After Houston had converted a 20-point hole into a three-point advantage, and with Boston's two centers fouled out of the game, Kevin Garnett willed his team back out of the red. The rangy power forward had 11 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, where he also helped to smother a previously indefensible Yao Ming.
After his 19-footer put the game out of reach (final score: 97-93), teammate Paul Pierce leapt onto his back in a fit of unbridled symbolism. Houston's other marquee player, Tracy McGrady, was out of the game with a sprained knee, but mercurial backup Bonzi Wells did his best T-Mac impression, springing for 25 and 9 boards. (More NBA stories.)