Ty Law’s pick-six in Super Bowl XXXVI squares off against the Celtics’ triple-overtime win over the Suns in the 1976 NBA Finals in the first round of Boston’s Greatest Sports Moment tournament.
The 2001 New England Patriots made an improbable run to Super Bowl XXXVI, facing off against the heavily favored St.Louis Rams, led by MVP quarterback Kurt Warner and NFL Offensive Player of the Year Marshall Faulk. The Patriots were unable to put any points on the board through the first quarter and a half, managing a single first down on three drives. With 8:49 left in the second quarter and the Rams leading 3-0, Warner attempted a long pass to receiver Isaac Bruce. New England cornerback Ty Law picked the ball out of the air, and the speedy defensive back raced 47 yards into the end zone to give the Patriots their first score of the game, giving them momentum and a ton of belief.
Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals at the Boston Garden had everything: leads, collapses, controversy and buzzer-beaters. And the Celtics overcame all of that to beat the Suns 128-126 in triple overtime in one of the most entertaining games in NBA history. The Celtics had a chance to win the game — and many say they should have — at the end of regulation, the first overtime and the second overtime, but controversial calls kept the teams playing. After playing over 50 minutes of basketball, Garfield Heard hit a buzzer-beater to force triple overtime. Celtics fans rushed the court, and one even attacked referee Richie Powers as pandemonium ensued before the third overtime. Boston took a six-point lead in the third overtime and went on to win the game and the series in six games. The Suns, meanwhile, threatened not to go back to the Garden if security couldn’t control the fans.
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