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Incredible playoff performances are usually reserved for the stars, from Michael Jordan’s infamous flu game in 1997, to LeBron James scoring 29 out of the last 30 points for the Cavaliers ten years later. But once in a while, a seldom-used bench-warmer or unheralded role player comes out of nowhere to rescue his team from elimination without grabbing the headlines. “Big Baby” Davis has of course filled in admirably for the Celtics in the absence of Kevin Garnett this postseason, and here are a few other unexpected playoff heroes who stepped up their game up when it mattered most.

Brian Scalabrine, Nets (2004):  While Scal’s contributions in Boston are giving hope to all chubby white guys who haven’t picked up a ball since middle school, his greatest achievement came in Game 5 of the semifinals against Detroit. After Chauncey Billups hit a half-court buzzer-beater to send the game into OT, Scalabrine, who averaged 3.4 points and had never scored more than 16 points in his career, put in seventeen points in triple-overtime. Now those are some highlights that deserve their own black and white “It’s Amazing” commercial.

Jerome James, Sonics (2005) : Sure, his subsequent contract immediately became one of Isiah Thomas’ top-30 worst decisions, but James came out of nowhere to lead the Sonics to a near-upset of the Spurs in the semifinals. He averaged 12.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in 11 playoff games (nearly 17 points and 10 rebounds in the first round) after putting up less than five points and three rebounds during the regular season. In the four years since, James has scored a total 223 points, earning slightly over $1 million per point…or extra pound.

P.J. Brown, Celtics (2008): In a game seven against the Cavs that featured a Paul Pierce-LeBron James shootout, Brown, a 15-year veteran who came out of retirement to bestow leadership, provided a surprising boost off the bench. He scored 10 points (4-4 FG), grabbed 6 rebounds, and made made several difference-making plays late in the game. The 38-year-old drilled a 20-footer with under two minutes left, a shot he later called the biggest of his career. And he didn’t even knock down an obnoxious Cavs fan as he jogged down the baseline.

Tayshaun Prince, Pistons (2003): Prince played 42 regular season games in his rookie season, averaging just 3.3 points per contest. But when he received increased playing time in the postseason, Prince became the first and only player in NBA history to score more points in the playoffs (141) than in the regular season (137).  He put in a career-high 20 points in the deciding seventh game victory, and became my then-girlfriend’s favorite player because he reminded her of Curious George.

Jack Haley, Bulls (1996): The proud owner of the least-deserved championship ring in NBA history, Haley didn’t play a second in the playoffs after appearing in one game during the regular season.  And yet, he made an intangible contribution to Chicago’s playoff run — he “controlled” his best buddy Dennis Rodman (perhaps the least-likely friendship ever?), who didn’t head-butt a single referee or kick any cameramen in the junk during the postseason.

Steve Kerr, 2003 (Spurs): Kerr was a key role player on the Bulls, knocking down a memorable game-winner in the 1997 NBA Finals. But playing in his final season in 2003, he scored a total two points in 13 minutes over the course of five playoff games. In Game 6 of the conference finals against the Mavericks, however, Kerr exploded for 12 points on four clutch three-pointers in a comeback win, triumphantly ending the long-running internet debate over who was the better player between him and Tim Legler.

Honorable Mention:

*Tyronn Lue, Lakers (2001): Despite being mistaken for a 13-year-old girl by the security guard, Lue excelled for the Lakers in the 2001 Finals. He used his quickness and tenacious defense to force Allen Iverson into shooting under 40% from the field over the last four games of the series, even after getting both of his ankles broken on a classic AI crossover in Game 1.

*Raja Bell, Suns (2006): While Bell hardly qualifies as a rarely-used player for the Suns, he nonetheless made an unexpected and invaluable play against against the Lakers in Game 6. Is this all just an excuse to show this fantastic video clip? Perhaps. Any chance Nike can get a Bell puppet to clothesline the Kobe one in those boring Nike ads?