Oct. 16, 1963 - Boston’s defending champions spoiled Baltimore’s return to the NBA, 109-95, as Willie Naulls, Bill Russell, and John Havlicek spearheaded the Celtics before 7,264 tonight in Baltimore’s Civic Center. Naulls, the recent purchase from San Francisco, made four baskets within the second quarter’s first 4:30 to steer Boston ahead after the Bullets had squirmed on top in the opening quarter. Havlicek scored 24 points, 13 in Boston’s big third period. Russell flicked away eight Baltimore shot attempts. Walter Bellamy netted 32 points and Terry Dischinger 26 for Baltimore, butthe former was on the bench after 7:51, burdened with three personal fouls, and didn’t return until the second half’s start. Bellamy netted the third quarter’s first bucket, only to have the Celtics, with Tom Heinsohn feeding K.C. Jones for one 2-pointer and hitting one himself, zoom to 59-43. Havlicek then began zeroing in, and the Bullets were done. “We just developed a bad case of the jitters and, having to sit down Bellamy early, put a burden on our rebounding,” coach Bob Leonard explained. “We got off okay. Then Walt got in trouble. I didn’t want to risk a fourth foul that early. So, I sat him down. We were still in it. But they got a couple quickies, and we got rattled and started throwing the ball away. The Bullets now head for New York, where tomorrow night they help New York, three times their victims on the exhibition trail, open in Madison Square Garden.
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