Mar. 12, 1964 - The Celtics rode to their eighth consecutive Eastern Division NBA crown tonight by defeating the Detroit Pistons, 140-120, before 2,952 in Providence, R.I. Backcourt veteran Don Ohl handled the Pistons’ reins as player-coach as the Detroiters went down for the seventh time in eight meetings with Boston.
The victory was worth $14,000 to Boston, $2,000 for the highest winning percentage in the league and $12,000 for winning the Eastern crown. The victory was the Celtics’ 34th in 37 appearances at Providence and their 12th straight there.
By winning the Eastern title, the Celtics became the first team in major professional sports to win a divisional championship eight straight years. The Detroit Red Wings won the NHL regular-season title seven straight years, from 1948 through 1954.
The victory also produced a change in Celtics’ president Walter Brown. Extremely irate at the way the pro players almost refused to play the NBA All-Star game at Boston Garden in January because of a pension dispute, Brown said he’d never enter the Celtics’ dressing room again. However, he walked in the Celtics’ quarters in Providence and shook hands with all the players, trainer Buddy LeRoux, and coach Red Auerbach.
The Celtics went right after the Pistons tonight and shot out to a quick 24-7 margin. K.C. Jones, who scored 18 for the night, made five hoops in his first six attempts. Boston racked 38 for the first period and scored 41 in the second to put this one away by intermission.
Auerbach, happy as a kid and extremely weary, said: “Honestly, I get more of a kick out of winning this than any other year but our first. Give all the credit to the guys. They were great, overcame a lot of obstacles, and now we’re ready for anybody.”
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