On June 18 in Sports History, one significant event took place in 1999 during the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. In a thrilling Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks found themselves trailing the Spurs by one point with just 9.7 seconds remaining on the clock.
The Knicks' Latrell Sprewell inbounded the ball to Allan Houston, who dribbled to his right and pulled up for a running one-hander from about 12 feet away. The shot rattled around the rim before finally dropping through the net with 0.8 seconds left, giving the Knicks a dramatic 78-77 victory.
Houston's clutch shot sent the Madison Square Garden crowd into a frenzy and kept the Knicks' championship hopes alive, forcing a Game 6 back in San Antonio. The Spurs, however, would go on to win that game and clinch their first-ever NBA championship.
Despite the Knicks ultimately falling short in the series, Allan Houston's game-winning shot remains one of the most iconic moments in franchise history and a testament to his ability to perform under pressure. The image of Houston's shot rattling in has been replayed countless times and is forever etched in the memories of Knicks fans everywhere.
