This Day in Basketball History

1976 - Celtics outlast Suns in "Greatest Game Ever"

Often referred to as the "Greatest Game Ever," Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals was a basketball masterpiece.

With the series tied at 2-2, the Boston Celtics hosted the Phoenix Suns in a contest that saw a number of records get broken. Triple-overtime was required, and once the then-longest Finals game ever played was completed, the Celtics had emerged with a 128-126 victory.

Boston could have won the game in double-overtime, but a buzzer-beater courtesy of Suns forward Gar Heard, who set a Finals record by playing 61 minutes, forced another five minutes of action.

The game was also marred by controversy. With the score tied at 95 near the end of regulation, the Celtics' Paul Silas called a timeout that referee Richie Powers appeared to see. But luckily for the Celtics, who were out of timeouts, Powers ignored Silas' signal. The Suns would have had the chance to shoot a free throw that could have impacted the final score.

Nothing was more controversial, however, than the finale to the second period of overtime. After John Havlicek hit what appeared to be game-winning shot, fans spilled onto the court to celebrate, one of whom attacked Powers and was subsequently arrested. But the shot had been made with two seconds remaining, allowing time for Heard's buzzer-beater once the floor was cleared.

1987 - Lakers shoot 61.5% from the field in Game 2 of NBA Finals

The 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers, featuring Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, were a damn good team. That goes without saying. But what they accomplished in Game 2 of the 1987 NBA Finals was remarkable.

Taking on the Boston Celtics, the Lakers shot a then Finals record 61.5 percent from the field en route to a 141-122 win. Michael Cooper hit a then Finals record six three-pointers in the contest, and Johnson dished out 20 assists, one shy of his own Finals record. The Lakers' 44 assists also tied the single-game Finals record set by the 1969-70 Lakers.

Records. Records. Records.

1995 - Magic advance to NBA Finals in 6th year of existence

Reaching the NBA Finals for the first time can take decades for some franchises. Just ask the Los Angeles Clippers.

But in 1995, the Orlando Magic, led by Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway, reached the Promised Land only six years after they had joined the league.

A 105-81 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, where O'Neal dropped 25 points, set up a meeting with the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals. Dennis Scott came up huge against the Pacers, setting playoff records for a seven-game series with the most three-point field goals attempted (65) and the most three-point field goals made (28).

Unfortunately for the Magic, they'd go on to be swept by the Rockets.