Celtics Take 2-0 Series Lead over Lakers

Apr. 19, 1965 - Coasting on offense at times and catnapping on defense more than usual, Red Auerbach’s Celtics nevertheless defeated the Lakers, 129-123, at Boston Garden tonight to take a 2-0 in the best-of-seven NBA finals.

It really wasn’t as close as the final six-point spread. The Celtics were in front by 16 in the middle of the fourth quarter and decided to slow it down and play out the clock.

If this series goes more than five, it will be a surprise. That’s how obvious the Celtic supremacy is over this Laker club, which isn’t a match for Red Auerbach’s champions without Elgin Baylor in the lineup.

Boston’s big men — Bill Russell, Tom Heinsohn, Tom Sanders, and Willie Naulls — scored 82 points among them. That’s a switch. In all their previous games in these playoffs, the impetus was mostly provided from the rear by Sam Jones and John Havlicek.

L.A. got a great game out of its backcourt of Jerry West and Dick Barnett. West wound up with 45 and Barnett 26. But it meant nothing.

Up front, the Celtics dominated the boards and had a lot of fun tipping in shots and rebounds.

Russell ended up with 25 rebounds and 23 points, and Sanders had one of his better playoff games with 23 points. Heinsohn had 22.

“What, only 25 rebounds for Russell?” asked West. “He must have had 50 in the game. There’s something wrong with these figures. The man had the ball all night.

“He played a beautiful basketball game, passing, blocking shots, rebounding, shooting. There aren’t many times when he doesn’t play exceptionally well.

“They have an awful lot of firepower and pour it at you. Yet we can win if we play a very sound game. They make you make errors usually, but tonight I thought we played well — it was just Russell that broke us down.”

Someone asked West why he didn’t try to drive more for baskets.

“You take the shot when you have it with Russell,” he replied. “You don’t try to get any closer, or the whole picture changes with him around.”

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