On this day in Boston Celtics history, the team survived a 128-126 triple-overtime slugfest with the Phoenix Suns in Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals for what was at that time the longest Finals game in league history.
Point guard Jo Jo White of the Celtics led Boston with 33 points, and forward John Havlicek would nail a 15-foot bank shot to send the game to its second overtime. At the end of that extra period, Phoenix forward Gar Heard scored a buzzer-beating trey to force the third extra period, with Heard setting a record for minutes played in a Finals game at 61 minutes. That record would stand until 1993 when the Suns and Chicago Bulls would go to triple-overtime and Phoenix’s Kevin Johnson playing 62 minutes.
Boston would go on to win the series two days later and secure their 13th banner.
Xavier McDaniel (L) of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket past Chris Gatling (R) of the Golden State Warriors 27 January 1995 at the Boston Garden (Photo by JOHN MOTTERN / AFP)
It is also the birthday of former Celtic forward Xavier McDaniel, born in Columbia South Carolina in 1963.
He would play his collegiate ball with Wichita State and would be drafted by the Seattle Supersonics in 1985 with the fourth overall pick.
Xavier McDaniel (31) forward for the Boston Celtics, slips by Glen Rice (41) guard for the Miami Heat, as he sets up for a shot during the first half of their game at the Miami Arena in Miami. Fla., Nov. 10, 1992. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
He would also play stints with the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks before signing with Boston as a free agent in 1992, with whom he would play three seasons.
He would average 11.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game with the Celtics.
Feb 8, 2018; Washington, DC, USA; Boston Celtics center Greg Monroe (55) grabs a rebound during the second half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA…
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