Today is also the anniversary of two first-round playoff wins since the season of Boston’s last championship in 2007-08.
The first is a 96-93 win over the New York Knicks in 2011 that gave the Celtics a 2-0 series lead despite a 42-point performance by Carmelo Anthony.
Point guard Rajon Rondo led the team with 30 points, Paul Pierce added 20, Ray Allen 18, and Kevin Garnett hit the game-winner with 14 seconds remaining, only to steal the ball on the next play to secure the win.