Ainge unintentionally helps Lakers three-peat

[Ed Monix]

On August 19, 1996, Horry was traded to the Phoenix Suns along with Sam Cassell, Chucky Brown and Mark Bryant for Charles Barkley.

After joining the Suns, Horry had an on-court altercation with coach Danny Ainge, during which Horry threw a towel at Ainge.



The incident with Ainge led to Horry's suspension and trade to the Los Angeles Lakers on January 10, 1997.

The rest is history...

2001 NBA Finals, Game 3

In the final minute of Game 3 in a Finals series tied 1-1 with the Philadelphia 76ers, Horry drilled a corner 3-pointer with 47.1 seconds left that gave the Lakers a 92-88 lead. He added four free throws down the stretch, scoring 12 of his 15 points on just three shots in the fourth quarter of a series-swinging win.

2002 Western Conference first round, Game 3

Bryant dumped his game-tying chance for a better look in the corner from a suddenly open Horry, who fired the game-winning three with 2.1 seconds on the clock in a 92-91 victory.

Horry’s fourth big shot capped a sweep of a Wallace-led Blazers team that had taken the Lakers to Game 7 of the West finals two years earlier.

2002 Western Conference finals, Game 4

Vlade Divac played incredible defense on game-tying tries by both Bryant and O’Neal, slapping the second miss out of the paint in an attempt to run out the clock. Only, there was Horry, calmly collecting the ball, hitting nothing but net on a buzzer-beating three and knotting the series at two games apiece.