Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns, with the series tied at 2-2, was an absolute roller coaster. We’re talking triple overtime, folks. This wasn’t just a tough game; it’s still widely considered the NBA’s Greatest Game across its entire 80-season history. Remember Game 6 of the 1974 Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks, that double-OT slugfest? We all thought nothing could top that. We were wrong. This 1976 Game 5 packed more ups, downs, plot twists, and unbelievable moments than any championship-series pivotal game the league had ever seen. Glenn McDonald even became a household name in New England just for helping bring home Banner 13!
Before the Chaos: The Road to Banner 13
Coming off their 12th championship in 1974, the Celtics rolled into 1975 with a 60-22 record, looking set to repeat. But then boom, they got upset in the Eastern finals by a Washington Bullets squad, coached by K.C. Jones, that just caught fire at the wrong time. Still, the core was there. Veterans John Havlicek, JoJo White, and Dave Cowens were all back for 1975-76, surrounded by a strong supporting cast. You had to feel good about them getting back to the top for the second time in three years. The main rotation included elite rebounder Paul Silas, crafty scorer Don Nelson who announced this was his last season, and pure energy guys Steve Kuberski and Kevin Stacom. Player movement was wild back then, too. Don Chaney, a starting guard for the ’74 champs, had bolted for a lucrative ABA deal. And Boston traded dynamic young guard Paul Westphal to Phoenix for high-scoring guard Charlie Scott. These two future Hall of Famers ended up squaring off in the 1976 postseason, proving that trade worked out for both sides. Boston’s regular season started slow, but a nine-game winning streak launched their record to 19-8. Two more streaks, seven and six games, pushed them to a 54-28 finish, first place in the East, only behind the Golden State Warriors’ 59-23. Cowens and Havlicek were both All-NBA second team, showing how dominant they were. Cowens even body-blocked Houston guard Mike Newlin to the floor intentionally in one game because “Big Red” was so incensed Newlin got away with something twice. That’s the kind of grit this team had!
Triple-OT Thrills for Banner 13
So there they were, tied 2-2 in the Finals, with Game 5 becoming the most pivotal, wildest game in league history. John Havlicek, assistant coach John Killilea, and trainer Frank Challant were right there in the thick of it, with Havlicek taking a last-second shot during that incredible second overtime. This game wasn’t just a win; it was an epic saga that defined Banner 13. Glenn McDonald’s moment in the spotlight, the sheer volume of “unbelievable moments,” all happened because the Celtics dug deep. They fought for every single point through three brutal overtime periods to secure their 13th championship.
This wasn’t just a victory in the record books, it was a testament to grit and determination. That 1976 Game 5, led by Havlicek, White, and Cowens, cemented its place in NBA lore as one of the most unforgettable battles ever. It proved that sometimes, history isn’t just made; it’s fought for every single second, across three extra periods of pure basketball madness, adding another legendary chapter to the Celtics’ league-high 18 championships. What a game. What a season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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