The most-viewed moment of the NBA season is from this Celtics game
The Golden State Warriors may have won the 2017 NBA championship, but Dub Nation doesn’t hold the top spot for most-viewed moment of the recently completed basketball season.
According to Google News Lab, the most-watched moment of the 2016-2017 campaign was when Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns scored 70 points against the Boston Celtics on March 24. The 20-year-old’s historic performance made him the youngest player in league history to total more than 60 points in a single game and garnered 5.1 million views on YouTube. Although his team ultimately lost, 130-120, Booker threw some major shade at the Celtics’ Jae Crowder after the game.
A number of other Celtics moments made the list of the top 100.
20. Beloved ex-Celtics forward Paul Pierce’s farewell in Boston
After 19 seasons in the NBA, Pierce announced at the beginning of the season that this one would be his last. For his final game at the TD Garden on February 5, the 10-time All-Star received a standing ovation and emotional video tribute.
30. Avery Bradley’s game-winning three pointer
The Celtics’ improbable 21-point comeback in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals culminated in a game-winning basket that danced on the rim before falling through the hoop with 0.1 seconds left.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqkVFXhCPUg
31. Isaiah Thomas and Kyrie Irving’s epic regular-season duel
Thomas’ 31-point performance on March 1 fittingly ranks as the 31st on the list. With under a minute remaining, the 5’9″-guard hit a three-point shot to give his team the 99-97 lead and then hit two clutch free throws to help the Celtics hang on for the win. Irving scored 28 points on the night.
https://youtu.be/jtuCH9iLGmk?t=21s
34. John Wall’s game-winning three pointer
Up 3-2, the Celtics dressed in all black to host what would be a premature funeral for the fourth-seeded Washington Wizards. His team on the brink of elimination and down by two, John Wall drilled a three-pointer to give the Wizards a one-point lead and force a Game 7.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=DPs_z_HaA64
35. Avery Bradley’s attempted dunk over LeBron James
Bradley didn’t let a 26-point deficit temper his intensity against the Cavaliers, as he sought to jam one home over James.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg06yEBt1HU
53. James Harden’s slap of Jonas Jerebko
As he drove to the basket, one of James Harden’s flailing arms whacked Jerebko in face — resulting in a bloodied mouth and fired-up Swede.
55. Isaiah Thomas’ 52-point performance
Of the many Thomas fourth-quarter heroics to choose from this past season, few are more memorable than the 29 points he scored against the Miami Heat. Thomas had 52 on the night.
64. Isaiah Thomas-Tyler Ulis jump ball
In what might be the shortest jump ball in league history, the tip-off between the two 5’9″ stars garnered smiles from the players and cheers from the crowd.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=1pRkV0KduJ0
