Bullets Tie Series with Lakers

Apr. 9, 1965 - Don Ohl, whose play has been sensational since the NBA playoffs began three weeks ago, crammed 11 points into the final 6 minutes and hit the winning basket with 48 seconds to go to give the Bullets a breathtaking 114-112 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers tonight. The come-from-behind victory, staged before season’s largest Baltimore Civic Center crowd of 10,642 screaming fans, evened the best-of-seven series for the Western Division title at 2-2.

“The shot felt like it was good all the way,” beamed Ohl afterward. “Somebody set up a pick, and Jim King got caught overplaying me. Jerry West had to pick me up, and he had five personals, and he had to give me a little shooting room.”“We had no particular play for the last shot,” coach Buddy Jeannette said. “After all, pro basketball is a freewheeling game, with the responsibility resting on each individual’s initiative.”

West had one final shot at the tying basket. But for the moment, the Laker hero had run out of miracles. He missed with 22 seconds left, and the Bullets grabbed the rebound.

Kevin Loughery dribbled away the remaining seconds, and the final buzzer set off the wildest demonstration for the Bullets since they returned to big-league basketball in Baltimore two years ago.

Ohl, with 28 points, paced the Bullet attack for the third time in four games and now has tallied 111 in the series. 

“I’ve only one statement to make,” said Laker coach Fred Schaus, “and nothing else. I’ve never been as proud of any club that I’ve had that won as I am of this one” — going without high-scoring Elgin Baylor, home recuperating from knee surgery, and backcourter Dick Barnett, groin injury — “in defeat.”

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