On April 24th in sports history, one significant event took place in 1994 during the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Dallas Mavericks, led by their young star Jamal Mashburn and veteran Derek Harper, faced off against the heavily favored Seattle SuperSonics, who boasted a lineup featuring Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton.
The Mavericks, who had not won a playoff series since 1988, entered the game as the underdogs but were determined to prove their worth. The game was a closely contested affair, with both teams trading leads throughout the first three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, with the Mavericks trailing by two points and only 5.9 seconds remaining on the clock, Mashburn inbounded the ball to Harper. Harper quickly dribbled up the court, evading the SuperSonics' defense, and launched a 19-foot jumper from the top of the key just as time expired.
The ball sailed through the air, bouncing off the back of the rim before dropping through the net, giving the Mavericks a stunning 95-94 victory and tying the series at two games apiece. The Reunion Arena erupted in celebration as the Mavericks' bench stormed the court, mobbing Harper in a sea of joy and disbelief.
Harper's clutch shot remains one of the most memorable moments in Mavericks history and a testament to the unpredictable nature of the NBA playoffs. The Mavericks would go on to lose the series to the SuperSonics in five games, but Harper's heroics on April 24th, 1994, will forever be etched in the annals of Dallas sports lore.
