Today in Boston Celtics history, Hall of Fame Celtics small forward Larry Bird famously stole the ball in Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals, passing it to a fellow Hall of Famer, Boston point guard Dennis Johnson, for the winning layup in a wild, 107-106, victory over the Detroit Pistons
Detroit floor general Isiah Thomas had just scored a late basket to put the Pistons up 106-105 with a mere 17 seconds left in the game’s final frame. When Bird tried to respond to the make with a layup on the next play, it was blocked by the Pistons. Detroit then got the ball back, and the game seemed all but over with just five seconds remaining on the clock.
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But, the Hick from French Lick picked off the inbounds pass and connected with Johnson for the win.
In 1999, a “Bill Russell Tribute” was held at the FleetCenter (today’s TD Garden) to honor the Celtics legend’s Hall of Fame career. Guests included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Tom Brokaw, Jim Brown, Bob Cousy, Wilt Chamberlain, Johnny Mathis, then- NBA commissioner David Stern and Bill Walton among many others.
The event lasted more than two hours and even featured a videotaped greeting from then-President Bill Clinton. “The one thing I don’t like about these (ceremonies) is they’re so serious,” said Russell via the Hartford Courant’s Alan Greenberg.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Larry Bird steals the ball; Bill Russell honored
