Carmelo Anthony: Ranking his most clutch shots and game-winners

1) Carmelo Anthony’s most clutch shots: 2009 playoff winner against Dallas

For all of the clutch shots Carmelo Anthony has made in his career, he has struggled to find his way onto many teams who have made deep playoff runs—where legendary shot-makers put their stamps on history. However, in 2009, he was a major reason why the Nuggets reached the Western Conference Finals.

His most clutch shot, given the circumstances, came in Game 3 of Denver’s semifinals match-up with the Dallas Mavericks. Holding a 2-0 series lead, but trailing by two points in the final seconds of the game, Melo buried a three to give the Nuggets a miraculous 106-105 victory.

In a game marked by physical play, it appeared Anthony was fouled before he took the shot, but with no whistle and time ticking away, he kept his composure and knocked down the clutch shot that essentially put the series out of reach.

Denver would go on to win the series in a tidy five games. But Anthony’s last-second dagger in Game 3 effectively called lights on the Mavericks’ season.

During the Nuggets playoff run in 2009, Anthony averaged 27.2 points per game on 45.3% shooting, including 36.4% from downtown. He also added 4.1 assists and 5.8 rebounds over those 16 playoff games.

Carmelo Anthony has hit an amazing number of clutch shots in his career, but a game-winner in a playoff game that catapulted the Nuggets on a deep playoff run has to be his best.