On this day in Boston Celtics history, shooting guard PJ Dozier would sign a two-way deal with the team in 2018. An alum of his hometown University of South Carolina, Dozier had gone undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft, signing with the Los Angeles Lakers for their Summer League team.
After stints with the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2017-18 season, the Columbia native landed with the Celtics, inking a deal for one season. While with Boston, Dozier made the All-NBA G League team with the Maine Red Claws (the Celtics’ developmental affiliate in the G League, now the Maine Celtics), the equivalent of the All-Star team in that league.
Boston declined to extend his contract at the end of the season, and Dozier moved on to the Denver Nuggets, for whom he still plays. He averaged 3.2 points and 2.8 rebounds per game with the team.
It is also the date of Boston’s 102-94 Game 3 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs held at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex outside of Orlando, Florida.
The Celtics were led by 24 points and 8 rebounds from point guard Kemba Walker and 21 points and 7 boards from forward Jaylen Brown.
Philadelphia big man Joel Embiid logged 30 points and 13 rebounds, but it was not enough because no other Sixer cracked 20 points.
“I don’t want to be swept,” Embiid said via the AP at the time. “I don’t want that in my resume. I’ll be playing my butt off. I’m going to come in and do everything that I can to make sure we win a game.”
Alas for Embiid, the Sixers were indeed swept.
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