On this day in 1973, legendary Boston Celtic forward John Havlicek hit 24 field goals in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, matching a record held today by only Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan.
The game was a blowout, the Massachusetts franchise winning 134-109 behind Havlicek’s record-setting performance.
Hondo’s 54-point game came in a series against the Atlanta Hawks that Boston would eventually win four games to two, only to fall to Phil Jackson and Walt Frazier’s New York Knicks in the East Conference finals four games to three as New York went on to win its second and last title.
It was also on this date that shooting guard Bobby Wilson was waived by the Celtics, signed earlier in the season by the team in free agency.
Wilson, who played his college ball at Wichita State, was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the 52nd overall pick of the 1974 NBA Draft, where he would play two seasons before being waived by the Bulls.
He averaged 2 points and 0.6 assists per game over the 25 games he played for Boston.
It is also the anniversary of six victories since the season of the Celtics’ last championship in 2007-08. The first was a 106-92 win over the Chicago Bulls in 2008.
The win was secured with 22 points from former UConn star Ray Allen (including 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point range), 20 points and 4 blocks for Kevin Garnett, and 17 points from Paul Pierce.
“The 3-point line can be very tricky at times,” Allen opined via the Associated Press.
“You have so many open looks, and I know I’m capable of making them. Paul knows he’s capable of making them, but I think there’s a stigma attached when you shoot too many threes — you’re settling.”
Boston also squeaked by the Charlotte then-Bobcats 111-109 a year later in 2009 as a late 3-pointer from Allen stole the victory on the Celtics’ home court.
“I really didn’t expect [Gerald] Wallace to leave me,” said Allen courtesy of the Associated Press. “Paul just had the wherewithal to get it to me. He was driving to maybe put us ahead one.”
Pierce however powered Boston to this win with 32 points to Allen’s 22, and point guard Rajon Rondo had 21 points and 9 assists.
In 2012, the Celtics blew out the Miami Heat 91-72, with Rondo’s triple double setting the tone.
The Kentucky product would score 16 points, 14 assists and 11 boards in the win while the team held a LeBron James-led heat to just 34.8 % shooting from the floor.
Three years later in 2015, Boston beat the Indiana Pacers 100-87, with reserve center Kelly Olynyk scoring 19 points despite a black eye and several stitched in his face after teammate Shavlik Randolph had elbowed him in the face before the game.
“It was more of a vision thing; how well could he see?” posited head coach Brad Stevens via the AP. “He was saying he could see pretty well and the doctors felt pretty good about him playing … I think it looked a little worse than it felt.”
Center Tyler Zeller also had 19 points, and wing Evan Turner added 13 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in the victory.
It is the anniversary of the Celtics’ 109-106 win over the juggernaut Golden State Warriors in 2016 that saw Boston snap the Dubs’ 54-game winning streak on their own court.
Point guard Isaiah Thomas made a layup with less than 9 seconds remaining to put the Celtics up 3, and the Warrior’s Stephen Curry missed a potential game-tying trey as time expired.
IT would score 22 points, Turner 21 and 5 assists, and center Jared Sullinger 20 points and 12 boards in the win.
Finally, it a year to the day of another win over the Heat — this time a 110-105 victory powered by 25 points from point guard Kyrie Irving.
It was Dwyane Wade’s last game in TD Garden, spoiled with the help of big man Al Horford, who added 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
Still, Boston fans were gracious to their longtime foe, granting the Heat lifer a standing ovation at the end of the game.
“We’ve had so many battles in the playoffs, but appreciate the respect they’ve shown me as a player to give me the plaque and send me away with a piece of the history of the Celtics,” Wade said via the Associated Press. “That was so cool, and I didn’t expect it at all.”
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