On this day in Boston Celtics history, the Celtics won the NBA championship in 1961. The win was the final game of a five-game series between the then- St. Louis Hawks and Boston, which the Celtics won 4-1.
The series-clinching win was a 121-112 victory that saw legendary Boston big man Bill Russell score 30 points and 38 rebounds to secure the win, with 18 points and 12 assists from point guard luminary Bob Cousy. Wing Sam Jones added 16 points and 10 boards, forward Tommy Heinsohn chipped in 19 points and 7 rebounds, and shooting guard Frank Ramsey scored 16 points for good measure.
It would be the last time the two teams faced off in the NBA Finals, and the last time the opposing franchise — now based out of Atlanta, Georgia — made a Finals appearance.
Indiana’s Calbert Cheaney, center, pulls a rebound from the hands of Xavier’s Larry Sykes, right, as Damon Bailey prepares to pick up the loose ball during the NCAA Midwest Regional round two in the Indianapolis Hoosier Dome March 21, 1993. Indiana advanced to the round of 16 with a 73-70 win. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)
It is also former Celtics power forward Larry Sykes’ birthday, who was born today in 1973 in Toledo, Ohio.
He played his college ball with Xavier University, and would have the briefest Celtics tenure possible — just one game, in which he recorded two rebounds; he was waived by the franchise shortly after.
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