Memorial Day Miracle
The Memorial Day Miracle is a game-winning three-point field goal by Sean Elliott in Game 2 of the 1999 Western Conference Finals between the Portland Trail Blazers and the San Antonio Spurs at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on May 31, 1999, Memorial Day. The play. Damon Stoudamire of the Blazers was fouled with 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter. He hit one of two free throws to make the Blazers' lead 85–83. The Spurs called a timeout to advance the ball to half-court. After the timeout, Spurs guard Mario Elie inbounded  the ball past a diving Augmon to forward Sean Elliott. Elliott caught the inbounds pass near the sideline. He stayed on his toes while turning to shoot a three-pointer, careful not to set his heels down out of bounds which would have caused a turnover. With Rasheed Wallace running at him trying to block the shot, Elliott arched the ball over Wallace's outstretched hand and into the basket with nine seconds left to give the Spurs an 86–85 lead. Portland failed to score in the remaining time, and the Spurs, who had trailed for the entire game prior  to Elliott's basket, celebrated on the court. Significance. The "Miracle" designation relates to the combination of circumstances involved: Aftermath. The Spurs won the next two in Portland for a four-game sweep to win their first ever conference title (having lost four times since joining the NBA). In the 1999 NBA Finals, they beat the New York Knicks four games to one to win their first NBA title. The Spurs would compete for the Conference Finals in nine out of the next 18 years and make it to the NBA Finals five more times, winning all but once to  spark a dynasty. As for Portland, they would appear in the Conference Finals the following year, but they ran into another team keen on building a legacy in the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers would beat them in seven games and Portland did not win another playoff series again until 2013 nor make the Conference Finals until 2019.