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Paul Pierce · Long before they took centerstage and traded 40-point haymakers during Game Seven of 2008’s Eastern Conference Semifinals, Paul Pierce and LeBron James offered as thrilling a prelude as one reasonably could on February 15, 2006. By far the NBA’s No. 1 in “clutch points” by the 2005-06 season's end, Pierce again finds his late-game legend tested, with the Boston Celtics trailing by two in the final eight minutes. In what had thrillingly become a shoot-over-you contest along the mid-post against the Cleveland Cavaliers’ superstar, Pierce seeks craft and creativity on this occasion, pivoting into a brake-pumping spin, creating the necessary space for a contested 14-foot bucket. Pierce, benefitting from an “ultra-green” light as he awaited the arrival of Hall of Fame reinforcements, produced a 50-point, seven-rebound, eight-assist masterpiece, highlighted by noteworthy shooting splits overall (17-of-36) and from the charity stripe (16-of-20). The double OT clash favored Cleveland and their 43-point scoring phenom here, but for Pierce — producing 30+ points in 13 matchups over a 14-game span — it nonetheless served as one of the Hall of Fame forward’s great individual stretches. · State of Mint