Oh yeah, we might whine about it. We might bite our fingernails or hyperventilate or accidentally spill the popcorn as we either cover our eyes to avoid disappointment or jump from the bench to celebrate. We go on and on about how nerve wracking it is, but we all know the truth- diehard basketball fans live for a close game. Our hearts nearly beat out of our chests when we are lucky enough to be part of the crowd, in a suspense-filled auditorium, where the loud speaker squawks about the game going into overtime.

That’s right- it can be only a few minutes- tense minutes, where athletes play their hardest to declare a last-minute win. But there have been more than a few overtime games that have gone down in basketball history:

•  May 9, 2011:   Memphis Grizzlies battled Oklahoma City Thunder. After three overtimes, the final score was 133-123 OKC
• April 30, 2009: Boston Celtics struggled for a win in three overtimes against the Chicago Bulls. In the end, the Bulls barely scraped by with a one-point win.
• May 14, 2004: After three overtimes, New Jersey Nets take the game away from the Detroit Pistons with a 7-point lead.
• June 13, 1993: The Phoenix Suns manage the win against the Chicago Bulls. After three overtimes, they win with a score of 129 – 121.
• June 4, 1976: Boston Celtics take a two-point win against the Phoenix Suns. After playing three overtimes, the final score was 128- 126.
• March 21, 1953: Syracuse and Boston wrestled through four overtime calls. In the end, Boston took the triumph. The score was 111-105.
• Jan. 6, 1951: The longest game in history, with a total of six overtimes, occurred between the Indianapolis Olympians and the Rochester Royals. Fans probably wished the packed lunches and sleeping bags for this one. The game lasted four hours and Indianapolis finally declared the ending with a score of 75-73.

You may have had a close, heart-clutching game where you shot the winning basket through your Goalrilla Basketball hoop at your house that you will never forget too. Or, maybe not – you just want your own home court. If that’s the case, the Basketball Goal Store is the No. 1 retailer of Goalrilla Goals online. You won’t miss if you shoot us a call or visit!

-Pat of the Basketball Goal Store Blog Team