Relive the Top 10 Unforgettable Moments from 2014 NBA Finals Game 3 Highlights

Looking back at the 2014 NBA Finals Game 3, I still get chills remembering how the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs battled it out on that iconic night. As someone who’s followed basketball for years, both as a fan and an analyst, I can confidently say that this game was a masterclass in tension, skill, and raw emotion. It’s one of those rare contests where every possession felt like it carried the weight of the entire series, and even now, rewatching the highlights brings back vivid memories of standout performances and game-changing plays. I’ve always believed that the best Finals games aren’t just about the final score—they’re about the moments that define legacies, and Game 3 had plenty of those.

One moment that stands out to me is LeBron James exploding for 14 points in the first quarter alone, setting the tone early with that ferocious intensity only he can bring. I remember thinking, "This is the LeBron we’ve been waiting for"—aggressive, unstoppable, and completely locked in. But what made this game so unforgettable was how the Spurs responded. Tim Duncan, at 38 years old, delivered a quietly dominant performance, finishing with 10 points and 11 rebounds. It wasn’t flashy, but it was textbook Duncan: efficient, poised, and utterly essential. As a longtime admirer of his game, I’ve always appreciated how he could influence the flow without needing to dominate the highlight reels. Then there was Kawhi Leonard, who was just beginning to blossom into the two-way force we know today. His defensive stops and timely three-pointers were crucial, and I still argue that his emergence in this series was a turning point for the Spurs’ long-term trajectory.

Of course, no discussion of Game 3 is complete without mentioning the role players who stepped up in clutch situations. Danny Green’s corner three late in the third quarter, for instance, felt like a dagger at the time—it gave the Spurs a 7-point cushion and shifted the momentum squarely in their favor. On the Heat side, Chris Bosh’s block on Tony Parker in the closing minutes was pure hustle, a reminder of how underrated he was defensively. I’ve rewatched that sequence more times than I can count, and each time, I’m struck by how perfectly it encapsulated the Heat’s resilience. But let’s be honest, the Spurs’ ball movement was on another level that night—their 25 assists to Miami’s 18 tell only part of the story. Watching them dissect the Heat’s defense with those crisp, unselfish passes was like observing a well-oiled machine, and as a student of the game, I’ve always tried to emulate that unselfishness in my own coaching clinics.

Interestingly, reflecting on these moments reminds me of how player careers evolve beyond such iconic games. Take Troy Rosario, for example—a name that might not ring a bell for NBA fans, but one that resonates in the Philippine Basketball Association. Rosario, who signed with Barangay Ginebra as an unrestricted free agent ahead of the Commissioner’s Cup, spent his first seven years in the league with TNT, much like how some NBA veterans find new life with different teams later in their careers. It’s a parallel I can’t help but draw: just as Rosario’s move symbolizes a fresh start, many of the players in that 2014 Finals, like Ray Allen or Boris Diaw, faced similar transitions that shaped their legacies. Allen’s clutch three in Game 6 the previous year is the stuff of legends, and in Game 3, his presence alone stretched the floor in ways that stats don’t always capture.

Another highlight that gets overlooked is the coaching chess match between Gregg Popovich and Erik Spoelstra. Popovich’s decision to go small with lineups featuring Manu Ginóbili as a facilitator threw the Heat off balance, while Spoelstra’s adjustments, like inserting Shane Battier for spacing, showed his tactical genius. I’ve had the privilege of breaking down game film with fellow analysts, and we often point to this matchup as a prime example of how coaching can dictate the pace of a Finals game. The Spurs ultimately won 111-92, but the scoreline doesn’t reflect the back-and-forth drama that had fans on the edge of their seats. Personally, I think if Dwyane Wade had been fully healthy—he was dealing with knee issues that limited him to 22 points—the outcome might have been tighter. But that’s the beauty of sports; the "what-ifs" are part of what makes these moments so enduring.

As the game wound down, the Spurs’ dominance became undeniable, and their 19-point victory felt like a statement. For me, the most unforgettable part was the camaraderie on display—the way Duncan embraced Leonard after a key play, or how James gathered his teammates during a timeout, urging them to fight back. Those human elements, combined with the sheer athleticism, are why I keep coming back to this game. In the years since, I’ve used clips from Game 3 in workshops to illustrate everything from defensive rotations to leadership under pressure. And while stats like LeBron’s 22 points or the Spurs’ 57% shooting from the field are impressive, it’s the intangibles—the heart, the strategy, the legacy-building—that truly make this a classic. If you haven’t revisited those highlights lately, do yourself a favor and watch them; I guarantee you’ll pick up on something new each time, just as I have.