As we approach the midway point of the 2025-26 NBA season, it’s a good time to take a look back at what has been an incredible campaign so far by highlighting some of the most dramatic game-winners and finishes. From buzzer-beating bank-shot 3-pointers in overtime to a go-ahead tip-in and game-sealing block, check out the top five moments through mid-January.
Jan. 7: Immanuel Quickley: Raptors at Hornets
Immanuel Quickley calls game from 3.
With the Raptors facing a 13-point deficit midway through the third quarter that became a 10-point disadvantage in the fourth, Quickley delivered when it was needed the most, sinking the clinching 3 as time expired on the road against Charlotte to claim a 97-96 victory. ‘IQ’, or ‘Call 5’ to the Raptors, finished with 21 points (8-18 FG, 3-11 3PM, 2-4 FT), four rebounds, two assists and one steal with zero turnovers across 33 minutes. Quickley’s contest-sealing triple was just the seventh-made 3 on the evening for Toronto, who ended the game shooting just 20.6% from downtown (7-34 3PM). The Hornets went a +21 in the same category (14-38 3PM) but were dominated in the painted area (60-36 PITP), and they committed 18 TOs to Toronto’s six. LaMelo Ball gave Charlotte a 96-64 lead on a layup with 1.6 seconds remaining, giving the road team just enough time to pick up the phone and dial Quickley.
Jan. 7: Paolo Banchero: Magic at Nets
Paolo Banchero calls game with clutch 3 in OT
In Orlando’s 104-103 win in OT on the same night, Banchero made an after-hours call to the bank with zeroes on the clock in Barclays Center. He dropped team highs with 30 points (11-19 FG) and 14 rebounds, adding six dimes in 43 minutes. The Magic led by 15 after three quarters, but the Nets rallied for a 29-14 scoring edge over the final 12 minutes to tie it, powered by Egor Dëmin’s (18 pts, 5 assists, 5 rebounds) eight consecutive points to close out regulation. During the extra period, the rookie first-rounder drilled a 3-pointer with 1:07 left to give Brooklyn a 100-99 lead, then sank another 3 to regain a 103-101 edge with 3.6 ticks to go. He poured in all 10 of his team’s points in OT. However, Banchero, who scored five in overtime, connected on a 26-foot triple that banked in at the buzzer to end it.
Jan. 5: Kevin Durant: Rockets vs. Suns
Kevin Durant scores 26 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer vs. the Phoenix Suns.
Two days earlier, KD served some ice-cold revenge versus his former Phoenix squad by draining the game-winning 3 with 1.1 seconds remaining in Houston’s 100-97 victory. Durant tallied 26 points on 9-for-21 shooting (2-12 3PM, 6-6 FT), 10 rebounds, four assists and a block across 39 minutes. The Suns fired off a 10-0 run to grab a 97-94 lead with a little over two minutes remaining, as Devin Booker fueled the charge by scoring eight of his game-best 27 points. The Rockets were raucous on the boards, holding a 51-40 advantage in total rebounds and 21-5 in second-chance points. Houston shot just 9-for-37 (24.3%) from behind the arc on the night, but the clutch 3 from the NBA’s 7th-leading scorer all-time came at the perfect moment.
Jan. 4: Devin Booker: Suns vs. Thunder
Devin Booker knocks down the contested 3 for his 8th career game winner!
While we’re on the subject, ‘Book’ helped drive an 18-point comeback win against Oklahoma City in Phoenix’s 108-105 win the day prior. He dropped 24 points (5-11 FG, 1-4 3PM, 13-15 FT), six rebounds and nine assists against only one turnover and recorded a +10 plus-minus in 38 minutes. Jordan Goodwin chipped in a game- and career-high 26 points and eight made 3s, while Dillon Brooks added 22 points to continue his offensive outburst during his first campaign with the Suns. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (25 pts) and Jalen Williams (23 pts) combined for 48 points and 13 assists in the loss, but OKC couldn’t keep Phoenix off the glass and were out-rebounded 49-29 overall and 12-2 offensively.
Dec. 4: VJ Edgecombe & Tyrese Maxey: 76ers vs. Warriors
VJ Edgecombe puts back the game-winning layup and Tyrese Maxey makes the game-saving block all in the last second of the game.
In one of the wildest games this season, Maxey and Edgecombe took over to rescue Philadelphia for a 99-98 win at home against Golden State. The rookie guard secured a short jumper from his backcourt partner and put it off glass for the go-ahead bucket with 0.9 on the clock, then Maxey (35 pts) sprinted the court to deny De’Anthony Melton’s layup attempt as time expired to seal the victory. Edgecombe battled foul trouble that limited him to 24 minutes of action, as he finished with 10 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. The Warriors’ bench erupted for a 67-24 edge and outscored the Sixers 32-19 in the fourth after trailing by as many as 24 in the second half.
