The first game of theWestern Conference Finalswas one for the books as theOklahoma City Thunderand theSan Antonio Spurswent totwo overtimes before the visitors claimed the win.
Game 1 looks to be just a snippet of what this long-awaited series will bring to the table, but can it break the record for the longest NBA Playoff game on record? It's possible.
The May 18 game between the Thunder and Spurs lasted 58 minutes, but the longest playoff game in history is a tie between two matchups, both lasting two overtimes for a total of 68 minutes of play. While the first one was 73 years ago, between the Boston Celtics and the Syracuse Nationals, now thePhiladelphia 76ers.
Most recently, in 2019, thePortland Trail Blazersand theDenver Nuggetsalso went to four overtimes.
Here's what happened in the longest NBA Playoff games in history.
What are the longest NBA Playoff games in history?
The Guinness World Record book lists two games as tied for the most overtime games in NBA Playoffs.
On March 21, 1953, in Game 2 of the Eastern Division Semifinals, the Boston Celtics defeated the Syracuse Nationals (now Philadelphia 76ers) 111-105 in four overtimes for a total of 68 minutes played.
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The Nationals and the Celtics held that record for 66 years, when it was tied by the Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers.
On May 3, 2019, in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals, the Trail Blazers took down the Nuggets 140-137. Nuggets star Nikola Jokić played 65 of the 68 minutes. Jokić holds the record for the longest time played in a single playoff game and ranks second overall.
What is the longest NBA game of all time?
The longest NBA game of all time was a six-overtime 75-73 win for the Indianapolis Olympians (folded 1953) over the Rochester Royals (nowSacramento Kings), played in 1951.
The Thunder's direct ancestors, the Seattle SuperSonics, rank second in the list after losing to theMilwaukee Bucks155-154 in five overtimes in 1989. Former SuperSonic Dale Ellis holds the record for the most minutes played in a single NBA game, with 69 minutes.
The Syracuse Nationals and the Anderson Packers (folded in 1951) are tied for second with five overtime games in 1949.
Isa Almeida is a trending reporter for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Isa? She can be reached at ialmeida@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @ialmeidasports. Support Isa's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing adigital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman:What's the record for most overtimes during an NBA game? How Thunder-Spurs OT compares