On This Date in Sports January 21, 1954: Cousy in Overtime
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
The NBA All-Star Game goes to overtime for the first time as the East defeats the West 98-93 at New York's Madison Square Garden. It is the last All-Star Game in which neither team reached triple figures as the shot clock was introduced one year later, creating more offense. Bob Cousy of the Boston Celtics is named the game's MVP, scoring 20 points, including ten points in overtime as the East outscored the West 14-9.
The fourth NBA All-Star Game brought the best players in the NBA into New York City for the first time, as the game was played at Madison Square Garden. Joe Lapchick of the New York Knicks coached the Eastern Division team, whole John Kundla of the Minneapolis Lakers led the team from the Western Division.
The game close throughout as the East held a three-point lead at the end of the first quarter and led 48-44 at the half. The Western Division came out strong in the second half and took the lead in the first quarter, outscoring the East 23-17. The West was paced by Jim Pollard of the Lakers, who led all scorers in the game with 23 points. He was joined by his teammate from Minneapolis, George Mikan, who had 18 points to provide a dynamic duo. Bob Davies of the Rochester Royals also had 18 points for the West. The East had their own duo as Ed Macauley and Bill Sharman of the Celtics had 13 and 14 points, respectively, while Ray Felix of the Baltimore Bullets also had 13 points. Late in the game, the East had an.84-82 lead, when Mikan was fouled. Mikan hit both free throws to tie the game and force overtime.
In overtime, it was all Bob Cousy, as the Celtics guard who scored ten points in regulation had the hot hand scoring ten points in overtime, outscoring the Western Division on his own, 10-9. Jim Pollard had been voted the game's MVP in the final seconds of regulation, but a revote was held, giving Cousy the MVP. With the win, the East held a 3-1 series lead in the All-Star Game's history.