On this day in 1959, the rivalry between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers was born as the Celtics defeated their longtime rivals — then in Minnesota, known for its lakes — as their first NBA Finals series came to an end with a 118-113 triumph for the Massachusetts franchise.
It was, Boston fans will be happy to hear, a sweep of four games in a row for the Celtics, who won the seven-game series to take home the first of eight NBA championships in a row, a feat which has yet to be replicated.
For what it’s worth, it was also only one of two times a team with a losing record — the Lakers — made it to the Finals.
But, it began a long tradition of the two teams meeting in the NBA Finals over the decades that would be closer than this initial series might have one think.
It is also the date of Boston legend John Havlicek’s last home game, a 131-114 win over the Buffalo (New York) Bills. Hondo scored 29 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists in the final game of his storied career.
It was the last game of the 1977-78 regular season, and with the team’s 32-50 record, there was no postseason to play in for the Celtics.
Today was the date of Jo Jo White’s No. 10 jersey going up into the rafters in a ceremony at the Boston Garden in 1982.
White was one of the All-Time greats in the NBA’s — never mind Boston’s history, with two banners, seven All-Star Games, an NBA Finals MVP among many other honors to his name.
It is the birthday of former Celtic power forward Jack Edward Nichols, who was with Boston for five seasons between 1953 and 1958, where he won a championship in 1957, the first of many for the Celtics.
He averaged 8.7 points, 7.2 boards and 1.7 assists in his Boston tenure, the final three seasons of which he was also attending Tufts Dental School full time. He retired from basketball in 1958, having earned his doctoral degree in dentistry.
It is the one-year anniversary of a 116-110 win over the Washington Wizards for Boston, as both teams finished their respective NBA seasons — the Celtics headed to the playoffs, the Wiz to the lottery.
Signs of a looming playoff collapse for Boston after a tumultuous season could be gleaned from reserve guard Terry Rozier’s postgame comments.
“This season hasn’t been fun, personally. I know there’s better things to come,” he said via the Associated Press. “I haven’t had that much fun. Obviously last year was more fun to me, but it’s not all about me.”
Rozier had 21 points to lead Boston, forward Semi Ojeleye had 17, and guard R.J. Hunter added 17 off the bench as well in what would be his last game with the Celtics.
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