June 9, 1978 – Larry Holmes wins 15 round split decision over Ken Norton

Video from Round 15 of Larry Holmes vs Norton (the 7th most exciting round in boxing history, according to The Ring magazine):

After 15 brutal rounds, Holmes was awarded the title via an extremely close split decision. After fourteen rounds, all three judges had the fight scored dead even at seven rounds each. The three judges’ cards were as follows: 143-142 for Holmes, 143-142 for Holmes, and 143-142 for Norton. The March 2001 edition of The Ring magazine listed the final round of the Holmes-Norton bout as the 7th most exciting round in boxing history. As noted above, Holmes-Norton is ranked as the 10th greatest heavyweight fight of all time by Monte D. Cox, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO). Holmes went on to become the second-longest reigning world heavyweight champion in the history of boxing, behind Joe Louis. Holmes years later wrote of his experience that this was his toughest match in over 70 contests.

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Allen Iverson scores 48 points in his NBA Finals debut and steps over Tyronn Lue.

Iverson led the Sixers to their first finals since their 1983 championship. In game one of the 2001 NBA Finals, Iverson scored a playoff high 48 points and beat the heavily favored Lakers 107–101; it was the Lakers’ only playoff loss that year. In the game he notably stepped over Tyronn Lue after hitting a crucial shot. Iverson would go on to score 23, 35, 35, 37 in games 2–5, all losing efforts though the Sixers were not swept like many predicted. Iverson enjoyed his most successful season as an individual and as a member of the Sixers during the 2000–01 NBA season.

During the 2000–01 season, Iverson led his team to wins in the first ten games of the season, and was named starter at the 2001 NBA All-Star Game, where he won the game MVP. The Philadelphia 76ers also posted a 56–26 record, the best in the Eastern Conference that season. He also averaged a then-career high 31.1 points, winning his second NBA scoring title in the process. Iverson won the NBA steals title at 2.5 a game. Iverson was named NBA Most Valuable Player; at 6 feet and 165 pounds, he became the shortest and lightest player to win the MVP award. He had 93 first-place votes out of a possible 124. He was also named to the All NBA First team for his accomplishments. In the playoffs, Iverson and the Sixers defeated the Indiana Pacers in the first round, before meeting The Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Semifinals. The series went the full seven games. In the next round, the Sixers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, also in seven games, to advance to the 2001 NBA Finals against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, featuring the duo of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’ Neal.

May 7, 1989 – Michael Jordan scores “The Shot” on Craig Ehlo

The Shot is the name of the series-winning basket hit by Michael Jordan in Game 5 of the 1989 Eastern Conference First Round against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Coliseum at Richfield. It is considered to be one of Jordan’s greatest clutch moments, and in the game itself, a classic.

THE PLAY:
Jordan hit a jumper with 6 seconds left to give the Bulls a 99–98 lead. After Cleveland took time, Craig Ehlo inbounded the ball to Nance, who gave the ball back, and scored on a driving layup to give Cleveland a 100–99 lead with 3 seconds left. Chicago Bulls then called timeout. Jordan was double-teamed by Ehlo and Nance on the inbounds. Jordan bounced off of Ehlo and pushed Nance out of the way to get open and receive the inbounds pass from Brad Sellers. Jim Durham was calling the game on the Bulls’ Radio Network and narrated what happened next:

“The inbounds pass comes in to Jordan. Here’s Michael at the foul line, the shot on Ehlo…GOOD! THE BULLS WIN IT! THEY WIN IT! They upset the Cleveland Cavaliers! Michael Jordan hits it at the foul line! 101–100! 20,273 in stunned silence here in the Coliseum. Michael Jordan with 44 points in a game hit the shot over Craig Ehlo. What tremendous heroics we have had in Game 5. From both teams, what a spectacular series this has been. In my days in the NBA, 16 years, this is the greatest series I’ve ever seen!”

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Michael ‘Air’ Jordan takes flight.

On this day in 1998, Michael Jordan converted this game-winning shot against Utah to lead the Bulls to their third straight title and sixth in eight years. This would be Jordan’s final game as a member of the Bulls. (Fernando Medina/NBAE/Getty Images)