The Phoenix Suns' historic triple-overtime thriller against the Boston Celtics in the 1976 NBA Finals still stands as the greatest game ever played. On June 4, 1976, the Celtics hosted the Suns for Game 5 of the best-of-seven series at Boston Garden, with the two teams tied at 2-2.
What happened?
The Suns mounted a staggering comeback after going down by as many as 22 points. The game went into overtime, with stars on both teams exchanging clutch baskets. There was no winner after the extra period, requiring a second overtime. Celtics superstar John Havlicek appeared to have won the game at the end of the second overtime with a 15-foot bank shot. The fans stormed the court to celebrate, only for the officials to declare that there was still time left on the clock.
Why it matters for Phoenix Suns
Suns forward Gar Heard knocked down a now-legendary 20-foot turnaround buzzer-beater to force a third overtime. The Celtics were finally able to pull away, with Glenn McDonald scoring six points in the third extra period to lead Boston to a thrilling 128-126 victory. This game remains the only triple-overtime contest in Finals history. The NBA declared it the greatest game ever - a statement that still holds up today.
What comes next?
The Boston Celtics went on to win the title, closing out the series in Game 6 with a 87-80 victory over the Suns in Phoenix. With momentum on their side, the Celtics defeated the Suns in Game 6, winning their 13th NBA Championship and their second in three years. A total of seven future Hall of Fame players took part in the series, including Havlicek, Dave Cowens, Don Nelson, Charlie Scott, Jo Jo White, Paul Westphal, and Pat Riley. White was named the Finals MVP.
Last result: Phoenix Suns 122-131 Oklahoma City Thunder (2026-04-28). Recent form (last 5): 1W-0D-4L (LLLLW, most recent first); lost the last 4. The Celtics' championship served as a bridge between their two dynasties, with Havlicek leading the team to two titles in between the Bill Russell (1957-69) and Larry Bird (1981-86) dynasties. Today, the Celtics remain the NBA's most successful franchise with 18 titles.
