The National Basketball Association or NBA is known for its high-flying dunks, impressive crossovers, and breathtaking plays. But sometimes, what makes the game more exciting is when two teams battle it out in overtime. Overtime is an additional period that is played when the game is tied at the end of regulation time. The first team to score the most points during overtime is declared the winner. In this article, we will take a look at some of the most overtimes in NBA games.
1. Indianapolis Olympians vs Rochester Royals - January 6, 1951 (6 OT)
The game between the Indianapolis Olympians and the Rochester Royals on January 6, 1951, holds the record for the most overtimes in an NBA game. The game lasted for six overtimes, and the final score was 75-73 in favor of the Olympians. This game was played before the advent of the shot clock, which meant that teams could hold on to the ball for as long as they wanted, resulting in low-scoring games.
2. Milwaukee Bucks vs Seattle SuperSonics - November 9, 1989 (5 OT)
The game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Seattle SuperSonics on November 9, 1989, is the second-longest game in NBA history. The game went into five overtimes, with the final score being 155-154 in favor of the Bucks. This game was also notable for having two players who scored over 40 points each, with Dale Ellis of the SuperSonics scoring 53 points and Alvin Robertson of the Bucks scoring 41 points.
3. Boston Celtics vs Syracuse Nationals - March 21, 1953 (4 OT)
The game between the Boston Celtics and the Syracuse Nationals on March 21, 1953, lasted for four overtimes, with the final score being 111-105 in favor of the Celtics. This game featured some of the best players of that era, including Bob Cousy of the Celtics and Dolph Schayes of the Nationals.
4. Atlanta Hawks vs Detroit Pistons - December 13, 1986 (4 OT)
The game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Detroit Pistons on December 13, 1986, went into four overtimes, with the final score being 126-125 in favor of the Pistons. This game was notable for having two players who scored over 40 points each, with Dominique Wilkins of the Hawks scoring 47 points and Isiah Thomas of the Pistons scoring 43 points.
5. Philadelphia 76ers vs Utah Jazz - November 16, 1978 (4 OT)
The game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Utah Jazz on November 16, 1978, went into four overtimes, with the final score being 137-132 in favor of the 76ers. This game was notable for having two players who scored over 40 points each, with George McGinnis of the 76ers scoring 47 points and Adrian Dantley of the Jazz scoring 50 points.
Conclusion
Overtime is always an exciting part of any NBA game. It gives the players and the fans an extra opportunity to see their team win. While the games mentioned above are some of the most overtimes in NBA history, there are still plenty of games that go into overtime every season. Who knows, maybe the next great NBA game will go into double-digit overtimes.