Almost exactly four decades ago on June 4 the Boston Celtics hosted the Phoenix Suns in the pivotal fifth game of the 1976 NBA championship finals, with the surprisingly tight series between league royalty and a Cinderella upstart tied 2-2.
No one could have known all the incredible twists and turns the contest routinely referred to as the greatest NBA game ever would take on that early summer Friday night, but before it finally ended well after midnight EST both teams, the fans and the viewing audience were exhilarated and exhausted.
NBA TV recently ran a two-hour retrospective on the classic contest, updated with interspersed interviews from many of the key players from both clubs, as well as CBS announcers Brent Musburger and Rick Barry.