1995 NBA Finals Game 1– Nick Anderson 4 Missed Free Throws, Hakeem Game Winner in OT

1995 NBA Finals Game 1 (Rockets at Magic)

The Magic have a 3 point lead with less than a minute remaining in Game 1 of the 1995 NBA Finals. Nick Anderson is sent to the line to seal the deal for Orlando with about 10 seconds left in the game. The rest is history.

*I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING*

[dreadheadbm]

Nick Anderson missing those 4 free throws really deserves a deep rewind. By missing those 4 free throws some how created a weird domino effect, (Them getting swept in the series, Shaq leaving for la the next year, Brian hill getting fired two years later and etc). Now if he had made one, (They win this game, Win this series in 7, There confidence is sky high going into next season as champions, Even if they don't repeat, Shaq probably gets the contract he deserves, The penny & Shaq era goes well into the Millennium, There's no Kobe & Shaq, No lakers dynasty, etc. Him missing the free throws really was the catalyst for things to come in the future and beyond!!!

[railenherman]

One of the biggest chokes in NBA history. Changed NBA history forever.

[Eoj]

I always come back and hope maybe this time he'll make one. Tragic

[mylifeisJDM]

Who came here from Shaq's rant on the couch?

[grfan]

I was in the 5th grade, I'm 35 yrs old right now and remember this like it happened yesterday 🤦‍♂️ I still can't believe it

[jcarloslam]

You're at home, up by 3 with less than a minute to go. Got 3 offensive rebounds. Given 4 free throws. Still lost. This game showed who the champ really is.

[blackanduglyasever]

The Orlando Magic completed a historic 3-peat from 94-96. Three straight years of being swept in the playoffs.

[jankan]

0:15 Hardaway had clean layup 0:18 Grant had an open look ! 0:32 shaw had an open 3 ! 0:53 Anderson had 2 FT ! 2:04 Anderson had 2 FT. They missed everything, its almoust imposible to loose that game :( some part of me died that day to :( magic fan for life :(

[genjohn]

Not considering the moment and nerves, there was a 0.46% chance that Nick Anderson would've missed all 4.

[ZHXOZ]

I think him doing those turns and overreactions made him lose focus.

[geedot]

This probably one of the most underrated moments in NBA history...everything in the league went bottom up after the Magic lost this game

[Saul.]

Ugh for some reason I had remembered this game as being tied—totally forgot they were up by three and grabbed TWO offensive rebounds... so painful

[bhb]

dude, imagine being a magic fan. I was crushed whenever my team lost a close REGULAR SEASON GAME this year. This was GAME 1 OF THE NBA FINALS, 4 straight free throws. This is why I have anxiety when people shoot free throws. Anything can happen. Anything

[stoneharper]

It’s sad that this is his legacy, he was one hell of a player in his day

[patrickreeves]

I was a young Nick Anderson fan living in Portland Oregon. I was a fan from the time he got drafted. I even had a Nick Anderson jersey back then! I was devastated when this happened, and the hard time I got from friends couldn't be nearly as traumatic as what Nick went through. His career never recovered, and I am sure to this day he thinks about it. He was a good guy, and a good teammate.

[DeathrasheR]

He's still thinking about those free throws

[canonjean-mignon]

I was 15 and I recorded this match on a vhs tape in Germany. I still have it - 😂

[juanmarcano]

Shaq & Penny could have been legendary. They were swept in '95 by Hakeem's Rockets, thanks to Nick Anderson's monumental choke job in game 1. The following year they were swept by Jordan's Bulls in the conference finals. Shaq went to the Laker's afyer that, where it took him 4 years to win his 1st title. Something he could have accomplished with Orlando if he had stayed put in Orlando. But, a last,
we'll never know.
😮😮😮

[cherryred]

He was really nervous, thumping his chest after first miss, then after the rebound on second miss, yelled out loud to get over it. On his third, he was smiling after he missed, thinking maybe smiling can loosen his nerves and the fourth attempt looks hurried, biting his lips showing anxiety ok I'll shoot it now hope it's goes in and get a relief. He should have taken his time on those 3rd and 4th, took some deep breaths, regain his form, get to that rhythm that he used to in his fts, he could have at least got a friendly bounce and get one to go in.

[keithturner]

I was a huge Orlando Magic fan back then watched every game of these finals, I was just stunned when Nick missed them free throws still haven't recovered from it to this day!