AINGE SHOOTS SELF INTO CELTICS' PLANS

1984 NBA Finals

GAME 2

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Summary

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Media Coverage

Over? Hardly.

Boston guard Danny Ainge says the NBA Championship Series has only just begun as it heads into tomorrow afternoon's nationally televised Game 3 (Channel 10, 3:30) at the Forum.

Ainge certainly showed signs of coming back to life Thursday night, scoring 12 points and contributing five assists as the Celtics tied the best-of-seven series at one game apiece with a 124-121 overtime victory at the Boston Garden.

Ainge became an important factor in Boston's most recent success story, shooting 6-for-10 from the field and giving the Celtics perimeter firepower against a team that was whistled down for three zone violations in the first half.

''I kind of felt this was going to be a good night for me,'' Ainge said after the game. ''But you have that kind of feeling lots of nights and nothing happens.

''The Lakers have been giving us the outside shot in this series and I don't think they're going to change their game plan at this point. I guess that's why Scott Wedman and I got more time than usual.''

Ainge played 25 minutes. Wedman, a 6-7 shooting forward, played 18 minutes and was on the floor long enough to sink the Lakers with a 15-foot baseline jumper that was the deciding field goal in overtime.

Both players basked under an unfamiliar spotlight. Wedman, a one-time all-star with the Kansas City Kings, was acquired by the Celtics from Cleveland last January. He is making more than $800,000, but had not been worth anything close to that amount this season, playing in just one of three previous playoff games. Ainge is a highly publicized All-America guard from Brigham Young University who played a year of baseball with the Toronto Blue Jays before switching pro sports in 1982. He had been mediocre at best with Boston, losing his starting job this year after the Celtics acquired defensive whiz Dennis Johnson from the Phoenix Suns.

Ainge's biggest contribution to the Celtics' success before Game 2 against LA was the forearm blow he delivered to Darrell Walker in the Knicks' series.

Ainge was trying to stop Walker, a 6-4 rookie guard, from driving to the basket. Instead, he nearly started World War III, setting off a bench-clearing brawl at the Boston Garden. For that blow, Ainge was tagged with the unglamorous nickname, ''Danny Mainge,'' by the New York media.

''In the last few games I was just going to give DJ (Johnson) a rest,'' Ainge said. ''I didn't take any shots. I wasn't really in long enough to take any shots. I think what hapened to us in our previous few series was not good for us.

''Sunday's game woke us up to the fact that we should be running. And, of course, when we are running, it's to my advantage. When we're playing a halfcourt game, the ball is designed to go to our inside guys. I'm allowed to shoot off the break. If the shot is there, I'm going to take it.''

On the surface, Ainge looks too slow to play effectively in this series. But all six of his field goals came off fastbreaks, a good sign for ardent Celtics' fans. Ainge had four field goals when Boston built a 24-20 lead to 35-22 late in the first quarter. He had two more in the third period before retiring to the bench for the night when Jones started searching to find players with more size and quickness to cover Lakers guards Magic Johnson, Michael Cooper and Byron Scott.

''I always feel I can shoot,'' Ainge said. ''I hit my first couple and I was able to stay in there a little longer. He (Jones) didn't feel he had to go to anybody else.'

1984 NBA Finals: Celtics Bit Players Stop Showtime

1984 NBA Finals

GAME 2

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Summary

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Media Coverage

The bit players emerged from the shadows at Boston Garden and stopped the National Basketball Association's premier show.

That's one of the things that will be remembered about Game 2 of the championship series - a drama-drenched overtime game in which the Boston Celtics, teetering on the precipice, fought back for a 124-121 victory over the error-prone Los Angeles Lakers, thereby gaining a 1-1 split going into tomorrow afternoon's game on L.A.'s home court.

Suddenly, the title series that was simplistically labeled as a contest between the Lakers' Magic Johnson and the Celtics' Larry Bird has taken on a new dimension.

Johnson, dribbling away almost all of the last 13 seconds of regulation time before setting up a shot by Bob McAdoo that failed to beat the buzzer, turns out to be a human being, after all.

Bird, shooting only 8 for 22 from the floor, turns out to be human, too.

The nature of this beast has changed drastically, not only because of the failings of Bird and Johnson, but because of the rise of guys like Scott Wedman. And Gerald Henderson. And Danny Ainge.

So going into Game 3, it might be well to forget Bird for a while if you can. And forget some of the other more prominent Celtics - Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, Cedric Maxwell.

Instead, look to the shadows, from where the real heroes of Game 2 came, and consider the possibility that this entire best-of-seven show could come down to plays made by people like the rarely used Wedman, whose 14-foot jump shot with 14 seconds left in overtime gave Boston the game, or Henderson, whose steal and layup at the end of regulation and three-point play in overtime helped doom the Lakers.

Or it might come down to another defensive play by Robert Parish, whose relative invisibility in Game 1 had prompted one Boston newspaper to ask sarcastically: "Is Parish Burning?"

Apparently he is not, as he demonstrated in the final seconds of overtime Thursday, when he stripped McAdoo of the ball to preserve Boston's victory.

Or what about Ainge, who hit his shots in clusters and who almost single handedly kept the Celtics from folding in the face of the onrushing Lakers in the fourth period?

L.A. coach Pat Riley, for one, is convinced that that was no mirage out there on the parquet floor.

Before his team's flight here yesterday, he was asked about Wedman.

"I've always respected Scott," he said. "He's a smart, veteran player. He sat most of the year, but he had the presence of mind and the attitude to give his team help when called upon. A lot of guys can't do that.

"We doubled on Bird to make him give up the ball," said Riley, discussing the play on which Wedman hit his game-winning basket. "We made the next guy (Henderson) give it up. Finally, it went to Wedman, and he buried it."

And Ainge?

For the third-year guard out of Brigham Young, this has been a difficult season. He lost his starting job under the new regime of coach K. C. Jones, saw his shot disappear and saw his playing time vanish to next to nothing.

Yet he pumped in six field goals Thursday, the first four coming in a first half in which the Celts rocketed to a pair of 13-point leads. He hit his other two field goals - the second coming on a lean-in flyer off a fast break - in the waning moments of regulation, when Boston was on the edge of defeat.

"I always feel I can shoot," Ainge said before the Celtics' practice yesterday afternoon. "I hit my first couple, so I was able to stay in there a little longer. He (Jones) didn't feel he had to go to anybody else."

And Parish?

After his dismal Game 1, he not only made the game-clinching steal, he shot 9 for 14 from the floor.

Does Rodman Belong in the Hall?

Dennis Rodman has played a lot of roles in his lifetime. He has twice been an NBA All-Star and defensive player of the year. He has also been a bridegroom and a bride, a father and a surrogate son. He has been an author, an actor, a corporate spokesman and a full-time enigma.

Rodman, 45, who won five championships during a tumultuous 14-year NBA career filled with as much controversy as glory, would like to add another title to his lengthy resume: Hall of Famer.

"Getting into the Hall of Fame would be something very special," Rodman said recently over lunch in Times Square. "I don't think it would mean as much to me as it would to all the people who brought me up, like my mother, my college coaches and Chuck Daly and Phil Jackson, who were both like a father to me. It would also mean the world to my wife and children."

He won five NBA titles

One of the greatest rebounders in NBA history, Rodman retired after playing 12 games for the Dallas Mavericks in the 1999-2000 season. In his prime, he won two championships with Daly's Detroit Pistons (1989 and '90) and three more with Jackson's Chicago Bulls (1996-98).

But what Rodman accomplished on the court, including his seven rebounding titles and his seven-time selection as an NBA all-defensive first-team player, was often overshadowed by his antics. The 6-foot-7-inch, 228-pound Rodman had a nose ring for the ball, a pierced navel and a bleached head that was not always in the game.

The list of Rodman's disciplinary problems is almost as long as the wingspan that helped him soar for 11,954 regular-season rebounds. As a result, Rodman and his marketing agent, Darren Prince, say that the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is keeping its distance.

"Dennis has been out of the NBA for at least five years, and yet the Hall of Fame has not contacted him about being nominated," said Prince, who is based in West Orange, N.J. "Dennis should be eligible this year."

A question of eligibility

In lobbying for Rodman, Prince contacted John Doleva, the president and chief executive of the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

In a letter to Prince, Doleva said that Rodman was not eligible to be nominated because he had played professionally since retiring from the NBA. In the past six years, Rodman, still muscular, still covered in piercings and tattoos, played in the new American Basketball Association, the International Basketball League, Finland, Britain and Mexico.

Doleva wrote to Prince, "The clock really has not 'started ticking' towards his five-year retirement eligibility requirement and cannot until he is fully finished with professional paid basketball."

Doleva added that "the clock had to be reset when both Earvin Johnson and Michael Jordan returned to the court professionally" after they retired.

No such clock exists for coaches.

Prince asked why the Hall was holding the ABA and leagues abroad against Rodman.

Doleva replied, "Professional basketball is not defined specifically as the NBA."

Though Rodman will eventually be nominated to the Hall of Fame, he is not sure if he will be elected. His lifestyle aside, there is another obstacle for him to clear on the path to Springfield. A power forward whose strength was defense, he averaged only 7.3 points a game.

"Was Bill Russell too one-dimensional?" Rodman said. "Russell wasn't a scorer, but he won 11 championships with Boston and led those teams by averaging over 20 rebounds a game, which is unheard of." (For the record, Russell averaged 15.1 points in his 13-year NBA career.)

LINK to rest of article.

Leon Powe's Comeback Continues

2009-10 Statistics			FG		3PT		FT		Rebounds			Misc
	G	MIN	FGM-A	FG%	3PM-A	3P%	FTM-A	FT%	OFF	DEF	TOT	STL	BLK	TO	PF	AST	PTS
Season	13	12.5	15-32	.469	0-0	.000	30-48	.625	1.0	2.5	3.5	.31	.08	.62	1.92	0.0	4.6
Career	202	14.4	425-816	.521	0-3	.000	457-652	.701	1.7	2.4	4.1	.28	.38	.86	2.22	0.4	6.5

Last 5 Games | Complete Game Log											Rebounds
DATE	OPP	RESULT	MIN	FG	3P	FT	STL	BLK	TO	PF	OFF	DEF	TOT	AST	PTS
3/19	@Chi	W 92-85	19	2-5	0-0	3-4	0	0	0	4	4	4	8	0	7
3/21	Det	W 104-79	21	5-8	0-0	6-10	1	0	0	3	2	5	7	0	16
3/24	@Nor	W 105-92	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3/26	@Sas	L 102-97	4	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3/28	Sac	W 97-90	22	1-2	0-0	2-4	1	0	1	1	0	3	3	0	4
Numbers for Last 5 Games			16.5	8-15	0-0	11-18	0.5	0.0	0.3	2.0	1.5	3.0	4.5	0.0	6.8

The Sherman Douglas Shoe Saga (Part 5)

December 21, 1992

WALTHAM ShermanDouglas returned to practice yesterday after a four-day absence from the Celtics and said he expects to play for the team tomorrow night in New Jersey.

"I needed to talk to my family," Douglas said. "We just talked things over. Nothing was bothering me, there were just things I had on my chest.

"Everyone speculating what's the problem, that's their thing. I wasn't playing up to my expectations. I could take the easy way out and just sit on the bench, but that is not the type of player I am. I want to be the best player I can be."

Douglas announced that he was leaving the team during a road trip to Minneapolis and Indianapolis. He had 20 minutes of playing time during a 124-119 double-overtime win at Minnesota Tuesday; late in the game, he sat on the bench with his shoes off.

After conferring with his agent, Eric Fleisher, he traveled with the squad to Indiana but did not play during a 114-91 loss to the Pacers Wednesday night. He returned to Boston with the team and was greeted at Logan Airport by team physician Arnold Scheller. On Thursday morning, Douglas again met with Scheller. Douglas missed practices that day and Saturday, plus a 113-87 loss to New York Friday.

The Celtics said they would continue to pay Douglas during his absence. At the time, chief executive officer Dave Gavitt said in a WLVI-TV (Ch. 56) interview: "Sherman is having problems. It is an emotional thing for him."

Neither Douglas' problem nor his sudden return has been completely explained. The result has been a mixed reaction among the Celtics, and the matter does not appear to be completely resolved.

"I don't know if all sins are forgiven," coach Chris Ford said. "I still don't know all the answers to what happened. There are still a lot of questions I need answered before I come down heavy one way or the other."

Ford said that Scheller informed him of Douglas' impending return Saturday night.

"I don't know if I'm angry," Ford said. "Things crop up all the time."

Ford was asked if there simply had been a conflict between himself and Douglas.

"If it was simply that, there is no reason for what happened," Ford said. "I didn't have a love affair with all my coaches."

Asked if there had been a communication problem with Douglas, Ford said: "I played in the backcourt with Tiny Archibald for three years and I never communicated with him.

"I've been assured by Red (Auerbach) and Dave (Gavitt) that players can't dictate policies and I can do the things I have to do."

After practice at Brandeis, Douglas briefly conferred with general manager Jan Volk, then submitted to interviews.

Douglas said that he removed his shoes in the Minnesota game because "the tape was tied too tight. I just cut it off."

About his absence, Douglas said: "I was not looking for sympathy. It was one of those things where you are trying to find yourself. People ask how can he make all that money and complain? That is something we have to live with being an athlete. I kept everything inside and never complained and tried to play hard.

"Is it good to be back? I'm in pretty good shape and I feel OK. The sun is going to rise tomorrow. The Celtics are going to be here tomorrow and I'll be here tomorrow."

Douglas, who joined the Celtics via a trade with Miami Jan. 10, 1991, was asked about his adjustment to a new franchise and living conditions.

"You are not going to be at home all your life," he said. "This is a new organization, a new ballclub for me. I haven't established where I fit in and it's been hard.

"I'm fine. I just needed time off and now everything is OK."

Douglas' teammates tried to present the situation as routine.

"It is about time for him to get back to work and get himself together," Xavier McDaniel said. "We welcome him back.

"People take a leave of absence all the time. It's just that we are high-profile athletes and it's public knowledge when we do something. We make human mistakes. If we get scratched, we bleed. This is everyday life and it shows that basketball players are human. The same thing as Magic Johnson."

Celtic administrators appeared tolerant of Douglas' absence and offered to provide professional help had he requested it. However, they likely will not be as forgiving should there be further disruptions.

"At this point, he's back," Volk said. "We hope the issue is resolved between the club and Sherman. We want to put it behind us. The most important thing for our constituents is for Sherman to be back and for him to be playing well.

"In terms of perceptions, everything you do in this business is to make sure perceptions work to your benefit. There are a lot of implications that have to be dealt with."

Sherm!

Can IQ and Experience Overcome Youth and Athleticism?

Are We Seeing the Old KG or Just Old KG?

Watch the first two minutes of game 7 against Cleveland (scroll ahead to the 8-minute marker), and you have your answer. It's not so much what he's doing on offense or defense. It's the way he's moving, the way he's bouncing. I watched this the other night on NBATV, thinking I'd watch the whole first quarter looking for differences. All I needed was two minutes.

This isn't necessarily the final word, however.

To quote Danny Ainge, when asked if KG had lost some of his athleticism, "sure, all of the big three have. But I'm not sure it's critical." I agree. The 1986 team was not particularly athletic, at least when compared to, say, the 1986 Houston Rockets, who made Team Green look very old and very slow at times. The question is whether these current, older Celtics can make the most of their remaining basketball skills (not related to youth and athleticism) to overcome the opposition in four playoff series.

That sounds like a lot to ask, doesn't it?

Bruins Cling to Final Playoff Spot

Eastern Conference
EASTERN	GP	W	L	OTL	PTS	HOME	ROAD	GF	GA	DIFF	L10	STRK
y - Washington	74	49	14	11	109	27-4-4	22-10-7	289	209	+80	6-1-3	Lost 1
x - New Jersey	74	44	25	5	93	25-10-2	19-15-3	202	178	+24	6-2-2	Won 1
x - Buffalo	74	41	23	10	92	23-10-6	18-13-4	212	187	+25	6-3-1	Won 1
x - Pittsburgh	75	43	25	7	93	22-10-4	21-15-3	232	213	+19	4-3-3	Won 1
Ottawa	76	41	30	5	87	25-10-4	16-20-1	205	216	-11	5-5-0	Won 4
Montreal	76	37	31	8	82	19-15-4	18-16-4	204	208	-4	6-2-2	Lost 1
Boston	74	34	28	12	80	16-15-6	18-13-6	188	186	+2	5-4-1	Won 1
Philadelphia	75	37	32	6	80	21-13-3	16-19-3	216	209	+7	2-6-2	Lost 5
Atlanta	75	33	30	12	78	18-14-6	15-16-6	223	236	-13	5-3-2	Won 1
NY Rangers	75	33	32	10	76	16-17-6	17-15-4	197	203	-6	4-4-2	Lost 1

The Sherman Douglas Shoe Saga (Part 4)

December 22, 1992

In 1962, Gene Conley and Pumpsie Green hopped off a Red Sox team bus in New York and made tracks for the nearest watering hole. Before the bender was over, Conley had purchased a plane ticket to Jerusalem. If he'd had a passport with him that day, Conley still might be in the Holy Land.

Fifteen years later, in the early part of a dreary NBA winter, Celtics center Dave Cowens lost his competitive drive and asked for a leave of absence. He drove a cab, got his mind together and came back two months later.

There have been other vanishing acts on the Boston sports scene. Oil Can Boyd twice bolted after he was not named an All-Star. The Bruins' Al Stewart dropped out after a couple of games last winter. In 1918, Babe Ruth left the Red Sox in midseason and played a couple of games in the Delaware River Shipbuilding League. He was fined $500 when he came back. Later that year, he pitched the Red Sox to a World Series victory.

Now we have the ShermanDouglas situation. The Celtics' quiet point guard last night missed his second straight game and we're told the earliest he'll be back is Tuesday.

By now, most Celtic fans have aligned themselves in one of two camps: 1. The antitrust Sherman pack; or 2. the politically correct, let's-not-jump-the-gun, this-kid-may-have-serious-problems faction.

This space will make no attempt to take either position. Not yet.

The antitrust Sherman pack sees a point guard who is pouting because he doesn't start anymore. He makes more than 2 million bucks a year, but he's unhappy with his diminished role. He takes his shoes off in the third quarter of a game, then bolts the team. Suppose Jack Clark did this. Suppose Clark took his spikes off in midgame, then asked for a leave for personal reasons. Fans and columnists would be all over the guy.

For some reason, the Boston sports community, with a few exceptions, has been slow to pass judgment on Douglas' departure.

Is it because this is the Celtics and we treat them with kid gloves? Remember the furor when Oil Can took a hike? Remember the wild chases and the Red Sox' announcement that he'd undergo psychiatric evaluation? The Can didn't get the kind of privacy or understanding that Douglas thus far is receiving. Is there any doubt about how this would be viewed if the individual in question was Irving Fryar?

In Douglas' case, the Celtics have made an effort to paint the ballplayer as a troubled young man who needs understanding.

"If you go the other way, you could really look bad," said coach Chris Ford. "If it turns out down the road that it's something else, it'll be dealt with then."

CEO Dave Gavitt cites "self-confidence" as the reason for Douglas' absence. In yesterday's Globe, Gavitt was quoted speaking of Douglas' "emotional problems." Before last night's game vs. the Knicks, Gavitt denied using the word "emotional" in reference to Douglas.

Gavitt's insistence that self-confidence is the only issue gives the appearance that the Celtics are backing off their original spin. But they're not. The Celtics will pay Douglas during his absences. Injured players get paid, and the Celtics choose to treat this as a psychological injury. If the Celtics considered this a public pout, they would have placed Douglas on the suspended list and stopped paying him.

The club's position makes it risky for the rest of us to put the hammer down. We are talking about another human being here, and who among us wants ShermanDouglas on his or her conscience?

Meanwhile, we have Douglas' agent, Eric Fleisher, who continues to insist that "this is a basketball issue and nothing more."

If the agent is being truthful, why would the Celtics lead us to believe there are demons haunting the ballplayer? And why would management continue to pay a ballplayer who has quit the team because he'd not been given the role he wants?

Fleisher's position is dangerous. If in fact this is strictly a basketball problem, then fans and teammates are going to have a hard time accepting Douglas' departure. Fleisher rejects any mention of personal or emotional problems, and this makes his client look selfish and immature.

While Douglas sits and gets himself together, Ford and the Celtics continue to play one man short. The Celtics lost to the Knicks last night, 113-87. Ford was forced to use Rick Fox at point guard in the fourth quarter.

"It's very difficult," said Ford. "It's not easy and I don't know if it's short-term or long-term. It's game-to-game right now and we're in a hole."

Even Red Auerbach seemed stumped.

"I got no comment," said the venerable one who has seen it all. "I'm just finding out what it's all about."

Then he shook his head, walked away and grumbled, "It's something new every day."

Jets Go Hollywood

The Jets officially went Hollywood Thursday. Team Green announced they will be featured in the sixth season of the HBO series “Hard Knocks” during training camp. The Jets will play starring roles in five hour-long episodes on Wednesday nights beginning August 11.

“There’s no other team in the league right now that’s kind of more interesting than the New York Jets,” Owner Woody Johnson said."We have our Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg in Rex Ryan.”

“This is going to be a great opportunity even for the casual NFL fan to sit back and jump on board this Jets bandwagon,” Ryan said. “This is a team that’s going in a direction of a Super Bowl. So hop on board. We have nothing to hide. This football team might be a little bit different than others that have been covered. We actually have fun.”

Although general manager Mike Tannenbaum “admittedly had a lot of concerns, a lot of reluctance at first” with the project, NFL Films assured the Jets that footage that might compromise the team from a competitive standpoint would be left on the cutting room floor.

LINK

41 years since the last Super Bowl. There will indeed be some bandwagon jumping. I, too, am concerned about the Jets heads swelling without much justification. On a related note, looks like Gang Green may go criminal to upgrade at the wideout position. The other choice is old and small.

Skippy Boy Bayless at It Again

Absurd comment of the week: Skip Bayless of "First Take" says Jets should trade their first-round pick for D. McNabb. Yeesh. about 23 hours ago via txt

TheJetsStream

Rich Cimini

I don't watch a lot of Bayless, mostly because of this and this. But I'm glad to see my feelings validated by the above Tweet. Now I'm not saying Mark Sanchez is the next Peyton Manning, or even the next Ken O'Brien. But I am saying that Donavon McNabb has shown me very little to pique my interest over the last 10 years. So let's just say Lex hopes Rex takes a pass on old D.McNabb . . . even if it meant giving up just a fifth round pick or later to get the geezer.

Lakers may Face Some Competition in the Playoffs

Western Conference
WESTERN		W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	DIFF	STRK	L10
1	x - LA Lakers	53	19	.736	-	32-5	21-14	12-2	31-12	102.4	96.6	+5.8	Lost 1	7-3
2	Denver	48	25	.658	5 ½	30-6	18-19	10-4	29-15	107.2	102.5	+4.7	Won 1	6-4
3	Dallas	47	25	.653	6	25-11	22-14	7-6	25-18	101.5	99.8	+1.7	Lost 1	6-4
4	Utah	47	26	.644	6 ½	29-8	18-18	7-8	27-18	103.9	98.2	+5.7	Lost 1	6-4
5	Phoenix	46	26	.639	7	29-9	17-17	12-4	30-16	110.4	106.0	+4.5	Won 6	8-2
6	Oklahoma City	44	27	.620	8 ½	24-12	20-15	8-3	24-19	100.3	96.7	+3.6	Won 2	7-3
7	San Antonio	43	28	.606	9 ½	26-11	17-17	8-5	26-18	101.2	96.5	+4.6	Won 1	7-3
8	Portland	43	29	.597	10	24-13	19-16	6-7	27-16	98.0	94.8	+3.1	Won 1	8-2

In the best of all possible worlds, the Fakers will face-off against Portland in the first round and OKC in the second. That should live them pretty ragged for the WCFs, assuming they get that far, and I, for one, am not willing to make that assumption. OKC needs to move up a slot to make possible a second round match-up with the purple.

It may be time for Celtics fans to pull out that Kevin Durant jersey from draft day a couple years back.

Lakers 75, Thunder 91

LOS ANGELES LAKERS
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Ron Artest, SF	34	1-6	0-3	0-2	2	1	3	1	2	0	3	2	-17	2
Lamar Odom, PF	33	7-16	0-2	1-2	1	6	7	0	1	0	1	2	-36	15
Pau Gasol, PF	27	3-10	0-0	3-4	3	2	5	0	0	1	2	1	-25	9
Kobe Bryant, SG	30	4-11	0-2	3-3	1	5	6	3	2	0	9	4	-22	11
Derek Fisher, PG	19	2-6	0-1	3-3	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	-15	7
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Josh Powell, C	17	4-6	0-1	0-0	2	4	6	1	0	0	1	3	+12	8
Shannon Brown, PG	26	4-10	1-2	0-0	2	3	5	1	1	0	0	2	-7	9
Adam Morrison, SF	9	2-2	0-0	2-2	0	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	+11	6
Sasha Vujacic, SG	3	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	+6	0
D.J. Mbenga, C	18	1-2	0-0	2-4	1	1	2	0	0	2	1	1	+15	4
Jordan Farmar, PG	24	1-5	1-4	1-4	0	3	3	0	0	0	1	2	-2	4
Andrew Bynum, C	DNP STRAINED LEFT ACHILLES
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF		PTS
		29-74	2-15	15-24	12	27	39	7	8	3	18	18		75
		39.2%	13.3%	62.5%
Fast break points: 7 Points in the paint: 30 Team TO ( points off ): 18 (21) +/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Jeff Green, F	36	5-15	0-4	0-0	1	5	6	2	3	1	1	2	+11	10
Kevin Durant, SF	35	9-19	1-7	7-7	1	7	8	3	1	0	3	2	+31	26
Nenad Krstic, C	22	4-5	0-0	2-2	2	8	10	1	0	0	1	2	+25	10
Thabo Sefolosha, SG	23	3-5	0-1	0-0	1	4	5	1	0	1	0	2	+17	6
Russell Westbrook, PG	28	10-13	0-0	3-5	1	0	1	6	4	0	2	0	+26	23
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Etan Thomas, C	4	0-2	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	-10	0
Nick Collison, PF	17	3-3	0-0	0-0	1	1	2	0	0	1	0	1	+5	6
Kyle Weaver, SG	4	0-1	0-1	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	-10	0
Eric Maynor, PG	23	1-5	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	4	-9	2
James Harden, G	23	1-6	1-4	3-4	0	4	4	1	3	0	2	1	-2	6
Serge Ibaka, PF	26	1-3	0-1	0-0	1	5	6	0	1	1	0	2	-4	2
Kevin Ollie, PG	DNP COACH'S DECISION
Mustafa Shakur, PG	DNP COACH'S DECISION
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF		PTS
		37-77	2-18	15-18	8	34	42	15	12	4	12	17		91
		48.1%	11.1%	83.3%
Fast break points: 15 Points in the paint: 44 Team TO ( points off ): 14 (10) +/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court.

Lakers 34, Thunder 53 (Half-Time)

LOS ANGELES LAKERS
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Kobe Bryant, SG	21	4-10	0-1	3-3	1	4	3	2	0	8	2	-14	11
Derek Fisher, PG	11	2-4	0-1	0-0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	-13	4
Lamar Odom, PF	20	6-11	0-0	0-1	0	4	0	1	0	0	1	-18	12
Ron Artest, SF	19	0-4	0-2	0-2	2	3	0	1	0	2	2	-12	0
Pau Gasol, PF	18	2-7	0-0	0-0	2	3	0	0	1	0	0	-17	4
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Shannon Brown, PG	9	0-2	0-0	0-0	2	2	1	1	0	0	0	-4	0
Sasha Vujacic, SG	Has not entered game
D.J. Mbenga, C	5	1-1	0-0	1-2	1	1	0	0	1	1	1	-2	3
Luke Walton, SF	Has not entered game
Josh Powell, C	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	-1	0
Adam Morrison, SF	Has not entered game
Jordan Farmar, PG	2	0-1	0-1	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	-2	0
Andrew Bynum, C	Has not entered game
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF		PTS
		15-40	0-5	4-8	8	17	4	6	2	11	7		34
		37.5%	00.0%	50.0%
Fast break points: 2 Team TO ( points off ): 11 (11) +/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Russell Westbrook, PG	16	8-11	0-0	1-1	1	1	4	4	0	2	0	+17	17
Thabo Sefolosha, SG	15	3-4	0-0	0-0	1	3	1	0	1	0	1	+15	6
Kevin Durant, SF	20	6-11	1-4	0-0	0	3	1	0	0	2	1	+16	13
Jeff Green, F	19	0-6	0-2	0-0	1	4	1	0	1	1	1	+14	0
Nenad Krstic, C	13	2-3	0-0	2-2	2	9	0	0	0	1	1	+18	6
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Kevin Ollie, PG	Has not entered game
Serge Ibaka, PF	7	1-1	0-0	0-0	1	3	0	1	1	0	1	-2	2
Kyle Weaver, SG	Has not entered game
James Harden, G	9	1-1	1-1	2-2	0	0	1	1	0	1	1	+6	5
Eric Maynor, PG	8	1-3	0-0	0-0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	+2	2
D.J. White, PF	Has not entered game
Nick Collison, PF	7	1-1	0-0	0-0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	+5	2
Etan Thomas, C	Has not entered game
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF		PTS
		23-41	2-7	5-5	7	25	9	6	3	7	7		53
		56.1%	28.6%	100.0%
Fast break points: 10 Team TO ( points off ): 7 (7) +/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court.

1984 NBA Finals: Ainge Decides to Crash the Party

1984 NBA Finals

GAME 2

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Summary

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Media Coverage

A Wall Street type thinker might not consider either Danny Ainge or Scott Wedman prudent long-term investments, but for at least one playoff game the Celtics were able to forget about how much more they have always expected from either of these two oft-frustrated athletes.

The fact is that without their contributions last night the Celtics could not have defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, by any score. There has been perpetual yelping during the last several years over the Celtics' desperate need for some outside shooting to balance their famed inside game. In this vital 124-121 overtime triumph over LA, Messrs. Ainge and Wedman provided that marksmanship.

Ainge bunched his six field goals in two key Celtic runs, the first four coming in the first half and the other two at the end of the third period, after the Lakers had taken their first lead of the night. Most were in transitions, beautiful stop-and-poppers that passed softly through the net. It was the Danny Ainge of the UCLA massacre, as well as the Danny Ainge for whom the Celtics went to trial with the Toronto Blue Jays, the Danny Ainge in whom they have invested a lot of money.

Wedman, whose year-and-a-half Celtic tenure has been extremely unsatisfying for all parties, added five field goals, including the biggest of the game, a 13-footer from the left baseline with 14 seconds remaining in OT that merely gave Boston the victory.

Wedman was one half of an offense-defense shuttle with Cedric Maxwell at the time, and when he received the ball he didn't hesitate. "We had played great defense," said LA coach Pat Riley. "We had doubled on (Larry) Bird to make him give up the ball. We made the next guy (Gerald Henderson) give it up. Finally it went to Wedman, and he buried it.

"I've always respected Scott," Riley continued. "He's a smart veteran player. He sat most of the year, but he had the presence of mind and the attitude to give his team help when caled upon. A lot of guys can't do that."

It was the precise sort of contribution envisioned when the Celtics acquired Wedman from the Cavaliers a year ago January. It's not as if Wedman, a one-time All-Star, was some sort of NBA secret weapon.

"We wondered what the Celtics were doing at the time," said Jamaal Wilkes. "Bird hadn't yet signed his new deal, so possibly they wanted Scott as some kind of insurance. That's pretty heavy insurance."

This is true. Wedman was making over $800,000 when he came here, and that's serious money (even if a lot of it is being paid by the other team) for a man who can't scare up too many minutes of playing time on a team with Bird, Maxwell and Kevin McHale at the forward slot.

As for Ainge, this has not exactly been the Year of the (Ex)-Cougar, either. It was assumed in some circles that Ainge would benefit greatly by the Celtics' coaching change, but instead he lost his starting job - however ceremonial it was - and played no larger role under K.C. Jones than he had under Bill Fitch. His playoff function has been that of a subordinate who gives regulars a quick blow.

But when he entered the game last night he was ready. He connected on his first three shots as the Celtics were expanding their lead to as many as 13 (33-20, 35-22), as he stayed on the floor long enough to stick in another second-period jumper. It was a scene reminiscent of the famous Milwaukee Game 2 of a year ago when he went insane during the first half.

It's obvious Ainge feels his big problem is simply playing time. "I always feel I can shoot," he said with a shrug. "Tonight I hit my first couple so I was able to stay in there a little longer. He (K.C.) didn't feel he had to go to anybody else."

Of course, every player who has ever lived feels his only need is some more "PT." And there are always people moaning about Wedman's lack of playing time.

"Yes," said Riley, "they found something to do with him at a very appropriate time, didn't they?"

Heart

The fact that Doc Rivers played a perfectly healthy Marquis Daniels a mere six minutes against the Denver Nuggets is perhaps more interesting than the line-up Doc brandished late in the game, using P-squared at the four and TA at the 3. TA, of course, was the beneficiary of the Daniels' decision, and he more than capitalized.

Don't get me wrong. I like Marquis. Marquis finds more creative ways to knife through opposing defenses and score from inside than anyone on the Celtics, save Rajon Rondo, especially if you exclude Celtic players whose drives result in charge calls. I also realize that's it dangerous to interpret the sometimes placid look on his face as a lack of intensity. After all, I was a big fan of double-zero. Still, S'quisy doesn't always seem to play with a fire in his belly.

Nor does TA. But at this point in his career, I think we all know when Tony Allen is most likely to provide a high-intensity performance: after he's been sitting on the bench for a long stretch, getting DNPs while someone else gets his PT.

In the end, the Celtics are gonna need to "bring it" to get very far in the playoffs. Doc Rivers is all about fire and intensity. He's the anti-Zen Mistress. Accordingly, Doc will play those guys who play the game this way. Going to TA over MD may just be the first example. Could a preference for Shelden over Sheed be in the offing?

1984 NBA Finals: Wedman Saves Celtics from Date with Finals Futility

1984 NBA Finals

GAME 2

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Summary

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Media Coverage

Just when the Boston Celtics were on the verge of making NBA history -- for futility -- reserve forward Scott Wedman came to the rescue Thursday night.

Wedman hit a 12-foot baseline jumper with 14 seconds left in overtime to lift the Celtics to a 124-121 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, tying the NBA championship series at 1-1.

Boston narrowly avoided becoming the first team in the 37-year history of the NBA finals to lose the first two games at home. Games 3 and 4 of the best-of-seven series will be played Sunday and Wednesday at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif.

Wedman, who doubled his regular-season average with 10 points, gave the Celtics a 122-121 lead with his clutch basket.

"It was a double-pick with Larry Bird on one side and myself on the other," Wedman said. "I was open for the shot and it felt good when I let it go."

The Lakers were unable to get off a final shot, turning the ball over twice in the closing seconds, the last time when Boston center Robert Parish slapped the ball away from Bob McAdoo with six seconds left.

Bird, who finished with 27 points, added two free throws with two seconds remaining for the final margin.

Boston guard Gerald Henderson had forced the overtime session when he stole a James Worthy pass with 13 seconds left in regulation and drove in for an uncontested layup to tie the score at 113.

"Anytime you're in that situation, you have to go for the steal," Henderson said. "We had to have that steal. We had to have something at that point, and Worthy just lofted the ball."

Los Angeles took the ball out at midcourt after a timeout, but Magic Johnson dribbled away the last nine seconds without getting off a shot.

Johnson scored four of the Lakers' first five points in overtime to give Los Angeles a 118-115 lead. Henderson then took a lead pass from Bird and converted a three-point play to tie the score with 2:15 left.

After the teams exchanged baskets, McAdoo hit a 12-foot jumper with 1:25 remaining to give the Lakers their last lead, 121-120.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar missed a sky hook with 26 seconds left that would have given the Lakers a three-point lead, and Wedman followed with his game-winning shot.

Worthy paced the Lakers with 29 points and Johnson added 27.

Celtics' Coach K.C. Jones was relieved to get out of Boston with a split.

"We got ourselves in trouble, we let our momentum slide, but we had heroic efforts from different people," Jones said. "That's what 'team' is all about."

Unlike the first game, the Celtics broke quickly from the gate. They jumped to a 7-0 lead, reversing the early minutes of Game 1, when Los Angeles took a 22-7 lead en route to a 115-109 victory.

Johnson, who had 14 of Los Angeles' 26 first-quarter points, hit four consecutive long jumpers to cut Boston's lead to 13-10. But Danny Ainge, who had played only two minutes Sunday without scoring, came off the bench to hit three long jumpers in an 11-2 stretch that gave the Celtics a 33-20 lead.

Boston maintained a comfortable advantage for most of the half, using a 17-4 edge in free-throw attempts build a 57-44 lead with 4:32 remaining.

The Lakers finally got their fast break working at that point. Worthy had nine points and Jamaal Wilkes six during a 15-4 run that cut their deficit to 61-59 at halftime. Worthy made four layups and Wilkes hit two corner jumpers during the spurt.

Worthy had 11 points in the third quarter, when Los Angeles shot 68 percent. The Lakers took their first lead of the game when Jabbar, who had 20 points, hit a pair of sky hooks to finish a 7-0 spurt that put Los Angeles ahead, 66-65, with 9:26 left in the period.

Late in the fourth quarter, Abdul-Jabbar completed a three-point play to score his 4,000th career playoff point.

Parish hit a long baseline jumper to give Boston a 101-97 lead, and the teams swapped baskets until Bird hit three of four free throws with 1:30 left to give the Celtics a 111-108 advantage.

Worthy tied the score on a driving three-point play and Johnson added two foul shots with 35 seconds remaining to give the Lakers a 113-111 advantage. After a Henderson jumper fell short, Kevin McHale was fouled by McAdoo on an offensive rebound with 20 seconds left.

McHale missed both free-throw attempts, setting the stage for Henderson's steal of Worthy's looping cross-court pass.

The Celtics' victory marked the ninth consecutive time in NBA history that a home team lost the opening game of a championship series and followed with a victory in Game 2.

Do You Believe?

It’s a completely different team. All of them are different. They’re better, they’re healthier. They’re feeling better.

--Doc

Periodically, we'll take a temperature check as the Celtics inch closer to the playoffs. I believe Celtics Nation is warming up to this team, but still has its doubts. Count me as a member of that group.

The thing is, all you really want is a chance. That's all you want as a player, as coach, as a GM, as an owner, as a fan. And the playoffs are kind of like the Lottery. Everyone has a chance. The Celtics may not have the most ping-pong balls heading into the playoff Lotto. But they are among the top three to five teams in the East with the best chance to make it to the Finals.

It just all comes down to how those balls bounce on game day.

We'll talk more about age and athleticism next time.

1984 NBA Finals: Wedman and Parish Play Key Roles in Game 2 Win

1984 NBA Finals

GAME 2

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Summary

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Media Coverage

Scott Wedman, who has been languishing on the Celtic bench, hit a 13-foot jumper with 14 seconds remaining in overtime tonight that enabled Boston to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers, 124-121, in the Boston Garden.

Wedman, who played 18 minutes because his team needed more outside shooting, was sent in with 2 minutes 47 seconds remaining in the 5-minute extra session when Coach K. C. Jones decided to play him on offense and Cedric Maxwell on defense.

Wedman replaced Maxwell for a third time 11 seconds before his basket enabled the Celtics to regain a 1-point lead. Bob McAdoo had just given Los Angeles 121-120 lead with his 11-foot baseline jumper off Earvin (Magic) Johnson's ninth assist.

But before the Celtics were to clinch the victory and tie the championship series at 1-1, there were two key steals within 6 seconds by Robert Parish, Boston's 7-foot center.

With 11 seconds left, Parish stole a pass that Jamaal Wilkes tried to get inside to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Lakers' overpowering center. But Maxwell made a bad pass that went off Larry Bird's foot to give the Lakers still another chance. This time, Parish stripped McAdoo of the ball as he was driving to the basket. Bird was then fouled and hit the last 2 points.

Bird led the Celtics with 27 points, shooting a poor 8-for-22 from the field.

The four-of-seven series for the National Basketball Association championship now shifts to Inglewood, Calif., for the third and fourth games Sunday afternoon and Wednesday night.

Jones said that Wedman was the second option on the decisive play. The play was really designed for Bird.

"I sent Scott into the game because I wanted another outside shooter," Jones said. "It was better to have two outside shooters at the time. One would have made them think the ball was going inside to Parish. We wanted them to do some thinking."

Wedman, who had 10 points, said: "That's one of the things I do best, shoot from the outside. After Dennis Johnson fouled out, I got the opportunity. Every guy likes to step in when the game is on the line, and I'm no different. I scored off a double pick, with Larry on one side and myself on the other."

It appeared there would be no need for an overtime after Earvin (Magic) Johnson gave the Lakers a 113-111 advantage with 35 seconds remaining. He had hit a pair of free throws after a foul by Dennis Johnson.

Fifteen seconds later, the Celtic cause became even more precarious when Kevin Mchale was fouled, but missed two both free throws. The Lakers grabbed the rebound and took a timeout.

Then came the play that resurrected the Celtics. It was a steal by Gerald Henderson, the Celtic backcourt man, who stole a cross-court pass from James Worthy intended for Byron Scott and scored on a lay-in to tie the game at 113-113 with 15 seconds left. Two seconds later, the Lakers called a timeout to map a final play, which was to get the ball insied to Abdul-Jabbar.

The Lakers took the ball out at halfcourt, but Johnson spent much of the final seconds dribbling the ball without getting off a shot. Johnson finally passed to McAdoo, whose desperation shot came after the clock ran out.

Coach Pat Riley of the Lakers defended Johnson on the play.

"It was a chaotic situation at the time," Riley said. "The place was bedlam at the time and it difficult for Magic to see the clock. It was in back of him."

Johnson said of the play: "We wanted to run the clock down to six or seven seconds. The second I time I lookked back, I knew I had to get the ball into Kareem. But Parish had good position and I didn't want to force and take a chance on the steal. By the time I went the second option, McAdoo, the clock had run out."

Unlike the first game, which the Lakers dominated from the start, the Celtics rushed to a 33-20 lead before the Lakers began their comeback. Aided by what Jones said "made the celtics turnover champions," Los Angeles closed out the first half with a 13-2 spurt that cut Boston's lead to, 61- 59, at the half. The game was close from then on, with Boston ahead, 90- 87, going into the see-saw last quarter. The team that wins the championship will receive $300,000 and the losing team $200,000. The Celtics have already won $205,000 and the Lakers $155,000. The difference is that Boston earned $50,000 for having the best regular-season record. . . . This was the Celtics' 168th straight sellout at Boston Garden. Sunday's game will be the Lakers' first sellout (17,505) in nine playoff games.

1984 NBA Finals: HENDERSON GETS SAVE FOR BOSTON

1984 NBA Finals

GAME 2

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Summary

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Media Coverage

Gerald Henderson is not a licensed physician.

But Boston's spunky lead guard conducted emergency open heart surgery here last night during a 124-121 overtime victory over the Lakers.

Just when it looked as if the Celtics were about to be administered last rites in Game 2 of the NBA Championship Series, Henderson gave Boston a big lift when he intercepted a pass from forward James Worthy and scored on a driving layup to tie the game at 113 with 13 seconds to play and force a five-minute overtime.

The ink was hardly dry on the final box when the Boston media started comparing Henderson's theft with the classic steal by John Havlicek in Game 7 of the 1965 NBA semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers.

''I could almost hear Johnny Most saying, 'Henderson steals the ball. Henderson steals the ball,' '' Henderson said, alluding to the Celtics' notorious play-by-play announcer.

Canonization might not be imminent, but at least Henderson can take off the goat horns for now. He had been the object of massive criticism all week after Celtics coach K.C. Jones decided to match him up defensively with Lakers 6-9 All-Star guard Magic Johnson in Game 1.

The Magic man took advantage of that mismatch again, scoring 27 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and contributing nine assists. But this time, Henderson emerged as the local hero.

''We weren't going to panic at the end of the game,'' he said. ''We knew someone would come up with a big play for us, and I was fortunate enough to get the steal and make the basket to tie it up.

''We're going in there with the idea of getting one game.''

Henderson's steal gave the Celtics new life as this series enters Game 3 Sunday afternoon at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif.

''We're going out there with a lot of confidence,'' Henderson said. ''We feel we're back in it now and we know they haven't played all that well at home in the playoffs.''

Henderson's heroics occurred after LA had taken a 113-111 lead when Magic Johnson made a pair of clutch free throws with 35 seconds left after being fouled by Dennis Johnson.

The personal was DJ's sixth and Jones replaced him with Henderson.

Perfect timing.

Boston forward Kevin McHale had a chance to tie the game with 20 seconds left after he was fouled in the act of shooting by Bob McAdoo. But McHale, uncharacteristically, bricked two free throws, Worthy grabbed the rebound and the Lakers looked as though they might run out the clock.

But Los Angeles made two costly mistakes. First, the Lakers called a timeout instead of beating the defense up court and forcing the Celtics to foul. Second, Worthy tried to make a cross- court pass to Byron Scott against fullcourt pressure after the Lakers made the inbounds pass under their own basket.

''We were really trying to deny Magic the basketball,'' Henderson said. ''Whoever was guarding Magic, I think it was Cedric (Maxwell), did a helluva job. They got it into McAdoo, I think. He tried to loft the ball over and we were in fullcourt pressure and there was no question about it, we had to go for the steal, had to come up with it. We just had to make it happen.''

Henderson might not have remembered the names of all the guilty parties. But he did remember the play and, yes, it surprised him that a player like Worthy, who learned the game under Dean Smith at North Carolina, would try to pass the ball back toward his own basket.

''I was kind of surprised that a team like the Lakers would do that,'' he said. ''But they kind of got the ball in the wrong guy's hands and he lofted it up and anytime you do that, you have to go for the steal.''

Worthy was more than willing to step forward and accept the blame for committing a fundamental error.

''I thought Byron was wide open,'' Worthy said. ''He had his back to the basket, but he's quick enough to double back. It wasn't really a zipped pass. It was more of a floater. But Byron was going away from it. I think if he had come back or stayed stationary, it would have been there.''

This was the most memorable play Henderson has made since moving into the Celtics' starting lineup this year.

''There were a few in college,'' said Henderson, who attended Virginia Commonwealth. ''But none in the NBA like that. You know, this has been my first year playing as much as I have and you have to make plays like that. I'm glad I just came up with that play.''

Henderson surfaced in Boston five years ago. A star at Virginia Commonwealth who originally was selected by San Antonio in the second round of the 1979 draft, he was plucked off the Continental Basketball Association scrap heap by former Celtics coach Bill Fitch, who was looking for a backup who could give Tiny Archibald a breather.

Henderson bided his time, then finally moved up the ladder when Archibald went to Milwaukee this year. Although he might not be able to penetrate as effectively as Archibald, Henderson still has certain qualities that make him a valuable member of this fastbreak-oriented team.

Henderson is known as a push-up guard because of his quickness and ability to get the ball up the floor after baskets. When Henderson first arrived here, he seemed reluctant to get too involved in the Celtics' offense.

But this year, he has become much more aggressive and confident, shooting 53 percent from the field and giving Boston some much-needed scoring from the outside.

Henderson got off to a slow start in the opener of this series, but he shot 7-for-14 last night, taking some of the pressure off Larry Bird and Robert Parish when the Lakers attempted to double-down on the ball.

Henderson tied the game at 118-118 in overtime with a driving three-point play. He also contributed to the winning field goal, getting credited with an assist when he found Scott Wedman in the deep corner with 14 seconds to play. Wedman hit nothing but net.

''We reached into our pockets and came up with a prayer,'' Jones said.

Henderson will say amen to that.

1984 NBA Finals: Celtics Enjoy a Magic Moment

1984 NBA Finals

GAME 2

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Summary

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Media Coverage

Magic Johnson went out into the oppressively rainy night insisting he had not made a mistake, and perhaps he hadn't.

He had been caught in a situation that cried, not for prestidigitation, but for a hardcore basketball move to be made.

There was no rabbit to be pulled out of a hat, but there was history to be made and not even the Los Angeles Lakers, as agonizingly close as they were, were able to make it.

NBA Championship Series history is safe for another year. Once the Boston Celtics had stolen away with their 124-121 overtime victory, the Lakers could only frustratingly stare at the reality of having had a golden chance of becoming the first team ever to start a title series with back-to-back victories away from home.

''Any time you have a one-game lead, you're up two points with 18 seconds to go in the second half and have the ball, and don't win, you have to be disappointed,'' Johnson said.

How about a tie game with 13 seconds left and the ball in the hands of the sport's best and tallest lead guard?

How about the regulation buzzer sounding before Magic, or anybody else, could so much as launch a potential game-winner?

''I didn't make a mistake,'' Johnson said, leaving the legend of Derek Harper to wave alone in the wind. Harper is the young Dallas guard who didn't take a shot at the end of a playoff game against the Lakers, believing his team had the lead, then learning he had driven his weary teammates into an overtime with which they were unable to cope.

In a game where seemingly everything else happened, Johnson says that's one thing that did not happen.

''We had called a timeout, called a play to get it into Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar),'' he said. ''The Celtics were overplaying, the clock kept going down. The 24-second clock (atop the backboard) was off, because there were less than 24 seconds remaining. There was another clock I kept peeking at, but I lost (sight of) it, maybe with about four seconds left. Maybe when I knew I couldn't go to Kareem and looked for (Bob) McAdoo.

''But it wasn't a mistake. I wasn't gonna let 'em steal it, I wasn't gonna turn it over, I wasn't gonna give them a chance to win. I really believed, if we had to, we could win in OT. This was a game that was in our hands, and we couldn't do what we wanted with it. It isn't any one person's fault, it's all of our faults. Sometimes things like this happen.''

This is a best-of-seven series that already is approaching legendary proportions as it careens out to Inglewood, Calif., for Game 3 Sunday at the Forum. The Lakers, unfurling a spectacular cannonade, had refused to lose Game 1. The Celtics, having had to wait four grueling days to get even, had equally refused to lose Game 2.

That explains why the Lakers were unable to put this one away, despite a marvelous 29-point performance by James Worthy, a 27-point, 10-rebound, 9-assist effort by Johnson, 20 points by Abdul-Jabbar, 16 points by McAdoo and an excellent 13-point contribution by Jamaal Wilkes.

That explains why the Celtics evened things with double-figure scoring jobs from eight of the nine players used by coach K.C. Jones. And it explains why guard Gerald Henderson managed to intercept a pass by Worthy and drop in the tying field goal with 13 seconds remaining in regulation. And why the Celtics had one more round of stifling defense left in their arsenal.

Cedric Maxwell had come out to face Johnson. Robert Parish was overplaying Abdul-Jabbar. Kevin McHale was on McAdoo.

And Johnson, who always has someplace to go for one final piece of excellence, had nowhere left.

''He was probably counting down the time in his head,'' said Lakers assistant coach Dave Wohl. ''We were yelling from the bench, but in that noise (14,890, the Boston Garden's 169th consecutive sellout crowd), he obviously couldn't hear us.

''Give the Celtics credit. We had two chances and didn't win. We had 'em in the coffin. As McHale said during their series with New York, we had 'em buried and had to keep shoveling the dirt on. But we didn't.

''But when you think about it, they had said in the papers that they had to look at us as muggers trying to come into their home, and even though we didn't get the win, we showed we could handle a supposed mugging and not get dominated. We're going home with a 1-1 series, but it may as well be zero-zero, because it's even.''

Larry Bird, playing 49 of the evening's 53 minutes, led the Celtics with 27 points and 13 rebounds, Parish scored 18, Maxwell had 16 points and 12 rebounds, Danny Ainge exploded off the bench with 12 points and five assists in 25 minutes, and Scott Wedman sent down a 15-foot baseline jumper with 14 seconds left in OT that gave them the lead for good.

And just in case anybody thought that was all the Celtics had to offer, Parish stripped McAdoo at 0:05, and Bird dropped in the final two free throws at 0:02.

Pat Riley, the Lakers' coach, talked quietly about the value of having split the first two games away from home, the comfort of going to the Forum for the next two, the challenge of maintaining - and even gaining - an advantage.

''We got what we wanted,'' he said, ''but we could have gotten more. This game was for men only. But what happened at the end of regulation is something that has never happened to us, where we never got a shot, or even a turnover.

''It has to be a tremendous boost for the Celtics. We let 'em up out of the grave. But they had something to do with it. They applied such pressure to Kareem, he was almost out to a high post. They had Maxwell, who's 6-8 and has long arms, on Magic. The passing lanes were suddenly shortened up, everybody else was denied and the clock was ticking down. The one thing I know for sure is, I will never forget tonight. I will never forget it.''