he plan for the final play was obvious. With 4.1 seconds left and a 3-point deficit, Eric Williams inbounded the ball to Antoine Walker on the right side of the arc. As Walker made his way around the 3-point line, Paul Pierce crossed in front of him and flashed his hands out for a pass. But Terry Porter's defense effectively closed off the Celtics' leading scorer.

As the clock ran down, Walked heaved an awkward 3-pointer toward the basket. For a split second, it looked as if it might have enough spin to fall. But it hit the front of the rim. Close, but not close enough. Game over. Walker collapsed along the sideline, giving him a good view as the scoreboard at midcourt made the Spurs' 93-90 win official.