Mar. 10, 1964 - A “must” victory is not just a cliché. It’s getting to be a way of life for the St. Louis Hawks as they chase the San Francisco Warriors in the Western Division race of the NBA. With only five regular-season games remaining for each, the Hawks are still within one game of the first-place Warriors. They maintained that pace by destroying the Knicks, 124-105, at Madison Square Garden tonight. San Francisco, meanwhile, defeated the Baltimore Bullets, 129-111. (Pictured below, Art Heyman of the Knicks drives on Bob Pettit.)
The Hawks started slowly tonight, but by halftime, they had forged ahead, 59-54, and were on their way.
“We just weren’t running,” said Cliff Hagan. “But when that second half opened, we were ready.”
A 15-1 run began an ascent that carried the Hawks to an 85-60 spread in fewer than six minutes. Hagan scored 12 of his 34 points during that big push.
“We started fast in the second half and build up momentum,” said St. Louis coach Harry Gallatin. “And New York was missing on its shots — that didn’t hurt either. But we’ve got to play ‘em one at a time. Tomorrow night, we’re at home against Philadelphia. Ordinarily, we handle them well, but it’s a funny game.”
In other NBA action, the Detroit Pistons beat the Cincinnati Royals, 114-108, and that clinched at least a tie for the Eastern Division for the Boston Celtics.
The Hawks’ Richie Guerin, after hearing the news, reasoned: “Now that Cincy can’t win it, maybe they’ll rest Oscar. Every minute he’s out helps.” His reference was to Oscar Robertson, whom the Hawks have to face in two more pre-playoff meetings with the Royals.
