Today in Boston Celtics history, Bill Russell pulled down a career-high 51 rebounds on this date in 1960.
Russell would pull off the feat despite playing the game with a cramped muscle that slowed his ability to play – not that it showed in the box score – making the feat all the more impressive. It was the second-most boards taken down by a player in the league’s history at that time, and it came in a home game at the old Boston Garden against the (then) Syracuse Nationals (now, Philadelphia 76ers) that the Celtics won comfortably in a 124 – 100 blowout.
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Historic milestones
It is also the date of iconic Celtics small forward John Havlicek’s last All-Star Game in 1978. Doug Collins of the Philadelphia 76ers gave Hondo his starting spot so he could retire an All-Star starter. Havlicek would score 10 points in the midseason friendly.
Unknown date & location; USA: FILE PHOTO; Baltimore Bullets guard Earl Monroe (10) is defended by Boston Celtics guard John Havlicek (17) at Cincinnati Gardens. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Finally, in a weird twist of fate, it is the anniversary of Celtic legend Paul Pierce’s first and last “home” game as a Celtic in 2017, if you take some liberty with what counts as a home game. The first was in his rookie campaign of 1998-99, a 103 – 92 loss to the Toronto Raptors, in which the Truth scored an impressive 19 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Russell’s 51 boards; Hondo’s last ASG, Pierce’s last at the Garden