Dec. 8, 1964 - Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics has become the first man in NBA history to haul down 14,000 rebounds in league play.
The Celts’ defensive genius pulled in 23 tonight at the Los Angeles Sports Arena to lead his team past the Los Angeles Lakers, 108-98, in a battle between the league’s division leaders.
Russell has a career total of 14,004 rebounds. He also tossed in 24 points. John Havlicek led the winners with 25 points.
Jerry West had 34 points for the Lakers, while the other half of the Los Angeles one-two scoring punch, Elgin Baylor, sat out the contest on the bench in street clothes because of a pulled leg muscle. A packed house of 13,169 saw the contest.
The Celtics led by eight at intermission, then turned cold in the third period to permit Leroy Ellis and Dick Barnett to outscore them, 9-1, to even the game at 54-54.
Then came the explosion. In the space of 94 seconds, Boston rang up 10 points without permitting the Lakers even a shot at the basket. They did it with their famed pressing defense.
“Their press forced us into errors,” said Laker coach Fred Schaus, “and that’s what beat us. Otherwise, we played about as well as we could.
“Come to think of it, that’s another way we missed Elgin. When he’s there with the ball, they take the press off.”
Russell contributed two of these field goals, and so did Havlicek. Despite West’s run of baskets, the Lakers could never get close again.
Elsewhere in the NBA, a Madison Square Garden twin bill saw Philadelphia edge Baltimore, 102-97, and Detroit nip New York, 102-100.
Philadelphia’s sharp backcourt combination of Hal Greer and Larry Costello led the 76ers past Baltimore. They combined for 44 points, while Gus Johnson led the losers with 28.
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