taking shot does go in, sending the game into overtime. On the court, DeBusschere falls to the court as if he had been shot. But DeBusschere and the Knicks get off the floor and post a 111-108 victory over the Lakers, who had led 56-42 at halftime. With the game tied 108-108 with 1:27 left, Willis Reed makes a foul shot for the last of his game-high 38 points and then Dick Barnett hits a clinching basket.
After his phenomenal shot, West shows he’s human in overtime, going 0-for-5. He finishes with 34 points (11-of-28 from the field) and nine assists.
A dejected West has difficulty talking about his shot afte
r the game, saying, “It doesn’t really matter, does it, because we lost.”,
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