June 20 in sports history: Johnny be good for Bulls

"Michael was going to give it to Scottie," Paxson told the Dayton Daily News. "He was going to kick it back and he (Jordan) was going to try to get to the basket down the right side. I was 23 feet from the basket on the left side, so I didn't expect to get it, but I was ready in case it came my way. You're always ready to get it."

For Paxson, the clinching shot was the high point of a trying campaign. In his eighth season with the Bulls, Paxson had lost his starting job to B.J. Armstrong. But luckily for Chicago, Paxson didn't lose his confidence.

"It's all about persevering and just sticking your nose in there every day and doing the best you can," Paxson said. "You never know what can happen to you. Ten years ago, when I came into the league, I never thought I'd be on a team that won three championships and that I would play the part that I have." 

2006: Before the Big 3, Miami's Big 2 — Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal — helped the Heat win their first NBA title in franchise history.

Wade had 36 points and 10 rebounds to lead Miami over the Dallas Mavericks, 95-92, as the Heat roared back from an 0-2 deficit to win the Finals in six games. O'Neal had nine points and nine rebounds but won another ring despite no longer being a go-to guy.

2013: LeBron James and the Heat won their second straight championship, beating the San Antonio Spurs, 95-88, in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. 

"I work on my game a lot throughout the offseason," James, MVP for the second straight Finals, told the Associated Press. "I put a lot of work into it, and to be able to come out here and (have) the results happen out on the floor is the ultimate. The ultimate. I'm at a loss for words."

THE BASEBALL BUNCH

2004: Ken Griffey hit the 500th home run of his career, off right-hander Matt Morris, to help the Reds beat the Cardinals, 6-0.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would accomplish something like this," Griffey Jr. told Sports Ticker. "My dad hit 152 (home runs) and that's the person I wanted to be like. He was my hero growing up. He's the one that taught me how to play and is still telling me how to play and that means a lot."

Fittingly, Griffey Jr. reached the milestone on Father's Day with Ken Sr. watching from the stands.

2007: Sammy Sosa hit his 600th home run, becoming the fifth player to reach the milestone.

Playing for the Rangers following a year out of baseball, Sosa hit a solo blast off Jason Marquis in the fifth inning of a 7-3 win over the Cubs, whose uniform he wore from 1992-2004.

"I'm never going to forget this night," said Sosa, who started his career with the Rangers in 1989 before being sent to the White Sox in a trade for Harold Baines later that year. "Tonight was something that brings a lot of joy. I'm very thrilled to have that opportunity to come here and hit number 600, especially here."

Sosa, who went to the Cubs with Ken Patterson in a swap for George Bell, joined Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Barry Bonds in baseball's 600 club at the time. Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Ken Griffey Jr. and Jim Thome have also joined that club.

On this date in 1998, Sosa hit two home runs for the second straight day to set a major league record with 16 blasts in June as the Cubs beat the Phillies, 9-4. He would extend that mark to 20 homers for the month.

2015: Max Scherzer pitched a no-hitter, losing his perfect game with two outs in the ninth inning when he hit a batter in the Nationals' 6-0 win over the visiting Pirates.

Scherzer was dominant while retiring the first 26 batters and was one strike from hurling the 22nd perfect game in MLB history since 1900. But Jose Tabata fouled off consecutive 2-2 pitches before Scherzer clipped him on the elbow with a breaking ball.

Scherzer, who completed the first no-hitter of his career by getting Josh Harrison to fly out to left, said it was a bit of a letdown after he hit Tabata.

"Just because you're so close, one strike away from a perfect game," he said. "But to get a no-hitter in front of these fans, there's nothing better."

BRAWLIN'

1980: In what was known as "The Brawl in Montreal," Roberto Duran won a 15-round decision over Sugar Ray Leonard to win the world welterweight championship.

'WHY YOU SOB'

1982: Tom Watson won the U.S. Open by two strokes over Jack Nicklaus at Pebble Beach. Needing only a par for the win, Watson came through with a chip-in birdie on 17 for the only Open victory of his career.

"I told my caddie, Bruce Edwards, 'I'm not trying to get it close. I'm going to make it,' " Watson told The New York Times. "After it dropped, I pointed to him and said, 'I told you!' He was choking ... That shot had more meaning for me than any shot in my career."

"Why you SOB," Nicklaus said as he met Watson on the green to congratulate him. "You're something else. I'm really proud of you."

Happy birthday...

• Len Dawson, Hall of Fame Chiefs quarterback and former broadcaster. Dawson won three AFL championships and was the MVP of Super Bowl IV, which Kansas City won over the Vikings 23-7. (85) 
• Three-time MLB All-Star Carlos Lee, who became the first White Sox player to homer in his first at-bat, in 1999. With 17 career grand slams, Lee is tied with Hall of Famers Ted Williams and Jimmie Foxx for seventh all time. (44) 

• Running back Darren Sproles, who set the NFL season record with 2,696 all-purpose yards in 2011. He played for the Chargers, Saints and Eagles over his 15-year career. (37) 

R.I.P.

2006: Former Yankee third baseman Billy Johnson, who won four world championships with the Bronx Bombers in six seasons as a regular. He was an All-Star in 1947. He was 87.  

2012: LeRoy Neiman, the artist known for his brightly colored screen prints of athletes. He created numerous paintings based on the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the World Series and other sporting events. He was 91.

June 19: 'I just hope I'll see him in heaven'