A History of Nets Overtime Playoff Basketball

May 4, 1994, OT:
New Jersey Nets 93, New York Knicks 92

1994 will be remembered in the tri-state area as the year the New York Knicks went to the NBA Finals, but it was also the year the New Jersey Nets played their first NBA playoff OT game, against the second-seeded Knicks in the first round. Down 2-0 in the series and facing elimination at home, the Nets took a 68-52 lead with less than six minutes remaining in the third quarter, on a three from Twitter hero Kenny Anderson (@chibbs_1).

But the Knicks’ physical defense clamped down, holding the Nets to only nine points in the fourth quarter on 2-15 shooting. Knicks HOF center and Space Jam star Patrick Ewing swatted away an Anderson layup in the final seconds to send the game to overtime. In OT, a Ewing baseline turnaround gave the Knicks a 92-91 lead with 20 ticks on the clock. Nets forward Chris Morris was then fouled by Charles Barkley on a baseline drive. Morris hit both free throws to give the Nets the 93-92 lead. Finally, John Starks missed a three from the top of the key and the Nets staved off elimination.

Talented but troubled forward Derrick Coleman led the Nets with 25 points and 17 boards,but only six of those points came in the final 18 minutes of regulation and overtime. After the game, Coleman said, “I haven’t planned my summer vacation yet.” Coleman got to make his bocce ball plans just two days later as the Knicks defeated the Nets in game four in Jersey to win the best-of-five series, 3-1.

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Next: April 24, 1998

April 19, 1970 | March 31, 1973 | May 6, 1974 | May 4, 1994 | April 24, 1998 | May 2, 2002 | April 26, 2003 | May 12, 2003 | May 14, 2004 | April 28, 2005 | April 27, 2013