From LeBron to Derrick White: Every Game Winning Buzzer Beater in NBA Playoffs in the Last Decade

• Derrick White grabbed the headlines after his superb game-winner at the buzzer in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals
• White joined Michael Jordan as the only player to drain a game-winning buzzer-beater when the team facing elimination trailed
• Sports Brief looks at game-winning buzzer-beaters in the last decade

Derrick White etched his name into the NBA history books after his game-winning buzzer-beater saved the Boston Celtics' season on Saturday, May 28, in the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat.

White's buzzer-beater is the second buzzer-beating shot in NBA history where the team facing elimination trailed prior to the shot.

The last-second game-winner capped off a remarkable comeback from the Celtics, who trailed 0-3 in the series, their journey to their second straight NBA finals looking bleak.

In Game 6, White crashed boards after his inbound pass to Marcus Smart with three seconds left. Smart missed the shot, but White was there for the putback, which gave the Celtics a narrow 104-103 win to force a Game 7.

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Michael Jordan's "The Shot" in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Cavaliers in 1989 was the first buzzer-beater in the NBA playoff history where the team facing elimination trailed prior to the shot.

However, those two are not the only buzzer-beaters in NBA playoff history. There have been 49 game-winning, buzzer-beating shots in NBA Playoffs history.

LeBron James has five and Jordan has three, while Damian Lillard, Paul Pierce, and Jo Jo White are all tied for third with two, per Sporting News. Sports Brief looks at game-winning buzzer-beaters in the last 10 years.

Game-winning buzzer-beaters in last decade

Derrick White, 2023

East Finals Game 6: Celtics vs. Heat

White gave the Celtics a chance to win Game 7 at home with his buzzer-beater in Game 6 on the road. In Game 6, he finished with 11 points, four rebounds, and six assists in 42 minutes.

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Jayson Tatum, 2022

Eastern Conference First Round Game 1: Celtics vs. Nets

Tatum's 2022 playoffs began with a bang as his buzzer-beater helped the Celtics beat the Kevin Durant-led Brooklyn Nets in the first round. He finished with 31 points as the Celtics narrowly won 115-114. They ended up sweeping the Nets.

Anthony Davis, 2020

West Finals Game 2: Lakers vs. Nuggets

Davis played a pivotal role in the Lakers' 2020 NBA title. He sank a game-winner in the last second of Game 2 in the 2020 conference finals, giving the Lakers a 105-103 win against the Denver Nuggets. Davis finished with a game-high 31 points and scored the Lakers' last ten points of the game, per NBC Sports.

O.G. Anunoby, 2020

Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 3: Raptors vs. Celtics

Anunoby's game-winner at the buzzer was in the bubble against the Celtics. The Raptors were staring a 3-0 deficit, but Anunoby prevented that with a three-pointer. They would still lose the series to the Celtics in seven games. It was the franchise's first buzzer-beater since Kawhi Leonard's memorable series-clinching buzzer-beater in the 2019 playoffs, per ESPN.

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Jimmy Butler, 2020

Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 2: Heat vs. Bucks

Jimmy Butler was fouled on the final play of Game 2 against the Milwaukee Bucks. He sank both free throws to win the game. The Heat went on to win the series in five games. Bucks' star Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the final three quarters of Game 4 and all of Game 5, per USA Today.

Luka Doncic, 2020

Western Conference First Round Game 4: Mavericks vs. Clippers

Luka Doncic's first-ever playoff series saw him bury a game-winning 3-pointer to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 4. The Clippers won the series in seven games.

Kawhi Leonard, 2019

Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 7: Raptors vs. 76ers

Kawhi Leonard is fondly remembered for his iconic game-winner at the buzzer, which bounced off the rim four times before falling to give the Raptors the 92-90 win in Game 7. It was the first winning buzzer-beater in a Game 7 in NBA history.

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Damian Lillard, 2019

Western Conference First Round Game 5: Trail Blazers vs. Thunder

Damian Lillard sent the Oklahoma City Thunder home with another famous shot from just beyond halfcourt to win the series for the Trail Blazers. Lillard finished with 50 points in the game, per Sporting News.

LeBron James, 2018

Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 3: Cavaliers vs. Raptors

LeBron James' came to haunt the Raptors again in the second round in 2018. He hit a running floater to give the Cleveland Cavaliers a 105-103 in Game 3 and a dominating 3-0 series lead. The Cavs ended up sweeping the Raptors.

LeBron James, 2018

Eastern Conference First Round Game 5: Cavaliers vs. Pacers

James was on an incredible run in the 2018 postseason. The Cavaliers were given plenty of problems by the Pacers in the first round, but his game-winning 3-pointer helped them take a pivotal Game 5. Cleveland went on to win the series in seven games.

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Here are other game-winning buzzer-beaters in the last decade:

Joe Johnson, 2017 Western Conference First Round Game 1: Jazz vs. Clippers

LeBron James, 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 4: Cavaliers vs. Bulls

Paul Pierce, 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 3: Wizards vs. Hawks

Derrick Rose, 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 3: Bulls vs. Cavaliers

Jerryd Bayless, 2015 Eastern Conference First Round Game 4: Bucks vs. Bulls

Damian Lillard, 2014 Western Conference First Round Game 6: Trail Blazers vs. Rockets

Vince Carter, 2014 Western Conference First Round Game 3: Mavericks vs. Spurs

LeBron James, 2013 Eastern Conference Finals Game 1: Heat vs. Pacers

Butler undeterred for Game 7

Sports Brief earlier reported on Jimmy Butler oozing confidence after the Heat lost Game 6 to the Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference finals.

The Heat had a 3-0 series lead, but it has now evaporated and they will have to win Game 7.

"We can do it. I know that we will do it. We've got to go on the road and win in a very, very, very tough environment," Butler said.