Bird's 40 not Enough to Beat Denver

February 21, 1985

Denver Downs Boston

It's been on bumper stickers and bedsheet banners. It's been used to introduce promotional films, record albums and glossy coffee table books. "Celtic Pride" has, in fact, become one of sports' most overused cliches.



Championship banners are cited as proof that the slogan is more than myth, but when the final story of the 1984-85 Celtics' season is told, hoopologists will be able to verify the existence of Celtic Pride by reviewing a late- February, Wednesday night in Denver.

Stripped of their coach (K.C. Jones was heaved by Jake O'Donnell), and four players, the Celtics dropped a 132-129 decision to the Denver Nuggets last night, but clinched the NBA's Purple Heart/Audie Murphy Award.

"There are very few times you can be proud of a defeat, but this was one of those times," said M.L. Carr, who sat on the end of Boston's bench prepared for a shot of pain-killer in his sore ankle if he was needed. "We went out with eight guys and they played their hearts out and almost won the ballgame. This shows what kind of pride this team has."

The loss dropped the curtain on a 10-day, six-game western tour which saw Boston lose the four players to injuries, while winning three of six games, and clinging to a half game lead over Philadelphia.

With Robert Parish, Cedric Maxwell and Quinn Buckner back in Boston, and Carr unable to play, the Celtics were forced to go with some lineups not seen since rookie camp in Marshfield last August.

But the Noble Eight took the first-place Nuggets to the wire. In fact, Boston almost won. The Celtics led by four with four minutes to play, and held a 123-122 lead with 1:43 left.

Dan Issel (22 points, eight rebounds off the bench) put the Nuggets ahead for good with two free throws. Then Larry Bird (40 points) missed a bomb from out top, fell down, and watched helplessly as Calvin Natt (33 points) took an outlet pass for a sneakaway dunk to make it 126-123 with 1:17 showing.

"I fell on the sweat and couldn't get up," said Bird. "This was a backbreaker, wasn't it?"

Boston's last chance went by the boards when Dennis Johnson (17 points) missed a give-and-go layup and Natt scored on another drive to give the Nuggets a 128-123 lead with 43 seconds to play. Boston called time, but the great Celtic heart didn't have enough left.

Bird was unwilling to accept any moral victories. "We should have beaten them," he said. "I didn't think they gave us that good of a game."

The Nuggets certainly gave the Celtics a fast-paced game. Denver hadn't played in five days and tried to take advantage of the shorthanded Celtics and Boston's lack of training in mile-high conditions.

Boston's chances seemed slight after a first-quarter sprint which ended in a 37-37 tie. All of the Celtics were breathing hard when the quarter ended.

At the start of the second, the Celtics had Carlos Clark, Rick Carlisle, Scott Wedman, Greg Kite and Bird on the court. Denver ripped off seven in a row, but the Celts fought back and trailed by only two at halftime, 66-64.

"I think they tired in the second half because of the fast tempo and lack of players," said Nugget guard T.R. Dunn.

Alex English (38 points) came out firing after intermission and the Nuggets stretched their lead to ten (94-84) late in the third. Jones had already been tossed by then, and assistant Jimmy Rodgers took over. Boston trimmed it to 98-92 at the end of three.

Issel shot the Nuggets to an eight-point lead early in the fourth. Then Bird and Danny Ainge (23 points, six steals) went to work and fired the Celtics to their short-lived, four-point lead. When Bird stuffed a fast-break feed by Kevin McHale (32 points and seven blocks in 45 minutes), the Celtics led, 112-111, with 5:54 left. Denver started to panic. A dazzling drive by Ainge gave Boston a 117-113 lead with 4:19 left.

"We had the four-point lead, but we knew we had to keep scoring because they're so explosive," said McHale.

English and Mike Evans brought Denver back and the Nuggets led, 122-119, with 2:24 left.

Boston cut it to one on two DJ free throws. Then McHale blocked a shot by Natt, Ainge saved the rebound and Bird was fouled on the break. He made both to give the Celts the 123-122 lead with 1:43 to go and force a Denver timeout.

Then the Celtics went cold and the Nuggets scored six straight to wrap it up.