On November 9, 1989, the Bucks and Sonics played the longest game in history
What if at the end of the match, after 48 minutes of maintenance, we add a little more than half time? This is exactly the scenario of the meeting between Bucks and Sonic on November 9, 1989.
The two teams continued the fun for five overtimes, or 25 minutes! Finally, the pleasure was mainly for the spectators. Because for some players, these 73 minutes had a bitter taste.
“I don’t remember anything other than thinking, ‘Damn, somebody’s going to make or miss a shot to end this stupid game.’says Randy Brewer, Milwaukee is changing the pivot.
It would be useless to detail this meeting. We can simply give the evolution of the scores: 103 everywhere at the end of regular time, then 110-110, 120-120, 127-127 and 138-138 at the beginning of the fifth overtime.
How did this crazy encounter end? From 9-0 Bucks, at 146 all and 1:10 to go. With 34 seconds left to play, with energy still in the tank, the Sonics go up 8-0. Too short…
Notable Absent: Sean Kemp
Missed free throws, especially by Xavier McDaniel, and intense fatigue would ultimately determine the outcome of this legendary matchup, therefore, the Bucks won 155-154.
“It was so exhausting”remembers Dale Ellis, 53 points for Seattle and above all 69 minutes (NBA record). “One of the last overtimes, I stole the ball and went to the rim. I had a layup to kill the game, but Alvin Robertson came back and blocked me. He was fresher than me. I finished.”
Bernie Bickerstaff, the Sonics’ coach, was out of the rotation that night: a young Sean Kemp, who had just arrived in the NBA straight out of high school. Novak, a future All-Star, played all the matches in his first year. Except for this one, the most impressive. An injury? Punishment? No one knows why…
With its five overtimes, this match immediately enters the list of the longest matches in history. Never since the introduction of the 24-second clock in 1954 have two teams played this long. And 33 years later, a five-overtime game still awaits, even if the Nuggets and Blazers, playoffs 2019they were not far from achieving such a feat.
The absolute record for the longest game in NBA history still remains this victory of the Olympians against the Royals (75-73) in January 1951, after six overtimes. But the 24-second clock did not exist.
2025-11-09 11:48:00
