Sports
How West Ham battled relegation "fear" to find PL survival hope
West Ham's Mads Hermansen on Overcoming Relegation Fears
Sky Sports1 min read
Sports
Today in Boston Celtics history: 5th title vs. Lakers in 1962; Smart wins DPOY
TL;DR
On this day, the Boston Celtics secured their fifth NBA Championship in 1962, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 110-107 in overtime. Additionally, Marcus Smart was awarded the Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, marking a significant achievement for backcourt players.
Key points
- Boston Celtics won their fifth NBA Championship in 1962
- Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 110-107 in overtime
- Bill Russell recorded 30 points and 40 rebounds in Game 7
- Marcus Smart won the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year award
- Smart's win marked a milestone for backcourt players
Boston CelticsLos Angeles LakersBill RussellMarcus Smart
Today in Boston Celtics history, the storied ball club won their fifth NBA Championship, for the 1961-62 season. The victory was won against their longstanding rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, in Game 7 of the series, with the Lakers then based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Boston triumphed in the decisive contest with a score of 110-107 in overtime, thanks to an outstanding outing by the Hall of Fame Celtics center Bill Russell, who contributed 30 points and 40 rebounds. Russell's herculean effort contributed to a Finals series record of 189 total rebounds, which remains unmatched to this day. Additionally, Celtics guard Sam Jones added another 27 points and 8 rebounds to the team's big win.
Laker Frank Selvy missed a last-second shot that would have won the game for L.A., but it bounced off the rim, sending the game into the extra period that Boston would use to secure the victory.
Historic milestones
It is also the date that Marcus Smart won the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year award, the first such nod to a backcourt player since Gary Payton Sr. won the award in 1996.
Feb 15, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA;Boston Celtics forward Blake Griffin (91) and guard Marcus Smart (36) congratulate each other during a timeout in the secondhalf against the Detroit Pistons at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
In a nice flourish by the league, the NBA had Payton hand the award to Smart in a surprise ceremony at Auerbach Center.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire:
Q&A
What was the score of the 1962 NBA Championship Game 7 between the Celtics and Lakers?
The Boston Celtics won the 1962 NBA Championship Game 7 against the Los Angeles Lakers with a score of 110-107 in overtime.
Who was the standout player in the 1962 NBA Finals for the Celtics?
Bill Russell was the standout player for the Celtics in the 1962 NBA Finals, scoring 30 points and grabbing 40 rebounds in the decisive Game 7.
When did Marcus Smart win the Defensive Player of the Year award?
Marcus Smart won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2022, becoming the first backcourt player to receive the honor since Gary Payton Sr. in 1996.
