Philadelphia 76ers: 5 most heartbreaking playoff losses in franchise history

3. 2001 NBA Playoffs — 76ers vs. Lakers, Game 3

Speaking of Allen Iverson… he led that 2001 team with a game one upset over the behemoth Los Angeles Lakers and came extremely close to making the series more than what it would end up being. NBA followers would look back and see that the Sixers lost four games to one. However, what they may not realize is that the Sixers were close to taking a series lead in game three.

In the fourth quarter of that game, there was an urgency for the 76ers to take home court advantage. As the clock neared expiration, the game was as tight as Iverson’s cornrows. When veteran journeyman Kevin Ollie came off the bench and scored an unlikely three point play to bring the Sixers within one, fans were on the edge of their seats. The Lakers had a secret weapon though – a silent, deadly assassin who would thwart any Sixers rally.

With under a minute to play and down by one, the pass swung to the corner. Kobe Bryant wasn’t waiting to receive the pass. It was Robert Horry. They didn’t call him Big Shot Rob for nothing. There’s no guarantee that the Sixers would’ve won that game, or even the series, but Robert Horry’s three-pointer put the Lakers up by four with seconds remaining. His shot was the dagger that pierced any hope the Sixers fans had for winning the series.