According to the legendary call by TNT announcer Kevin Harlan, Houston Rockets star Tracy McGrady “sucked the gravity right out of the building” with his Game 2 dunk over 7-foot-6 Dallas center Shawn Bradley in the first round of the 2005 NBA playoffs.
Later in that same game on April 25, 2005, McGrady hit the game-winning shot with two seconds left to give Houston a 2-0 lead in the series.
McGrady finished with 28 points (52.6% FG) and 10 assists, while All-Star center Yao Ming had 33 points on an astonishing 13-of-14 shooting (92.9%). It led to a thrilling 113-111 road win (box score) by the Rockets.
“He sucked the gravity right out of the building!”
15 years ago today, Tracy McGrady posterized 7'6" Shawn Bradley.
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) April 25, 2020
Unfortunately for the Rockets, Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavericks rallied to win each of the next two games in Houston. That put the Western Conference’s No. 4 and No. 5 seeds back on level footing, and Dallas won at home in Game 5 and Game 7 to ultimately advance.
Nonetheless, that Game 2 was among the highest points of the McGrady-Yao partnership — and a reminder of what possibly could have been in future years, had the All-Stars been able to stay healthy.
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