Phoenix Suns Top Buzzer Beaters in Team History: Second Tier
You might have an easier time remembering some of these middle of the pack buzzer-beating shots. Although not on the top tier, they resemble incredible moments in Suns history which any fan should enjoy re-watching.
#7: Cameron Johnson goes ballistic to beat the New York Knicks – March 4th, 2022
Here you’ll find Johnson’s game winner. For as impressive as the shot was, the way he heated up before knocking down this buzzer-beater makes it one for the ages.
https://twitter.com/ValleyoftheSuns/status/1499987003202494466?s=20&t=GdoLfIkM5uzGN2LejUuAiw
Well before the shot, Johnson got into a scuffle with Julius Randle. Randle was ejected, but from that point on Johnson made it his personal mission to absolutely bulldoze the Knicks.
Including his eventual game-winner, Johnson knocked down nine triples, becoming only the second player to do so in NBA history while also burying the game winner. The other was Damian Lillard against the Paul George/Russell Westbrook led Thunder, certainly putting this play from Johnson in impressive company.
#6: Stephon Marbury races to beat the San Antonio Spurs – April 19th, 2003
Although the Suns ended up losing this series, they absolutely stole this Game 1 contest from the San Antonio Spurs during the Western Conference’s opening round.
After Tim Duncan missed a free throw that would have put the Spurs up three, Marbury rebounded the ball and raced down the court. He then threw up a wild shot on the run, and banked in a triple, much like Dwyane Wade’s famous “leaning three” game winner with the Miami Heat.
With it being a playoff game, it gets the nod over Johnson’s shot. That Spurs team also went on to win it all that year, making the game-winner that much more impressive.
#5: Devin Booker’s hits at the buzzer in the bubble – August 4th, 2020
If the Suns 8-0 bubble run catapulted them into the team they are now, then this shot by Devin Booker played a big part in that as well, giving Phoenix its third third straight win over a contender at the time in the Los Angeles Clippers.
While blanketed by two of game’s best defenders in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Booker faded away as the clock ticked down and buried a mid-range dagger to keep his team’s playoff hopes alive.
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1290777067223519232?s=20&t=klDXrMT_mVQ4MtpMTU6n3w
The shot of him laying on the ground and stoically looking up will be etched into NBA lore forever. He finished with 35 points for the game, and more or less re-introduced the Suns to the league.
#4: Charles Barkely’s scoop and score vs Portland Trail Blazers – April 22nd, 1993
Although this play occurred on what was the third-to-last regular season game for a Suns team that already locked up the West’s top seed, it still meant a great deal, as it granted them their first 60+ win season in franchise history.
The Suns led by one point with just over five seconds to play, but Portland’s Clifford Robinson buried a shot off the inbound to put the Blazers up with a half second to go.
On the next play, Phoenix tried to go for a game-winning lob but misfired. The ball bounced off the glass and landed at Charley Barkley’s feet, who miraculously scooped it up and threw it in before time expired. With it still being a regular season game, it falls just outside the top tier, but the improbability of this shot alone is surely unrivaled.