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Celtics Dominate Knicks at Boston Garden

Jan. 31, 1965 - It’s a good thing Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics doesn’t foul out too often. He fouled out for the first time this season today, and it created a lot more excitement than the 123-95 victory posted by the Celtics over the Knicks at Boston Garden.

A rhubarb which lasted six minutes erupted in the fourth period when the sixth foul was called against Russell, who has only fouled out 12 times in eight seasons.

Russell didn’t like the call. Then coach Red Auerbach of Boston got into the act. He was charged with a technical foul by rookie referee Jack Madden and was then thrown out of the game.

Auerbach made a waving gesture of goodbye to coach Harry Gallatin of the Knicks as he left the playing area. Gallatin responded by challenging Auerbach to something more strenuous than basketball. Auerbach merely looked up at the taller, heavier Gallatin and pointed to the scoreboard which showed Boston leading by 25 at the time.

This bit was followed by a menacing confrontation between Russell and Gallatin. In addition, Tom Hoover of the Knicks, who has a better reputation as a fighter than basketball player, had to be restrained by teammate Jim Barnes. Barnes had some help from a dozen uniformed policemen. Hoover’s teammates finally carried him away bodily and calmed him down. Only a few minutes earlier, Hoover and Willis Reed had tried to act as peacemakers when Russell started protesting his disqualifying foul.

John Havlicek led the victors with 22 points, while Reed topped the Knicks with 17.

“Wait until Bill Russell is gone,” Gallatin said afterward. “Then we’ll see how great a coach Red Auerbach is.”

“Gallatin was the same way as a player,” Auerbach countered. “Never went after the big guys.”

Boston lost Willie Naulls indefinitely in the first minute of play today when he fell heavily to the floor trying for an offensive rebound and suffered a concussion. Naulls was taken to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital for observation after two stitches were taken in his forehead.



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