The 1965–66 Boston Celtics season was their 20th in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
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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.
This also marked the final season Red Auerbach coached the Celtics, though his duties with the team only expanded as general manager in the following seasons; he would remain involved with the team in some form until his death 40 years later.
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.
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More information Boston Celtics 1965–66 roster, Players ...
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 |
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- Head coach
- Legend
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
- Injured
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Season standings
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Record vs. opponents
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Game log
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]
More information Game, Date ...
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 |
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1965–66 Schedule |
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More information 1966 playoff game log, Game ...
1966 playoff game log |
Division Semifinals: 3–2 (home: 1–2; road: 2–0)
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Division Finals: 4–1 (home: 2–0; road: 2–1)
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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 |
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1966 schedule |
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Awards
- John Havlicek, All-NBA Second Team
- Sam Jones, All-NBA Second Team
- Bill Russell, All-NBA Second Team
"NBA.com". NBA.com. August 17, 2011. Archived from the original on August 15, 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2023.{{cite web}}
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