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Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are both future Hall of Famers, but they added just a bit more luster to their résumés on Wednesday night. Both Garnett and Pierce moved up on the NBA's list of all-time leaders in points scored, and it doesn't seem like they're at all done improving their positions. Can you name the top 20 players on the list? Take our quiz!

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He might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of the NBA's great "clutch" players, but Joe Johnson has some serious last-second credentials, and he added to them Tuesday night. Johnson hit a game-tying three-pointer near the end of regulation to force overtime, then topped that with a game-winner at the buzzer. It was Johnson's second game-winning field goal with no time left this season, and his eighth career game-winning basket in the last five seconds of a game. So where does Brooklyn's star rank among the league's best clutch players? Click on the images to set your rankings!

Most clutch players in NBA

Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony

New York Knicks
14 career game-winning baskets in last 5 seconds of 4th quarter/OT

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant

Los Angeles Lakers
16 career game-winning baskets in last 5 seconds of 4th quarter/OT

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant

Oklahoma City Thunder
Five career game-winning baskets in last 5 seconds of 4th quarter/OT

Rudy Gay

Rudy Gay

Toronto Raptors
Eight career game-winning baskets in last 5 seconds of 4th quarter/OT

Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving

Cleveland Cavaliers
Four career game-winning baskets in last 5 seconds of 4th quarter/OT

LeBron James

LeBron James

Miami Heat
Seven career game-winning baskets in last 5 seconds of 4th quarter/OT

Joe Johnson

Joe Johnson

Brooklyn Nets
Eight career game-winning baskets in last 5 seconds of 4th quarter/OT

Chris Paul

Chris Paul

Los Angeles Clippers
Eight career game-winning baskets in last 5 seconds of 4th quarter/OT

Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce

Boston Celtics
10 career game-winning baskets in last 5 seconds of 4th quarter/OT

Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade

Miami Heat
11 career game-winning baskets in last 5 seconds of 4th quarter/OT

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On Thursday, "First Take" debated the future of the Celtics, with a little help from Boston superfan Bill Simmons. Simmons, Stephen A. Smith, and Skip Bayless went through a few different scenarios as to what the Celtics could do -- everything from trying for it with their current group of players to blowing it up and starting over completely. What's your take?

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The Heat and Thunder both went through interesting paths to reach the NBA finals, but they'll have to put every tough series behind them if they plan on winning. Both LeBron James and Kevin Durant are looking to win their first rings, although the pressure they face is anything but equal. All that matters is winning four out of the next seven games. Which team will hoist the trophy?


Which team wins?

The Thunder knocked off a surging Spurs team in six games, while the Heat mounted a comeback against the veteran Celtics.

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Which team will win the NBA Finals?

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    64%
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    36%

Discuss (Total votes: 526,676)


Is LeBron clutch?

Questions about LeBron James' ability to perform under pressure have dogged him for years, but he may have answered his critics in Game 6 and Game 7.

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Did LeBron James prove he can perform in the clutch in Games 6 and 7 of the Eastern Conference finals?

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    35%
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    65%

Discuss (Total votes: 90,788)


LeBron or Durant?

Both James and Kevin Durant are exceptionally dangerous all-around players, deadly shooters, and fierce competitors.

SportsNation

Who would you rather have on your team?

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    49%
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    51%

Discuss (Total votes: 68,072)


Pressure point?

Ever since their introductory press conference before last season, the pressure has been on the Heat to win more than one title.

SportsNation

Will pressure to win an NBA title help or hurt the Heat?

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    39%
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    61%

Discuss (Total votes: 71,388)

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Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett have rather taken control of this series, haven't they? The Heat tried everything they could think of to dominate the Celtics during a vulnerable road game in Miami, and it just didn't work. Boston has now won three straight after dropping the first two games of the series, and it's going to be a tough task for Miami to win Game 6 on the road. Can the Heat pull it off?


Rondo or Garnett?

Kevin Garnett looks like the killer shooter of old, while Rajon Rondo continues to find new ways to win games.

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Who has been more valuable to the Celtics this postseason?

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    33%
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    67%

Discuss (Total votes: 71,163)


Bosh's role?

Chris Bosh was excellent in limited time in his first game back from an injury. Should he get big minutes in Game 6?

SportsNation

Does Chris Bosh need to play a significant amount of time for the Heat to win Game 6 in Boston?

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    77%
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    23%

Discuss (Total votes: 68,455)


LeBron's legacy?

LeBron James' promise of winning multiple championships during his time with the Heat is in serious danger of ringing hollow.

SportsNation

How much damage would losing this series to to LeBron James' legacy?

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    9%
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    58%
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    33%

Discuss (Total votes: 61,292)

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Remember when both the Spurs and Heat were going to run over the Thunder and Celtics like they were minor inconveniences at best? The Thunder put a stop to that talk late last week, and the Celtics provided a rebuttal of their own on Sunday. Boston has held large leads in three games this series, although it's become somewhat proficient at letting the Heat get back in the swing of things -- an 18-point advantage nearly turned into disaster as the Heat nearly won it after forcing overtime. Fortunately for the Celtics, Rajon Rondo is playing out of his mind, and is very clearly not intimidated by the Heat's star power.


Were Rondo's comments worthwhile?

"What I said was true. I don't take back what I said. That's what it is." -- Rajon Rondo

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What do you make of Rajon Rondo accusing the Heat of ''complaining and crying to the referees'' during a halftime interview?

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    75%
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    25%

Discuss (Total votes: 16,129)


Did the refs call a good game?

Both Paul Pierce and LeBron James fouled out in this game, LeBron for his first time ever as a member of the Miami Heat.

SportsNation

What impact did officiating have on the outcome of Game 4 of the Heat-Celtics series?

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    45%
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    15%
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    40%

Discuss (Total votes: 55,149)


Last shot for the Heat?

The Heat once again went to Dwyane Wade for the last shot in the game -- a shot that just barely missed capping the Heat's comeback.

SportsNation

Who should take the last shot for the Heat in close games?

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    43%
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    57%

Discuss (Total votes: 74,847)


Bosh's impact?

Chris Bosh will likely return for Game 5, reuniting the Big Three just as the series reaches a very critical point.

SportsNation

How much of a boost will Chris Bosh provide to the Heat in Game 5?

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    35%
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    48%
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    17%

Discuss (Total votes: 48,713)

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It's not every day that a player scores 44 points, dishes out 10 assists and grabs 8 rebounds in a playoff game. Actually, until Wednesday night's performance from Rajon Rondo, it had never happened. It still wasn't enough to beat the Heat, who came back from a 15-point deficit to win in overtime. This has to be a frustrating result for the Celtics, who were on the verge of stealing one from Miami on their home court. Did they miss their chance to make this a competitive series?


Were the Celtics robbed?

The Celtics have had their issues with the referees in this series, including a non-call on Rondo in overtime that clearly angered the guard.

SportsNation

Which is more true of the Celtics' Game 2 loss to the Heat?

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    41%
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    59%

Discuss (Total votes: 110,045)


Heat without Bosh?

Don't look now, but the Heat haven't seemed to miss Chris Bosh at all, at least in this series.

SportsNation

Are the Heat a better team without Chris Bosh?

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    31%
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    69%

Discuss (Total votes: 40,972)


Series winners?

The series heads back to Boston for Game 3, but the Celtics will have to make some changes if they want to advance to the finals.

SportsNation

Which team will win the Heat-Celtics Eastern Conference final? (Heat lead 2-0)

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    43%
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    23%
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    3%
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    19%
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    12%

Discuss (Total votes: 59,834)

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We're glad that NBA officials don't work our local slow-pitch softball league, because if they're going to T up Doc Rivers for yelling ''C'Mon, Eddie!'' there's no telling what they'd do to us when we react to a called strike three. We're thinking something along the lines of permanent ejection and deportation. For his own part, Doc described his technical as "the worst he's ever had." Is he right, or are NBA officials simply heading off problems before they occur?


Too quick?

Both Doc Rivers and Ray Allen had technicals called on them for briefly disputing referees' calls.

SportsNation

Are NBA officials too quick to call technical fouls off of players and coaches yelling at them?

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    81%
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    19%

Discuss (Total votes: 84,291)


Referee quality?

Officiating is always a topic of discussion in every league's playoffs, but how are the NBA officials doing this season?

SportsNation

How does officiating in this year's NBA playoffs compare to seasons past?

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    9%
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    40%
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    51%

Discuss (Total votes: 134,806)


Series winners?

Even if they hadn't had five technicals called on them, it was exceedingly unlikely that the Celtics were going to win Game 1.

SportsNation

Which team will win the Heat-Celtics Eastern Conference final? (Heat lead 1-0)

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    27%
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    73%

Discuss (Total votes: 73,293)

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The Celtics and 76ers will match up in a Game 7 after Philadelphia pulled off an 82-75 win at home. Allen Iverson's presence energized a crowd that Kevin Garnett had earlier criticized as lackadaisical and fair-weather, but that likely won't be a factor when the series returns to Boston. What might be a factor is the possible absence of Avery Bradley, whom the Celtics could lose for the remainder of the playoffs because of a shoulder injury. We'll find out what all of this means Saturday night.


Which team wins?

The Celtics missed several opportunities to put this series away, as their horrible shooting percentage doomed them in Game 6.

SportsNation

Which team will win Game 7 of the Celtics-76ers Eastern Conference semifinal?

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    63%
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    37%

Discuss (Total votes: 223,407)


Contenders without Bradley?

Avery Bradley has been the Celtics' secret hero on more than one occasion this season. His absence could be huge.

SportsNation

Are the Celtics championship contenders if Avery Bradley is unable to play?

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    65%
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    35%

Discuss (Total votes: 35,312)


Could Iverson come back?

Allen Iverson's most recent stint playing basketball in Turkey ended when he underwent calf surgery. Could he still play in the NBA?

SportsNation

Could Allen Iverson still play in the NBA?

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    57%
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    43%

Discuss (Total votes: 5,697)

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Should Pierce have made it?

The All-Star Game reserves have been announced, and as usual, there's a mixture of snubs and stretches. The selection of Paul Pierce, for example, came as a bit of a surprise, as he's having a down season by his standards...

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What about Nowitzki?

...and the selection of Dirk Nowitzki brings up some of the same questions. Nowitzki is averaging only 17.6 points per game this season, more than five points below his career average.

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Biggest East snub?

Our experts identified several snubs for each conference. The absence of Greg Monroe caused several heads to turn in the East...

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Biggest West snub?

...while Pau Gasol's snub was notable in the West. Gasol had 25 points and 14 rebounds in helping the Lakers beat the Celtics on Thursday night.

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