9.13.2008

5,000 Pack Gym for Intrasquad Scrimmage

1981-82 Boston Celtics

In a game marked by surprising intensity and crispness of play, the Celtics ' Green team, coached by Jimmy Rodgers, edged the White team, coached by K.C. Jones, 105-100, before 5000 paying customers in Rochester, N.Y., Saturday night.

The fans were treated to a spectacular 43-point, 14-rebound show by Larry Bird, who rallied his White team from a 92-86 deficit by scoring 16 consecutive points down the stretch.

Gerald Henderson calmly went one-on-one with rookie Glenn Hagan to sink a 12-foot baseline jumper and draw a foul with four seconds remaining to provide the underdog Greens (led by Kevin McHale's 20 points and 15 rebounds) with the triumph. Bird's 16-point run included a plain old three-pointer, a few dazzling drives, some medium-range shots, and a freak four-point play that tied the score at 102 with 20 seconds left.

Standing three feet behind the three-point arc, Bird, as he was hacked by Cedric Maxwell, lobbed a pass toward rookie George Morrow underneath the basket.The ball banked in, and Bird sank the free throw to tie the score. "I was hoping either to get 50 or win the game," Bird cracked.

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