NBA basketball team season (won championship)
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1965–66 Boston Celtics season was their 20th in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
On October 29, 1965, Sam Jones set a Celtics single-game scoring record with 51, against the Detroit Pistons . His record would last until Larry Bird 's 53 in 1983 . The Celtics won their 8th title in a row, which still stands as a record for the most titles in a row. The Celtics defeated the Lakers 4 games to 3.
1966 NBA finals [ edit ]
The 1965-1966 NBA Finals was a thrilling seven-game series between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers . The Celtics entered the series as the favorites, having won the championship the previous year and boasting a roster of talented players led by Bill Russell , John Havlicek , and Sam Jones. The Lakers, on the other hand, were led by Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, two of the most dominant players in the league.
The series began with a closely contested game one, which the Lakers won by a score of 133-129 in overtime.[1] The Celtics bounced back in game two, with a 129-123 victory that featured standout performances from Russell and Jones. The series continued in this back-and-forth fashion, with each team trading wins and delivering memorable moments.
In game five, Russell had one of the greatest performances in NBA Finals history, recording 32 points and 30 rebounds to lead the Celtics to a 129-96 victory. The Lakers responded in game six, with Baylor scoring 41 points in a 120-118 win that forced a decisive game seven.
Game seven was a tightly contested affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to pull away. In the end, it was the Celtics who emerged victorious, thanks in large part to the heroics of Havlicek. With the score tied at 100-100 and just seconds remaining, Havlicek stole an inbound pass from the Lakers and scored the game-winning basket with five seconds left on the clock. The Celtics won the game 95-93 and secured their eighth championship in ten years.
The 1965-1966 NBA Finals will always be remembered as a classic series between two of the greatest teams in basketball history. The Celtics and Lakers would meet again in the Finals several times over the years, but this series remains one of the most memorable and significant in the history of the NBA.
Offseason [ edit ]
Draft picks [ edit ]
Boston Celtics 1965–66 roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Nat.
Name
Ht.
Wt.
From
SG
21
Bonham, Ron
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
192 lb (87 kg)
1942-05-31
Cincinnati
C
11
Counts, Mel
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1941-10-16
Oregon State
G/F
28
Green, Si
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1933-08-20
Duquesne
SF
17
Havlicek, John
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
203 lb (92 kg)
1940-04-08
Ohio State
PG
25
Jones, K. C.
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1932-05-25
San Francisco
SG
24
Jones, Sam
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
198 lb (90 kg)
1933-06-24
North Carolina Central
SF
12
Naulls, Willie
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1934-10-07
UCLA
SF
19
Nelson, Don
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1940-05-15
Iowa
C
6
Russell, Bill
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1934-02-12
San Francisco
PF
16
Sanders, Satch
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1938-11-08
NYU
PF
18
Sauldsberry, Woody
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1934-07-11
Texas Southern
PG
20
Siegfried, Larry
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1939-05-22
Ohio State
C
5
Thompson, John
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1941-09-02
Providence
F
12
Watts, Ron
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1943-05-21
Wake Forest
Head coach
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Regular season [ edit ]
Season standings [ edit ]
Record vs. opponents [ edit ]
1965-66 NBA Records
Team
BAL
BOS
CIN
DET
LAL
NYK
PHI
SFW
STL
Baltimore
—
3–7
3–7
5–5
4–6
7–3
5–5
4–6
7–3
Boston
7–3
—
5–5
6–4
7–3
10–0
4–6
8–2
7–3
Cincinnati
7–3
5–5
—
8–2
4–6
7–3
4–6
5–5
5–5
Detroit
5–5
4–6
2–8
—
2–8
2–8
3–7
2–8
2–8
Los Angeles
6–4
3–7
6–4
8–2
—
5–5
2–8
7–3
8–2
New York
3–7
0–10
3–7
8–2
5–5
—
2–8
5–5
4–6
Philadelphia
5–5
6–4
6–4
7–3
8–2
8–2
—
8–2
7–3
San Francisco
6–4
2–8
5–5
8–2
3–7
5–5
2–8
—
4–6
St. Louis
3–7
3–7
5–5
8–2
2–8
6–4
3–7
6–4
—
Game log [ edit ]
Several of the Celtics games were played in neutral sites, such as Providence, Rhode Island. The games in Providence occurred on November 9 and 26, December 30, February 10 and March 4. Games were also played in Fort Wayne, Indiana (against Detroit on January 27) and in Syracuse, New York (against Philadelphia on February 12) and Memphis, Tennessee (against St. Louis on March 7).[2]
1965–66 Game Log
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location
Record
1
October 16
Cincinnati Royals
102–98
Boston Garden
1–0
2
October 20
Los Angeles Lakers
100–96
Boston Garden
2–0
3
October 23
@ St. Louis Hawks
110–120
St. Louis Arena
2–1
4
October 28
@ Cincinnati Royals
108–113
Cincinnati
2–2
5
October 29
@ Detroit Pistons
106–108
Detroit
2–3
6
October 31
Baltimore Bullets
105–100
Boston Garden
3–3
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location
Record
7
November 5
@ Baltimore Bullets
129–118
Baltimore
4–3
8
November 6
Philadelphia 76ers
101–91
Boston Garden
5–3
9
November 9
Baltimore Bullets
130–116
Providence
6–3
10
November 11
St. Louis Hawks
87–83
Boston Garden
7–3
11
November 12
@ Philadelphia 76ers
114–123
Convention Hall
7–4
12
November 13
Detroit Pistons
122–93
Boston Garden
8–4
13
November 16
@ San Francisco Warriors
108–105
San Francisco
9–4
14
November 17
@ Los Angeles Lakers
115–125
Los Angeles
9–5
15
November 19
Cincinnati Royals
129–103
Boston Garden
10–5
16
November 20
@ New York Knicks
122–108
Madison Square Garden
11–5
17
November 24
New York Knicks
125–110
Boston Garden
12–5
18
November 26
Detroit Pistons
134–114
Providence
13–5
19
November 27
Los Angeles Lakers
101–95
Boston Garden
14–5
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
20
December 3
Philadelphia 76ers
103–119
Boston Garden
14–6
21
December 4
@ St. Louis Hawks
100–94
St. Louis Arena
15–6
22
December 5
@ Cincinnati Royals
99–108
Cincinnati
15–7
23
December 7
St. Louis Hawks
112–96
New York, NY
16–7
24
December 8
Los Angeles Lakers
108–106
Boston Garden
17–7
25
December 11
San Francisco Warriors
143–106
Boston Garden
18–7
26
December 15
Cincinnati Royals
110–117
Boston Garden
18–8
27
December 17
@ Detroit Pistons
114–112
Detroit
19–8
28
December 22
New York Knickerbockers
123–120
Boston Garden
20–8
29
December 25
@ Baltimore Bullets
113–99
Baltimore
21–8
30
December 26
Baltimore Bullets
120–99
Baltimore
22–8
31
December 28
@ Philadelphia 76ers
93–102
Baltimore
22–9
32
December 29
@ New York Knicks
99–96
Madison Square Garden
23–9
33
December 30
San Francisco Warriors
116–113
Providence
24–9
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
34
January 1
@ St. Louis Hawks
98–100
St. Louis Arena
24–10
35
January 2
@ Los Angeles Lakers
124–113
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
25–10
36
January 5
@ Los Angeles Lakers
113–120
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
25–11
37
January 7
@ San Francisco Warriors
115–114
San Francisco Civic Auditorium
26–11
38
January 8
@ San Francisco Warriors
124–96
San Francisco Civic Auditorium
27–11
39
January 12
Los Angeles Lakers
114–102
Boston Garden
28–11
40
January 14
@ Philadelphia 76ers
100–112
Convention Hall
28–12
41
January 16
Philadelphia 76ers
137–122
Boston Garden
29–12
42
January 18
Detroit Pistons
115–116
Philadelphia
29–13
43
January 19
Baltimore Bullets
129–89
Boston Garden
30–13
44
January 21
Cincinnati Royals
113–96
Boston Garden
31–13
45
January 22
@ Baltimore Bullets
107–132
Baltimore Civic Center
31–14
46
January 25
@ Cincinnati Royals
101–113
Cincinnati Gardens
31–15
47
January 27
Detroit Pistons
131–112
Fort Wayne, IN
32–15
48
January 28
Detroit Pistons
105–108
Boston Garden
32–16
49
January 29
@ New York Knickerbockers
119–107
Madison Square Garden
33–16
50
January 30
New York Knickerbockers
118–115
Boston Garden
34–16
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
51
February 1
Detroit Pistons
100–81
New York
35–16
52
February 2
@ Detroit Pistons
93–99
Cobo Arena
35–17
53
February 4
St. Louis Hawks
117–95
Boston Garden
36–17
54
February 5
@ Baltimore Bullets
94–113
Baltimore Civic Center
36–18
55
February 6
Philadelphia 76ers
100–99
Boston Garden
37–18
56
February 7
San Francisco Warriors
112–107
Philadelphia
38–18
57
February 9
New York Knicks
121–117
Boston Garden
39–18
58
February 10
San Francisco Warriors
117–128
Providence, RI
39–19
59
February 11
San Francisco Warriors
99–96
Boston Garden
40–19
60
February 12
Philadelphia 76ers
85–83
Syracuse, NY
41–19
61
February 13
Los Angeles Lakers
110–120
Boston Garden
41–20
62
February 15
@ Cincinnati Royals
123–136
Cincinnati Gardens
41–21
63
February 18
@ San Francisco Warriors
106–128
San Francisco Civic Auditorium
41–22
64
February 19
@ Los Angeles Lakers
115–111
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
42–22
65
February 21
@ Los Angeles Lakers
115–108
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
43–22
66
February 22
@ San Francisco Warriors
116–108
San Francisco Civic Auditorium
44–22
67
February 24
St. Louis Hawks
134–106
Boston Garden
45–22
68
February 26
@ New York Knicks
100–95
Madison Square Garden
46–22
69
February 27
@ Baltimore Bullets
92–132
Baltimore Civic Center
46–23
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
70
March 1
@ St. Louis Hawks
120–95
Kiel Auditorium
47–23
71
March 2
New York Knickerbockers
140–104
Boston Garden
48–23
72
March 4
St. Louis Hawks
112–132
Providence, RI
48–24
73
March 5
@ Philadelphia 76ers
85–102
Convention Hall
48–25
74
March 6
Philadelphia 76ers
110–113
Boston Garden
48–26
75
March 7
St. Louis Hawks
106–104
Memphis, TN
49–26
76
March 10
@ Cincinnati Royals
124–120
Cincinnati Gardens
50–26
77
March 13
Baltimore Bullets
129–98
Boston Garden
51–26
78
March 17
@ Detroit Pistons
128–103
Cobo Arena
52–26
79
March 19
@ New York Knicks
126–113
Madison Square Garden
53–26
80
March 20
Cincinnati Royals
121–104
Boston Garden
54–26
1965–66 Schedule
Playoffs [ edit ]
1966 playoff game log
Division Semifinals: 3–2 (home: 1–2; road: 2–0)
Division Finals: 4–1 (home: 2–0; road: 2–1)
NBA Finals: 4–3 (home: 2–2; road: 2–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Series
1
April 17
Los Angeles
L 129–133 (OT)
Bill Russell (28)
Bill Russell (26)
Sam Jones (9)
Boston Garden 13,909
0–1
2
April 19
Los Angeles
W 129–109
Havlicek , S. Jones (21)
Bill Russell (24)
John Havlicek (7)
Boston Garden 13,909
1–1
3
April 20
@ Los Angeles
W 120–106
Sam Jones (36)
Bill Russell (19)
Sanders , K. C. Jones (5)
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 15,101
2–1
4
April 22
@ Los Angeles
W 122–117
John Havlicek (32)
Bill Russell (18)
Larry Siegfried (7)
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 15,251
3–1
5
April 24
Los Angeles
L 117–121
Bill Russell (32)
Bill Russell (28)
Siegfried , K. C. Jones (6)
Boston Garden 13,909
3–2
6
April 26
@ Los Angeles
L 115–123
John Havlicek (27)
Bill Russell (23)
K. C. Jones (6)
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 15,069
3–3
7
April 28
Los Angeles
W 95–93
Bill Russell (25)
Bill Russell (32)
Sanders , K. C. Jones (3)
Boston Garden 13,909
4–3
1966 schedule
Awards, records and milestones [ edit ]
John Havlicek, All-NBA Second Team
Sam Jones, All-NBA Second Team
Bill Russell, All-NBA Second Team
References [ edit ]
1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s