The Portland Trail Blazers outlasted the Denver Nuggets in the first quadruple overtime game in the playoffs since 1953. The Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets went to four overtimes in Game 3 of their Western Conference Semifinals series, just the second quadruple overtime game in NBA postseason history. To find the last time two teams played four overtimes, you have to go all the way back to 1953 when the Boston Celtics beat the Syracuse Nationals in the Eastern Division Semifinals. Bob Cousy scored 50 points in 66 minutes in the win while Red Rocha and Paul Seymour each played 67 minutes for the Nationals, the most minutes ever played in a playoff game. https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/10/7f/scanned-original-box-score-from-first-4ot-playoff-game-in-1953_vko127ih9yvg1aov9ig2w9odn.jpg?t=-2120705230&w=500 This was also the eighth triple overtime game in NBA postseason history. Here are all of them. May 3, 2019 Portland Trail Blazers def. Denver Nuggets, 140-137 4 overtimes Game 3 of Conference Semifinals Leading scorer: CJ McCollum (POR) - 41 points Most minutes played: Nikola Jokic (DEN) - 64:58 April 27, 2013 https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/5b/0/nate-robinson_1oxyx0yjctaph15kf9rb0aafgq.jpg?t=-2120317806&w=500 Chicago Bulls def. Brooklyn Nets, 142-134 3 overtimes Game 4 of 1st Round Leading scorer: Nate Robinson (CHI) - 34 points Most minutes played: Kirk Hinrich (CHI) - 59:36 May 9, 2011 April 30, 2009 https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/c1/12/ray-allen_11vrcssxlgaci1mn2h73e8ilto.jpg?t=-2120097742&w=500 Chicago Bulls def. Boston Celtics, 128-127 3 overtimes Game 6 of 1st Round Leading scorer: Ray Allen (BOS) - 51 points Most minutes played: John Salmons (CHI) - 59:56 May 14, 2004 New Jersey Nets def. Detroit Pistons, 127-120 3 overtimes Game 5 of Conference Semifinals Leading scorer: Chauncey Billups (DET), Richard Jefferson (NJN) - 31 (tie) Most minutes played: Jason Kidd (NJN) - 57 June 13, 1993 https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/d2/dd/michael-jordan-and-charles-barkley_13pbjy6xc4ez11a057dl466jjn.jpg?t=-2119900278&w=500 Phoenix Suns def. Chicago Bulls, 129-121 3 overtimes Game 3 of NBA Finals Leading scorer: Michael Jordan (CHI) - 44 points Most minutes played: Kevin Johnson (PHO) - 62 June 4, 1976 Boston Celtics def. Phoenix Suns, 128-126 3 overtimes Game 5 of NBA Finals Leading scorer: Jo Jo White (BOS) - 33 points Most minutes played: Gar Heard (PHO) - 61 March 21, 1953 Boston Celtics def. Syracuse Nationals, 111-105 4 overtimes Game 2 of Eastern Division Semifinals Leading scorer: Bob Cousy (BOS) - 50 points Most minutes played: Red Rocha (SYR), Paul Seymour (SYR) - 67 (tie)<doc-sep>The Denver Nuggets and Portland Trial Blazers made history on Friday night, becoming just the second playoff game in NBA history to go to four overtimes. The Blazers beat the Nuggets 140-137 in the seemingly never-ending game at the Moda Center, thanks to a go-ahead 3-pointer from Rodney Hood in the final seconds. It was a game that stole the attention of the NBA world — at least those who were awake to see it, and rightfully so. After all, it had been 65 years since an NBA playoff game went to four overtimes. The first and only other occurrence was in 1953, when the Boston Celtics beat the Syracuse Nationals 111-105. At that time, the NBA — and the world — was a very different place. The NBA had just 10 teams The NBA had just 10 teams in the 1952-53 season, and only two of those teams are still in existence in the same city. The Nuggets and Blazers became the first NBA playoff game in 65 years to go to quadruple overtime. Back in 1953, the NBA was a totally different place. (Steve Dykes/Getty Images) The New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Syracuse Nationals, Baltimore Bullets and Philadelphia Warriors made up the Eastern Division. The Minneapolis Lakers, Rochester Royals, Fort Wayne Pistons, Indianapolis Olympians and Milwaukee Hawks made up the Western Division. Minneapolis beat the Knicks 4-1 in the NBA Finals that season for their second straight title, and were led by center George Mikan. The NBA had yet to introduce the shot clock to its game in 1953, and didn’t add the 3-point line until 1979. The number of teams in the league fluctuated for more than a decade after the 1953 season, and didn’t hit 12 teams until the 1967-68 season. Philadelphia’s Neil Johnston led the league in scoring with 22.3 points per game. Bob Cousy of the Celtics led the league in assists at 7.7 per game, and Mikan led in rebounding with 14.4 per game. Monk Meineke of the Fort Wayne Pistons was the Rookie of the Year. George Mikan, right, six-foot, ten-inch center for the Minneapolis Lakers, goes way up to make a goal as New York Knickerbockers' six-foot, seven-inch center Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton (8) makes an unsuccessful attempt to defend on April 8, 1953 at the 69th Regiment Armory in New York. (AP Photo) President Eisenhower became the 34th President Just like the NBA, the United States looked very different in 1953. Dwight D. Eisenhower was sworn in as the 34th President of the United States in January that year. Gas cost roughly $0.29 per gallon in 1953, via USA Today. The top song on the Billboard Top 100 chart that year was “Percy Faith” from Moulin Rouge. The country was nearing the end of the Korean War as the NBA season was wrapping up that year, and both Alaska and Hawaii had yet to become official states. Story continues The rest of the sports world was a totally different place, too. There were 12 teams in the National Football League that year, though the first Super Bowl wasn’t held until more than a decade later. The Detroit Lions beat the Cleveland Browns 17-16 in the championship that year. The New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series that year, too, though there were just 16 teams in Major League Baseball at that time. More from Yahoo Sports: Retired baseball player slapped with PED suspension<doc-sep>PORTLAND, Ore. — Rodney Hood checked back into the game, a fresh body among the weary ones all over the court. Eager for postseason redemption after struggling in the playoffs last year, Hood got his chance Friday night. All he had to do was wait until an NBA postseason record-tying fourth overtime. Hood hit the key 3-pointer with 18.6 seconds left and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Denver Nuggets 140-137 to take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. Hood was a starter for Cleveland last season when the playoffs opened, but fell out of favor and refused to check into the final minutes of a blowout win over Toronto in the second round. He was acquired by the Blazers in a February trade. NBA ENDS RELATIONSHIP WITH SOCIAL MEDIA VENDOR AFTER TURKISH TRAIL BLAZERS STAR ENES KANTER SCRUBBED FROM POSTS "I didn't give up. I didn't give up on myself, just kept playing, kept working," he said. "I had no idea that I'd end up in Portland in this type of situation. But to be here, to have my family in the crowd when I saw a lot of sad faces last go-round, to be here is very emotional for me, to be quite frank. "A lot more basketball to go, though. A lot more basketball." The Blazers and Nuggets played a lot already. It was just the second quadruple-overtime playoff game in NBA history, joining a 1953 game between the Boston Celtics and the Syracuse Nationals. CJ McCollum matched his career playoff high with 41 points and Damian Lillard added 28 for Portland, which stretched its winning streak at home to 12 games dating back to the regular season. Hood scored seven points in the final OT and helped the Blazers remain unbeaten at home this postseason. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS' BEN SIMMONS ELBOWS TORONTO RAPTORS' KYLE LOWRY IN THE GROIN DURING GAME 3 Nikola Jokic had his third triple-double of the playoffs with 33 points, 18 rebounds and 14 assists, but missed a crucial free throw with 5.6 seconds to go. The 7-foot center played 65 minutes, two shy of the postseason record. Jamal Murray had a playoff-high 34 points for the Nuggets. Game 4 is Sunday. "We fought, we fought, we fought. That's all you can ask for. Too many second-chance points too many turnovers, that was the difference in the game," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. "But that was a hell of a basketball game by two very good basketball teams." Hood's jumper tied the game at 133 with just over a minute left in the final overtime. Will Barton missed the first of two free throws for Denver before Hood added a baseline jumper. Paul Millsap's hook shot with 27 seconds left gave the Nuggets the edge. But Hood's 26-foot 3-pointer gave Portland a 138-136 lead as time wound down. Jokic missed the first of two free throws for Denver and Seth Curry made free throws for the Blazers to close it out. Hood finished with 19 points. "Rodney Hood a huge impact on the game, and they went to him," Malone said. In the first overtime, McCollum's layup tied it at 109 with 8.7 seconds left and Jokic missed an off-balance 3-pointer at the buzzer. SHAW THREATENS TO KNOCK CHARLES BARKLEY'S 'A-- OUT' DURING HILARIOUS LIVE NBA PLAYOFFS COVERAGE With the game knotted at 118 in the second overtime, Jokic missed a 3-pointer and a jump ball with 5.7 seconds left was grabbed by McCollum. Portland called a timeout with 4.1 seconds on the clock but Lillard missed a 3-point attempt as time ran out. Millsap's jumper with 32 seconds left gave the Nuggets a 129-125 lead in the third overtime, but Lillard's bank shot closed the gap and he added a layup that re-tied it again with 8.4 seconds left. McCollum played 60 minutes. The Blazers, in the conference semifinals since 2016, have won the last two games after second-seeded Denver's victory in Game 1. Maurice Harkless started for the Blazers after rolling his ankle in the second quarter of Game 2 and sitting out the rest of the way. Torrey Craig was also day-to-day but started for Denver, wearing a clear mask after his nose was bloodied in Wednesday's game. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP Portland led by as many as 10 points in the opening half but the Nuggets pulled in front 38-37 on Murray's running 3-pointer. Portland went into the break with just a 48-47 edge.<doc-sep>
There’s something about Syracuse and epic overtime basketball games. Just about everyone knows about the marathon, six-overtime college game between Syracuse University and Connecticut in the 2009 Big East Tournament. But the NBA record for most overtimes in a playoff game belongs to Syracuse, as well -- a record that was tied Friday night when the Portland TrailBlazers beat the Denver Nuggets 140-137 in four overtimes. Before Portland’s dramatic win, the league’s only four-overtime playoff game took place on March 21, 1953, when the Syracuse Nationals and the Boston Celtics battled in the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals. The Celtics outlasted the Nats 111-105 to win the best-of-three series, two games to none, and advance to the conference finals. Bob Cousy led the Celtics with 50 points, hitting 30 of 32 free throws. Red Rocha had 19 points and Paul Seymour 18 for the Nationals. An NBA.com feature on the game described it a foul-fest, common before the introduction of the 24-second clock. The shot clock, brainchild of Nationals owner Danny Biasone, was adopted by the NBA in the 1954-55. While the score was high for its era, 111-105 in favor of Boston in four overtimes, the game was hardly a fast-paced affair. It was dominated by fouls, especially in the overtime periods, when each team was afraid to let the other gain a significant lead. Cousy, nicknamed the Houdini of the Hardwood for his ballhandling prowess, emerged as the dominant factor. Celtics coach Red Auerbach ordered his team to keep the ball in Cousy’s hands, and the slick guard dribbled until he was fouled. The game set several records that still stand today, including Cousy’s 30 free throws made; the Celtics’ 57 free throws made; the teams’ combined 108 points and 128 attempts from the free-throw line; and the 67 minutes played by Syracuse’s Seymour and Rocha -- two more minutes than Denver’s Nikola Jokic played Friday night. While the Celtics’ win ended Syracuse’s season, the Nats did get their revenge -- knocking the Celtics out of the playoffs in each of the next three seasons.