NBA 2021 Finals: Top 5 Game-Changing Plays That Decided the Championship

Looking back at the 2021 NBA Finals, I still get chills remembering how those pivotal moments unfolded. As someone who’s spent years analyzing basketball at both professional and grassroots levels, I’ve always believed that championships aren’t just won by talent alone—they’re shaped by a handful of game-changing plays that tilt the momentum when it matters most. In that electrifying series between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, we witnessed exactly that kind of drama. It’s not unlike what we see in other sports, like tennis—take, for instance, Alex Eala’s recent match at the Voyah Wuhan Open, where she fought through three grueling sets against world No. 91 Moyuka Uchijima. Though Eala fell short in a 4-6, 6-3, 2-6 loss, those swings in momentum reminded me so much of the NBA Finals: one moment you’re up, the next you’re scrambling to regain control.

Let’s dive into the first of those five unforgettable plays that, in my view, sealed the championship. It was Game 4, with the Bucks trailing 2-1 in the series, and the Suns were threatening to pull away. With just over a minute left, Khris Middleton sank a contested jumper from the elbow—a shot I’ve replayed dozens of times because of its sheer audacity. Middleton, who averaged around 24 points in the series, showcased why clutch scoring separates contenders from champions. That basket didn’t just tie the game; it shifted the psychological edge. I remember thinking, "This is it—the Bucks aren’t folding." It’s similar to how a tennis player might claw back in the second set, like Eala did by taking the middle frame 6-3, only to face another hurdle. In basketball, as in tennis, momentum is fragile, and Middleton’s shot was a masterclass in seizing it.

Another play that stands out is Giannis Antetokounmpo’s iconic block on Deandre Ayton in Game 4. Seriously, I still get goosebumps—Giannis leaped from what seemed like the free-throw line to swat away a sure dunk, preserving a narrow lead. Statistically, the Bucks held the Suns to under 45% shooting in that quarter, but this was more than numbers; it was sheer will. From my experience covering the league, I’ve seen how such defensive gems can deflate an opponent faster than any offensive burst. It’s like when Eala faced Uchijima’s resurgence in the final set—sometimes, one brilliant move isn’t enough if the other side responds with equal force. Giannis’ block, though, felt different; it injected a belief in Milwaukee that carried through the rest of the series.

Then there was Jrue Holiday’s steal and alley-oop to Giannis in Game 5, a sequence that epitomized their chemistry. With under three minutes left, Holiday stripped Devin Booker—who’d been torching them for 40 points—and immediately fired a pass for the slam. I’ll admit, I’m biased toward defensive hustle plays, and this one was pure poetry. It turned a two-point game into a four-point cushion, and honestly, it broke Phoenix’s spirit. In tennis terms, it was like breaking serve at a critical moment—Eala’s second-set win gave her a glimpse, but sustaining that level is the real challenge. For the Bucks, this play underscored how defense fuels offense, a principle I’ve always stressed in my coaching clinics.

The fourth game-changer was Chris Paul’s uncharacteristic turnover in Game 6, leading to a fast-break dunk. Paul, a future Hall of Famer, had been brilliant all series, but this mistake felt symbolic. He coughed up the ball under pressure from Holiday, and Middleton finished on the other end. I’ve analyzed countless finals, and it’s often these unforced errors that haunt teams—much like how Eala’s 2-6 final set might linger in her mind. In the NBA, that play extended Milwaukee’s lead to 10 points with under five minutes left, effectively sealing the Suns’ fate. From my perspective, it highlighted how even veterans crack under finals pressure, something we don’t talk about enough.

Finally, let’s not forget Giannis’ free-throw shooting in the clincher—he hit 17 of 19 attempts, a stunning 89% clip for a player often criticized at the line. In Game 6, he calmly sank two with under a minute to go, pushing the lead to an insurmountable 12 points. I’ve always argued that free throws are a mental game, and Giannis’ performance was a testament to his growth. Compared to Eala’s back-and-forth battle, where she won 47% of her total points in the second set, it shows how consistency in key moments defines legacies. For the Bucks, these five plays weren’t just highlights; they were the building blocks of a championship, and as a fan and analyst, I’m convinced they’ll be studied for years to come. In the end, whether it’s basketball or tennis, it’s those split-second decisions that separate glory from what-ifs.