On this day in 1987, the Boston Celtics signed center Mark Acres.
Originally drafted in 1985 by the Dallas Mavericks out of Oral Roberts University playing under his father, Acres played two seasons in Europe, and then joined the Celtics as a free agent two years later.
Acres had a middling career with the team as a reserve over two seasons, putting up 3 points, as many rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game while in green and white.
Acres would leave the team after being selected by new NBA team the Orlando Magic in the 1989 Expansion Draft, held to populate the Magic’s and Minnesota Timberwolves’ rosters as they joined the league that season.
He was the sole Celtics player taken by either team in that draft.
It is also the anniversary of a 96-87 Game 5 playoff win over the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1974 NBA Finals.
The win gave the Celtics a 3-2 lead in the series and home court advantage after forward John Havlicek and big man Dave Cowens each scored 28 points.
“We were the David and they were the Goliath,” said then-head coach Tommy Heinsohn via Onmilwaukee.com.
Boston would go on to win its 12th championship in seven games.
In 2011, the Celtics would also defeat the Miami Heat 97-81 in Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Kevin Garnett and a one-armed point guard in Rajon Rondo carried the day for Boston, the latter with a dislocated shoulder. KG put up 28 points and 18 rebounds and Rondo 11 assists while Paul Pierce added 27 points, 5 boards and as many assists.
“He showed he’s a really tough young individual,” said Kevin Garnett via the Associated Press. “I don’t know what he’s going to be like when he’s 35, but right now he’s playing pretty well.”
