1975-76 After three-OT's, the Celtics defeat the Suns in the Finals, 4-1.
1975-76 After three-OT's, the Celtics defeat the Suns in the Finals, 4-1.
At the begining of the season, the ABA's two strongest teams, the New
York Nets and the Denver Nuggets, applied for admission into the NBA, signalling
the end for the ABA. While ABA teams could not join the NBA for another year,
the NBA named Larry O'Brien its third Commissioner replacing Walter Kennedy.
On the court, the Warriors had to prove that the previous year success was
not just a fluke, 59 games (the most in a regular season). Boston, which had
acquired guard Charlie Scott from Phoenix for Paul Westphal, won 54 games to be
the first in the East. Milwaukee traded Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Lakers for
Elmore Smith, Brian Winters, Junior Bridgeman and Dave Meyers. While
Abdul-Jabbar was again named MVP after averaging 27.7 ppg and 16.9 rebounds per
game, the Lakers finished the season with a 40-42 and didn't get in the Finals.
The Celtics beat Buffalo and Clevelent to reach the Finals. In the West,
Phoenix, with rookie of the year - Alvan Adams, defeated Seattle and won over
favourite Golden State in seven tough games. Boston won the Finals the second
time in three years and 13th title overall in a six-game series that is
remembered for a triple-overtime Game 5, ending in 128-126.
The Celtics win a tripple OT thriller. In sport, there are a few games
that will stay forever in the fans' memory. One of them is Game 5 of the 1976
NBA Finals.
At the close of the second OT, John Havlicek hit a basket from 15 feet to
give his team a 111-110 lead. Celtics fans got on the court, but the referees
ruled one second remained on the clock. After the fans left the court, Paul
Westphal called a timeout that the Suns didn't have, for which a referee gave
Boston a free throw. Jo Jo White hit the basket, giving Boston a two-point lead,
but Phoenix inbounded the ball. Forward Gar Heard, after receiving the ball,
sunk a 20-footer in sent the game into a third OT. However, Boston won 128-126,
aftre reserve forward Glenn McDonald scored six points.
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