A normal pro basketball game lasts 48 minutes.
But half a century ago in the American Basketball Association, the New York Nets and Virginia Squires completed a showdown that took 67 and a half minutes of clock time and 17 days – and it didn’t even go to overtime.
On January 7, 1976, at the Norfolk Scope, the Squires brought an ABA-worst record of 5-28 against Julius “Dr. J” Erving and the Nets. After four, 12-minute quarters, lowly Virginia had apparently secured a 112-89 victory, giving fans of the hard-luck squad a rare reason to celebrate in what would be the ABA’s final season.
To say the contest was tense would be quite the understatement.
New York coach Kevin Loughery drew six – yes, six – technical fouls, and his team was issued nine in all. One of the coach’s came in the second quarter, another was issued with 2:46 to play when officials claimed the Nets were using an illegal zone defense, and he was tagged with four more Ts for continuing to argue with the men in black (and white).
Mike Jackson led the hosts with 32 points and 17 rebounds, while rookie teammate Mel Bennett pumped in 24. Dr. J was limited to 26 points after fouling out with 7:28 left to play.
That, however, was not the end of the story – or even the end of the game.
ABA commissioner Dave DeBusschere called Loughery into his office the next day to discuss his rash of technical fouls. When he did, the Nets boss announced that he was protesting the game because Virginia’s Willie Wise was permitted to re-enter the tilt after being injured and failing to participate in a jump ball, a violation of Rule 6, Section 4 of the ABA rule book.
The rule reads: “The jump call shall be between the players involved unless injury precludes one or both of the jumpers from participating. If the injured player must leave the game, he will not be permitted to re-enter the game and the opposing coach selects the replacement.”
Loughery wound up being fined $1,000 and suspended two games for his multiple techs, but DeBusschere upheld the protest.
On January 13, the commissioner fined officials Jess Kersey and Bob Serafin for permitting the violation, which occurred in the third quarter of the contest. And he ruled that the game would be picked up with 19:05 remaining and the Squires leading, 63-49.
Wise would not be allowed to play in the continuation, which would take place on January 24 before the regularly scheduled rematch between the clubs.
“The referees erred by permitting Wise, then an illegal player, to return with 7:05 remaining in the third quarter,” DeBusschere said in a statement released by the ABA. “They are supposed to know the rules and, as a result of the circumstances surrounding the protest, I have ordered a replay from the point of the error and have additionally levied fines on the two officials. This was a book rule mistake.”
So, instead of losing by 23 points on January 7, the Nets found themselves trailing by just 14 with nearly 20 minutes to go on January 24.
New York had nearly half a game to make it closer on this trip to Norfolk, but in the end the Squires still came out on top, 107-100.
Then – following a break – the teams hooked up again in their regularly scheduled matchup. New York got 27 points from Erving and that helped avenge the protest game loss as the Nets took a 94-85 decision.
While this one was certainly notable, it was not the first successful protest in ABA history, nor the longest – at least in terms of days. That honor goes to the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers, who spent 18 days trying to figure out a winner back in 1973.
On Nov. 13, the Indiana Pacers thought they had defeated the Spurs, 84-83. But Spurs officials insisted the game clock was not reset properly when possession changed hands, costing San Antonio 10 seconds and a chance to cross mid-court and take a shot.
Mike Storen was ABA commissioner at the time, and upheld the protest. His solution was to replay the final 30 seconds before the teams faced each other again on December 3.
This time, the protest worked in favor of the protesters, as the Spurs rallied for a 95-90 overtime conquest.
So, has the NBA had any protested games?
Quite a few – including one that started in one year and ended in another.
The Miami Heat contested a December, 2007, game against the Atlanta Hawks in which Shaquille O’Neal was sent off in overtime when officials ruled he had six fouls. However, O’Neal had only five, and NBA Commissioner David Stern agreed the mistake had to be rectified. Thus, the final 51.9 seconds were replayed in March of 2008 – after Shaq had been traded to Phoenix.
But, that’s another story for another time …
