1960s Timeline

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Oct 20

Celtics Crush Knicks as Bill Russell Dominates

Oct. 20, 1962 - Bill Russell got the Boston Celtics off to a fast start tonight, and the NBA champions crushed the New York Knicks, 149-116, before a record opening-game crowd of 10,705 at Boston Garden. The Knicks, who had won two straight, never came close as the Celtics sprinted to a 26-13 lead after 5 minutes. At the half, Boston was in front, 80-59. Then Sam Jones went on a scoring rampage, and the Celtics opened the bulge to 103-67 midway through the third period. Seven

Jun 13

John Havlicek Signs with Cleveland Browns

June 13, 1962 - John (Hondo) Havlicek, captain of the Ohio State basketball team last season, signed today with the Cleveland Browns of the NFL. Two professional basketball champions — the Boston Celtics of the NBA and the Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball League — had drafted Havlicek and had tried to sign him. The Browns said that four baseball teams also were interested in the 22-year-old, 6-foot-5-inch, 205-pound athlete. They are the Indians, Yankees, Phillies,

Apr 18

🚨Celtics Capture Fourth Consecutive Championship in OT Win over Lakers

Apr. 18, 1962 - The Boston Celtics captured their fourth consecutive NBA championship tonight by vanquishing the Los Angeles Lakers, 110-107, in overtime on the heroics of Sam Jones and Bill Russell. Boston led most of the game, played before a capacity crowd of 13,909 fans in Boston Garden. But the Celtics had to beat down the tenacious Lakers in a 5-minute overtime session after Frank Selvy had brought Los Angeles even in the final 40 seconds of regulation play. Selvy barel

Apr 16

NBA Finals: Celtics Even Series with Lakers at 3-3, Game 7 in Boston Wednesday Night

Apr. 16, 1962 - The Boston Celtics rallied on Sam Jones’ shooting in the third quarter tonight and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 119-105. The victory sent the NBA championship playoffs to a decisive seventh game. Jones scored five baskets in the first six minutes of the second half. This gave the Celtics the lift that evened the playoff series at three victories each. The seventh game will be Wednesday night at Boston Garden. Boston, which had complained about the officiat

Apr 14

NBA Playoffs: Lakers Upset Celtics in Boston, Elgin Baylor Drops Record 61 Points

Apr. 14, 1962 - Elgin Baylor smashed a string of NBA scoring records tonight in leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 126-121 upset of the Boston Celtics. Baylor collected 61 points against the 3-time champions, who had been favored by 8 points. A capacity Boston Garden crowd saw the Lakers move ahead in the 4-of-7 championship series, 3 games to 2. Baylor shattered the 56-point playoff mark set less than a month ago by the Philadelphia Warriors’ star, Wilt Chamberlain. Baylor’

Apr 11

NBA Playoffs: Celtics Even Series with Los Angeles, 2-2

Apr. 11, 1962 - The Boston Celtics combined good shooting, fine board play, and a demoralizing defense tonight to beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 115-103, and even their NBA final playoffs at two games each. Bill Russell’s basket and free throw gave the Celtics a 3-0 lead at the outset. They never trailed. Russell finished with 21 points. Tom Heinsohn added 19 in the balanced attack, Tom Sanders 18, Bob Cousy 17, Sam Jones 14, and K.C. Jones 12. Beaten by a last-second basket ye

Apr 8

NBA Finals: Lakers Tie Series With Celtics at 2-2

Apr. 8, 1962 - The Los Angeles Lakers survived a Boston Celtic 24-point comeback, staged a late rush of their own, and scored a 129-122 victory today. It tied their 4-of-7 championship series at one game each. With Jerry West scoring 40 points and Elgin Baylor 36, the Lakers overcame a 6-point first-period deficit and raced to their widest margin early in the third period. Boston outscored the Lakers, 15-3, at one stage and pulled to within 4 points at the end of 3 quarters.

Apr 6

NBA: Bob Cousy To Play One More Season With Celtics

Apr. 6, 1962 - Bob Cousy, the fine playmaker of the NBA’s Boston Celtics, today signed a three-year contract to coach basketball at Boston College. The contract will become effective at the end of the 1962-63 season. The 33-year-old Cousy has been an outstanding NBA player the past 12 years after a brilliant college career at Holy Cross. Cousy has an off-season insurance business in Worcester, Mass. In addition, he operates a boys’ camp during the summer. He will play one mor

Apr 5

NBA Playoffs: Celtics Top Warriors, Move On To Face Lakers in Finals

Apr. 5, 1962 - A jump shot by Sam Jones (pictured #24) with two seconds left tonight enabled the Boston Celtics to score a 109-107 victory over the Philadelphia Warriors and take their sixth straight NBA Eastern Division title. Jones’ basket followed a 3-point play by Wilt Chamberlain that had tied the score. The Warriors then had time for only one play, but Sam Jones intercepted and held on as the buzzer ended the 4-of-7 series. The Celtics now go after their fourth straight

Apr 1

NBA Playoffs: Celtics Top Warriors in Fight-Filled Contest

Apr. 1, 1962 - The defending champion Boston Celtics built a 23-point first-half cushion and held on through a brawling fourth period today to beat the Philadelphia Warriors, 119-104. Thus, the Celtics took a 3-2 lead in the 4-of-7 NBA playoff series. Bill Russell scored another rebounding decision over Chamberlain, 26-14. Chamberlain scored 30 points to 29 for Russell. One player, Tom Heinsohn of the Celtics, was ejected during a wild fourth period marked by three player fig

Nov 25, 2021

NBA: Cousy Scores 15,000th Point as Celtics Top Knicks

Nov. 25, 1961 - Bob Cousy (pictured with Red Auerbach) reached the 15,000-point plateau in his 11-year NBA career today while steering the Boston Celtics to a 116-96 victory over the New York Knickerbockers. Only Dolph Schayes of Syracuse has scored more points than Cousy’s 15,020. Cousy, the second-high scorer for the Celtics with 22 points, sank a basket for his 14,999th and 15,000th points just 50 seconds after the game had started. He also contributed 5 assists and has a

Oct 17, 2021

Five NBA Players, Denied Meal Service at Kentucky Hotel, Sit Out Exhibition Game

Oct. 17, 1961 - Bill Russell (right) and four other Negro players on the Boston Celtics and two on the St. Louis Hawks left Lexington, Ky., tonight after they were refused meal service at the hotel where they were staying. The players left an hour before they were to play an exhibition game at the University of Kentucky. The Hawks won the game, 128-103, both teams using their white players. Coach Red Auerbach (left) of the Celtics said he took his five players to the airport