On this day in Boston Celtics history, the team captured its 14th NBA championship in unforgettable fashion. Back in 1981, the Celtics (62-20) defeated the Houston Rockets 102-91 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, clinching the title on the hallowed parquet floor of the old Boston Garden—even after a tense five-minute stretch late in the game where Boston failed to make a single basket.
Larry Bird, the Hall of Fame forward, led the charge with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists. Cedric Maxwell added 19 points, 5 boards, and 6 assists, while center Robert Parish contributed 18 points and 6 rebounds. For the Rockets, shooting guard Robert Reed poured in 27 points with 8 rebounds and 5 assists, and the legendary Moses Malone posted a dominant 23 points and 16 rebounds. Despite Malone's heroics, it was Maxwell who earned Finals MVP honors for his all-around performance.
The Rockets entered the Finals with a 40-42 regular-season record, making them the last team in NBA history to reach the championship round with a losing record. But the series wasn't without its drama. After Houston's Game 4 win, Malone famously claimed the Celtics "weren't very good" and that he could find four guys off the street to compete with them. Backup big man Rick Robey admitted those comments "got our blood boiling," while Kevin McHale dismissed them as "blowing smoke." The Celtics let their play do the talking, closing out the series in six games.
On this date in Celtics lore, there's also a nod to the 2008 playoffs. Boston defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 96-89 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, despite 35 points and 5 assists from LeBron James. Kevin Garnett led the Celtics with 26 points and 16 rebounds, Paul Pierce added 29 points and 7 boards, and a young Rajon Rondo chipped in 20 points and 13 rebounds.
Whether it's the grit of the '81 squad or the star power of the 2008 team, this date reminds us why Celtics pride runs deep. For fans looking to rep that championship spirit, there's no better time to gear up in classic green and white.