Four-point play
Encyclopedia
In basketball
, a four-point play is the rare occasion when an offensive player shoots and makes a three-point field goal
while simultaneously being hit by a defensive player, resulting in a shooting foul and one free throw being awarded. If the shooter makes the free throw he will have scored four points in a single play, hence the terminology.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, a four-point play is the rare occasion when an offensive player shoots and makes a three-point field goal
Three-point field goal
A three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
while simultaneously being hit by a defensive player, resulting in a shooting foul and one free throw being awarded. If the shooter makes the free throw he will have scored four points in a single play, hence the terminology.
Notable occurrences
- Sam SmithSam Smith (basketball, born 1955)Sam Smith is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'4" guard, Smith played at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas during the 1970s, and helped the Runnin' Rebels reach the NCAA Final Four in 1977...
of the Chicago BullsChicago BullsThe Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
completed the first four-point play in NBA history on October 21, 1979, in a game against the Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee BucksThe Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
.
- On June 5, 1999, Larry Johnson of the New York KnicksNew York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
won Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals with a four point play. With New York trailing by three with 11.8 seconds left, Johnson received the inbounds pass and held the ball for several seconds. He then dribbled past PacerIndiana PacersThe Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
Antonio DavisAntonio DavisAntonio Lee Davis is a retired American National Basketball Association player. Davis is also the former president of the NBA Players Association .-College career:...
, made brief contact, and took a three point shot. It went in, and refereeRefereeA referee is the person of authority, in a variety of sports, who is responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view and making on the fly decisions that enforce the rules of the sport...
Jess KerseyJess KerseyJess Kersey was a referee in the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association.Kersey was a highly regarded referee and officiated at the 1975 ABA All-Star Game, the NBA All-Star Games in 1983, 1987 and 2002, and the NBA Finals in 1983, 1984 and 1991.-References:...
called a foul, and counted the shot, thus tying the game with 5.7 seconds left. Johnson then made the free throw, which proved to be the game winner for the KnicksNew York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
by a score of 92-91. This play was very controversial, as Davis claimed that he had fouled Johnson before the shot. The Knicks later made it to the NBA FinalsNBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
, completing a run from the underdog eighth seed in in the Eastern Conference.
- On April 27, 2009, James JonesJames Jones (basketball player)James Andrew Jones is an American professional basketball player who last played with the Miami Heat.The 6'8" , 215 lb small forward who attended American Senior High in Miami was picked 49th by the Indiana Pacers in the 2003 NBA Draft out of the University of Miami...
of the NBA's Miami HeatMiami HeatThe Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
completed two four-point plays in an eleven-second span during the second quarter of a playoff game2009 NBA PlayoffsThe 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
against the Atlanta HawksAtlanta HawksThe Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
. He shares two NBA records with Jamal CrawfordJamal CrawfordJamal Crawford is an American professional basketball player who most recently played with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. He is a 6'5" and 200 lb shooting guard–point guard...
—most four-point plays by one player in a single game, and most four-point plays by one player in any single quarter.
- On February 3, 2010, Jamal Crawford of the Atlanta Hawks set a new record for career 4-point plays in the fourth quarter of a home win against the Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles ClippersThe Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, passing Reggie MillerReggie MillerReginald Wayne "Reggie" Miller is a retired American professional basketball player who played his entire 18-year National Basketball Association career with the Indiana Pacers...
.