On this day, the Boston Celtics defeated the Detroit Pistons 123-113 in Game 6 of the 1985 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals, defeating the Pistons six games to two.
The Celtics won despite 37 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists from Detroit star point guard Isiah Thomas.
The victory came with 24 points, 13 rebounds and 3 steals from big man Robert Parish, point guard Dennis Johnson adding 22 points, 5 boards and 6 assists, and forward Larry Bird chipped in 17 points, 9 boards and 7 assists for good measure.
Reserve forward Scott Wedman contributed 17 points off the bench. It was just the second time the two East teams had collided in the postseason, Boston winning both.
The Celtics would go on to face the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Two years to the day later, Boston beat the Milwaukee Bucks 138-137 in a double-overtime nail-biter in Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Boston won due to a 42-point explosion from Bird, who also had 7 rebounds and 8 assists.
Forward Kevin McHale added 34 points and 11 rebounds, and Johnson added 19 points and 12 assists.
It is also the anniversary of another postseason squeaker, the Celtics beating the Orlando Magic 95-94 in Game 4 of the 2009 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Glen Davis hit the winning shot in the game’s final moments, left open for an easy bucket that sealed the contest. “This is really neat,” he said via the Associated Press. “This is my first time, so bear with me.”
“Big Baby” filled in for an injured Kevin Garnett well, logging 21 points and 6 boards, and Paul Pierce led all Celtics with 27 points. Point guard Rajon Rondo added 21 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists.
In 2012, Boston defeated the Atlanta Hawks 83-80 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first round, sending the Hawks fishing four games to two.
After being called the “dirtiest guy in the league” by an Atlanta owner, Garnett responded with a 28-point, 14-rebound, 3-steal and 5-block performance to seal the series.
“Thank you to their owner for giving me some extra gas tonight,” Garnett exclaimed via the A.P. “My only advice to him is next time he opens his mouth to know what he’s talking about with X’s and O’s versus checkbooks and bottom lines.”
Pierce added 18 points and Rondo 14 more and 8 assists.
Finally, the Celtics defeated the Washington Wizards 123-101 in Game 5 of the 2017 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals behind a playoff career-high 29 points from guard Avery Bradley.
Big man Al Horford added 19 points, 7 assists and 6 boards while point guard Isaiah Thomas chipped in 18 points and 9 assists.
“The great start kind of got us going on both ends of the floor,” Bradley said courtesy of the A.P. “Tonight we saw if we’re able to start the right way, the game’s in our control.”
