Bird's Triple-Double Leads C's over Spurs

1983-84 Boston Celtics
Celtics 130, Spurs 106
Record: 12-5
12/1/1983

The Celtics may never find perfection in their total team concept, but few could argue they came pretty close with a dazzling outing that bewildered San Antonio last night at Boston Garden.Larry Bird had his third triple double of the year in leading Boston to a 130-106 rout of the Spurs. But his 23 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists only began to tell the story of Boston's domination. Kevin McHale chipped in 22 points (15 in the second period) as did Robert Parish. Danny Ainge came off the bench for a season high of 16 of which 12 were in the second half.

The Celtics, winning their third straight, handed San Antonio its ninth road loss in a row. The Spurs did make a game of it for one half, thanks chiefly to the shooting of George Gervin, who finished with 33 points. Boston, which had a 64-60 lead at halftime, went on a 13-3 blitz midway through the third period to take a 16-point lead after three quarters. The one predictable thing about K. C. Jones is that he changes his mind in an instant. Thus one day after saying his club would not be pressing and that Quinn Buckner would be his first guard off the bench, he started the Celtics off with full court pressure and Ainge, not Buckner, was the first sub.

The reason became obvious in the first few moments. San Antonio came out running, and the Celtics responded with a fast break of their own, jumping to a 12-6 lead. San Antonio drew to within one at 14-13, only to fall behind again, 21-17. The Celtics were able to get the ball inside to Parish, who scored 10 points in the first quarter. But Gervin, the Iceman, began to do his thing and the Spurs were on the move again, tying it, 28-28, on a three-point play by Gervin. Two free throws by Gervin put San Antonio ahead, 30-28, and he followed that with a fastball scoop shot that put the Spurs up, 32-28. McHale scored with three seconds left and after one period, San Antonio led, 32-30.

In the second period, it was Boston's turn to take off with an 11-4 run led by McHale, who scored 15 points in the period, including three baskets that helped the Celtics to a 41-34 lead. The Spurs went to their bench and closed the margin to 43-40 on a layup by big Mark McNamara. But Boston came back for four points. Boston still led, 51-48, when San Antonio tied it on three Gervin free throws. Gervin was fouled and also sank a technical foul on Bird. Instead of panicking, however, the Celtics went back to basics, finding either McHale, Cedric Maxwell or Parish inside. After Maxwell gave Boston a 54-53 lead, McHale scored eight straight points and Boston led, 62-56. Parish hit a jumper with 47 seconds left, and at halftime the Celtics led, 64-60. McHale wound up with 19 for the half. Gervin had 25 for San Antonio.

San Antonio came out with the intent on shutting off the Celtics' inside game in the third period. Instinctively, Boston went back to its outside shooting, led by Gerry Henderson, who sank three straight baskets, including one for a three-pointer that broke a tie at 68-68. Parish provided the next six points and Boston's lead grew to seven at 79-72. Bird began to warm up and suddenly the Celtics' superior depth began to wear the Spurs down. Leading, 87-81, the Celtics took off and closed out the period with their 13-3 spurt.

McHale returned to chip in two baskets. Ainge hit a sensational runner at the buzzer at the end of a fast break and after three quarters Boston lead, 100-84. With only three minutes elapsed in the fourth period, the Celtics had put the game practically on ice. Bird and Parish led an 8-0 run and Boston was ahead by 24 points, 108-84. The only sad part of this run was that McHale suffered a sprained ankle and was finished for the game.