March 4, 1985
MCHALE'S DAY TO REMEMBER AT THE GARDEN HIS 56 POINTS SET TEAM RECORD AS CELTICS BEAT PISTONS, 138-129
Imagine O.J. Simpson blocking for Eric Dickerson as the latter runs a sweep to break the NFL's single-season rushing record. Imagine Babe Ruth telling Roger Maris to look for a curveball before Maris steps into the box to hit home run No. 61.
Now close your eyes and imagine Larry Bird throwing one of his Y.A. Tittle bombs, which enabled Kevin McHale to break Bird's single-game, regular-season Celtic scoring mark. It happened yesterday at Boston Garden.
McHale shattered the team single-game (regular season and playoff) scoring mark with a 56-point performance in Boston's 138-129 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
This being a franchise built on team titles rather than personal bests, it seemed appropriate that the new boss was aided by the man who held the record prior to yesterday's game.
John Havlicek, previous holder of the Celtic single-game playoff high (54 vs. Atlanta in 1973) probably found out about it on the 11 o'clock news. Sam Jones (51 vs. Detroit in '65) might notice if he picks up USA Today this morning. Bob Cousy (46 vs. New York in '60) could have seen it watching cable TV in his Worcester home, listening to the praising phrases of SportsChannel colorman Tom Heinsohn (45 vs. Syracuse in 1961). But Bird was there in person, scoring 30 with 15 rebounds and 10 assists. He passed the ball to the white- hot McHale nine consecutive times down the stretch.
McHale etched his named into Celtic folklore by hitting 22 of 28 floor shots, 12 of 13 from the line. While torching a quartet of defenders (Kent Benson, Major Jones, Earl Cureton and Bill Laimbeer), the 6-foot-10 swingman from Hibbing, Minn., also managed to tie his career rebounding high (16) and found time to block three shots and hand out four assits.
"I'm going to frame the stat sheet and show it to my kid someday," said McHale. "I'll say, 'Look what your old man did one night.' "
McHale's 9-day-old son, Michael Kevin, made his first appearance at the Garden yesterday and was reportedly rendered speechless by his father's performance.
McHale scored 22 in the first quarter, one short of the Celtic record of Heinsohn. He had 31 at the half, again one shy of the Celtic mark - Ed Macauley and Bill Sharman. Meanwhile, the Celtics had built a 70-60 lead over Isiah Thomas (33 points, 11 assists) & Co.
Benson was McHale's favorite target and got so frustrated in the third quarter that he picked up two technicals and was ejected by Blaine Reichelt.
"I think Kent wanted to take himself out to be honest with you," said Bird.
Benson had no comment, but power forward Dan Roundfield, who did not play due to a sore knee, said, "When you have a day like that it's just your day. I would have been just one more body to drip on him today."
McHale had 43 after three, but didn't score in the first 5 minutes, 12 seconds of the final quarter. With just over four minutes to play, he had only 47 points. That's when Bird took matters into his hands.
"In the last three or four minutes, when we had a 10- to 12-point lead, we knew we we're gonna win the game," said Bird. "Kevin had an opportunity to break the record, which is something not many people ever had. Most of his offense came within the flow of the game, but any time you only miss six shots and score 56 points you deserve to get the ball every time down the floor."
With four minutes left, Bird fed McHale for a jump hook (49 points). A few seconds later, both Bird and McHale were alone under the basket. Bird eschewed a layup, passing to McHale for two more (51). McHale went to the line after another Bird feed and missed the first of two. His second shot went in, giving him 52 with 3:05 left. The Celtics led, 134-118, and the Garden scoreboard was keeping everyone informed of McHale's flirtation with stat immortality.
McHale missed a turnaround, but beat the pack down the floor after a Piston turnover and caught Bird's touchdown bomb. A baseline banker with 2:26 left pushed McHale (54) past Bird's 53-point effort vs. Indiana two years ago.
Havlicek's 54-point playoff mark was the final figure to fall. With 2:03 left, McHale was fouled by Terry Tyler. He made both, and came out with 1:12 left.
"You can't explain it," said McHale. "You get warm and guys start looking for you . . . It's a snowball effect."
Does Bird think McHale's record will stand forever?
Bird laughed and said, "It might stand till the next game."
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