On this day in Boston Celtics history, two highly unusual games occurred — both within the last 20 years of the NBA’s history. The first of the two contests was a game on this date in the year 2000 that saw the Celtics play the New York Knicks on the road in Madison Square Garden in which their Atlantic Division opponent did not miss a single free throw throughout the course of the entire game.
Of course, it helps when the opposing team only shoots a total of just 9 free throws throughout the course of the entire game, which was the case with the Knicks that night.
Unfortunately for the Knicks, it would not be enough to secure the win, with New York falling to Boston 92-86.
Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce, bottom, drives to the basket past Utah Jazz guard Devin Brown, rear, in the third quarter during their NBA basketball game in Boston, Wednesday Dec. 21 2005. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
It is also the date of a game five years to the day that saw the Celtics beat the Utah Jazz 101-89 in 2005.
This game would have otherwise been unremarkable except for one highly unusual fact — the Celtics did not make a single 3-point shot at any point in the game.
(Soobum Im-US PRESSWIRE)
It wasn’t for lack of trying, though — Paul Pierce himself shot 5 of the 10 total Boston put up throughout the course of the game.
It was the first time since 1999 that such an unusual quirk had happened in a game, a 0-of-6 affair against the Atlanta Hawks, the fourth-longest streak in NBA history.
“It’s a step in the right direction. Hopefully, it’s something
we can build on,” said Pierce after the win via ESPN.
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Story originally appeared on Celtics Wire
