NBA Classics: Charlotte Hornets @ Boston Celtics
(1993 Eastern Conference 1st Round; Game 2.
Location: Boston Garden
I’m not much for supporting Boston sports, but this game is probably memorable as Kevin McHale’s last hurrah before retiring following the playoffs the same year, and for being his final game at the Boston Garden. McHale, a former star of the Celtics during their golden years of the 80’s, was hampered with nagging knee and back injuries for most of the season, and was pretty much riding the bench all year. The Celtics were also missing the recently retired Larry Bird, as well as star player Reggie Lewis, who collapsed during the early moments of Game 1 of the series. The Hornets were also looking to be the first Expansion team (of the group consisting of Orlando, Minnesota, Miami, and themselves) to win a post season series.
Starting Lineups:
Charlotte:
1st Quarter Scoring: Boston – 24, Charlotte – 23
2nd Quarter Scoring: Boston – 23, Charlotte – 19
3rd Quarter Scoring: Charlotte – 27, Boston – 18
4th Quarter Scoring: Boston – 22, Charlotte – 16
Overtime Quarter Scoring: Boston – 6, Charlotte – 6
Double Overtime Quarter Scoring: Charlotte – 2, Boston – 1
Leading Scorers: Charlotte: Larry Johnson (21 pts.), Alonzo Mourning (18 pts.), Kendall Gill (18 pts.); Boston: Kevin Mchale (30 pts.), Robert Parish (19 pts), Kevin Gamble (16 pts.)
Final Thoughts: This wasn’t the prettiest game ever played, and wasn’t nearly as important in the record books, but the valiant effort of an aging warrior in front of his home crowd was truly a site to behold. Charlotte never really had an answer for a man with bad joints and back problems, finishing the game shooting 13 for 17, and bringing down double digit rebounds, all coming off the bench. Boston’s core of young players let them down however, as poor shooting from McDaniel and Brown lead to the Celtics never really being able to maintain control of the game, and often giving up easy baskets to the Hornets group of young studs. The Hornets ended up taking the series in Four Games, clinching it on their home court, and imediately after, the retirement of Kevin McHale was announced. Following the next season, Boston bid farewell to the last of their 80’s dynasty, “the Chief” Robert Parish, who signed as a free agent with the Hornets
Boston leads series 1-0)
by Scrooge McSuck
Date: May 1st, 1993
Broadcasters: Marv Albert & Mike Fritello
Boston:
C – Robert Parish
F – Alaa Abdelnaby
F – Kevin Gamble
G – Dee Brown
G – Sherman Douglas
(Coach: Chris Ford)
(Notable Bench: Xavier McDaniel, Kevin McHale, Rick Fox, Joe Kleine)
C – Alonzo Mourning
F – Larry Johnson
F – Johnny Newman
G – Kendall Gill
G – Mugsy Bogues
(Coach: Alan Bristow)
(Notable Bench: Dell Curry, David Wingate, Kenny Gattison)
(NBA TV clips out the remaining 6:48 of the 1st Quarter)
Notes: Charlotte primarily plays a full-court press, forcing the Celtics to make sloppy passes. Both teams miss a considerable amount of shots underneath the basket for most of the quarter (for the time shown). Neither team had a large run of scoring, with very little baskets made on back-to-back possession. Dee Brown was the leading scorer of the quarter for Boston, and Charlotte saw scoring from Mourning and Newman, among others. Very little fouling throughout the first half of the quarter.
Total at Halftime: Boston – 47, Charlotte – 42
Notes: Boston ended the quarter on a 6-0 run. Charlotte during one stretch of the quarter went on a 10-3 run, but was outscored by the Celtics 14-6 for the remaining of the quarter. Celtics leading scorers for the quarter were Kevin Gamble and McHale with 8 points each, while Charlotte’s leading scorer was Kenny Gattison, with 7 points (and only sinking 1 of 4 free throw attempts). No three pointers have been attempted through the first half of the game, and none have been made throughout the series at this point. Boston finished the half with 11 offensive rebounds, thanks in part to poor shooting throughout the game.
Total after 3 Quarters: Charlotte – 69, Boston – 65
Notes: Early in the quarter, there was a mild confrontation between Larry Johnson and Alaa Abdelnaby following a hard foul,, which lead to Abdelnaby into being benched for the most of the remainder of the quarter until Parish wound up in foul trouble. Towards the end of the quarter, Charlotte went on a 10-0 run, with Boston failing to score for more than 3 minutes. Xavier McDaniel, a Game 1 hero, finished the quarter shooting 0-for-9 through three quarters, with 0 points. Kendall Gill (7) and Larry Johnson (6) lead the Charlotte Hornets in scoring for the 3rd Quarter, while Boston had contributions from Parish, McHale, and Brown, scoring 4 points each.
Total after Regulation: Boston – 91, Charlotte – 91
Notes: Kevin McHale helps lead the Celtics comeback, scoring 13 of the teams 22 points for the fourth quarter, missing only three field goal attempts, one of them being on a foul. McDaniel, shooting 0-for-10 at this point, tied the game with less than 30-seconds left on the clock. Dell Curry came off the bench to lead the Hornets in scoring, and also connected with the first three point field foal of the series. Boston had the chance to end the game, but missed a lay up under neath the basket with 04.3 seconds left in the game. Following McHale’s last basket en route to completing a three point play, the Boston crowd gave him a standing ovation.
Total after 1st Overtime: Boston – 97, Charlotte – 97
Notes: For those unfamiliar with basketball, overtime periods are 5-minutes long, and there can be as many as possible until the game is not tied at the end of one. Charlotte wins the tip-off to start the overtime, and received scoring off of baskets made by Alonzo Morning, Mugsy Bogues, and Larry Johnson. The Celtics scoring came off baskets made by Robert Parish, Xavier McDaniel, and Kevin McHale, who tied the game with 06 seconds left on the clock. Larry Johnson missed a shot at the buzzer, sending the game into double overtime.
Final Score: Charlotte Hornets – 99, Boston Celtics – 98
Notes: Because the game isn’t about Charlotte winning, their field goal for the quarter isn’t left in the broadcast, meaning it was made fairly early in the overtime. Boston wound up missing 7 consecutive baskets, and their only point came off a free throw made by Kevin McHale, who scored a season high 30 points in the game. Dee Brown threw up a desperation three-point attempt at the buzzer, but missed, ending the game shooting 1 for his last 7 attempts.
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