This Day in NBA Sports History: Jun 7, 1978-2000
The best of this day in NBA sports history. June 7. Shaq’s dominance, fewest points in the finals, Rockets’ comeback, Drazen Petrovic dies, ninth consecutive home loss, a perfect performance, and It’s not over until it’s over. What happened on this day in NBA sports history?
Shaq’s Dominance
Shaquille O’Neal averaged 41.8 points per game in the opening games of every playoff series in the 2000 playoffs.
O’Neal’s dominance in Game 1 nearly put him in the NBA Finals record book. In the Lakers’ first-round opener against Sacramento, O’Neal exploded with 46 points. In Game 1 of the second-round series against Phoenix, he scored 37 points. In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against Portland, he blasted out of the gates with 41 points. In the NBA Finals, he scored 43 points against the Indiana Pacers.
He finished the night with 21 field goals, one shy of the NBA Finals record of 22, shared by Elgin Baylor and Rick Barry. O’Neal joins Baylor, Barry, Jerry West, and Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA Finals history to make at least 21 field goals in a game.
Fewest Points In the Finals
In 1998, the Chicago Bulls soundly defeated the Utah Jazz 96-54 in the most lopsided game in NBA Finals history. Utah’s 54 points also set an NBA record for the fewest points in a game since the creation of the 24-second shot clock.
Rockets’ Comeback
With just three-tenths of a second left in overtime, the Rockets staged a comeback in the 1995 NBA Finals.
Buoyed by the outside shooting of Point Guard Kenny Smith, who set NBA Finals records for most three-pointers in a game (seven) and a quarter (five), Houston rallied from a 20-point first-half deficit and defeated Orlando 120-118 in overtime in Game 1 of the 1995 Finals. The teams also combined for a record 62 three-pointers made in the playoffs and NBA Finals. The Rockets hit 14-of-32 attempts. The Magic went 9-of-30.
Drazen Petrovic Dies On This Day In NBA Sports History
Drazen Petrovic died in a car accident in Germany. The New Jersey guard was selected to the All-NBA Third Team in 1993 and was a member of the Croatian team that won the silver medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Here’s an excerpt of Reggie Miller’s thoughts on him.
Ninth Consecutive Home Loss
Game 3 of the NBA Finals recorded the lowest-scoring third quarter in Finals history, with Chicago and Portland scoring just 31 points in the period. The Blazers’ 94-84 loss was the ninth consecutive home loss suffered by a Western Conference club since 1989. Also an NBA Finals record.
Finals’ first perfect performance
Terry Porter of the Portland Trail Blazers went 15-for-15 on his free throws to power Portland’s 106-105 overtime victory over Detroit in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Porter’s perfect performance set an NBA Finals record for most free throws made without a miss.
It’s Not Over Until It’s Over
The Washington Bullets traveled to Seattle and defeated the SuperSonics 105-99 in Game 7 to win the NBA Championship. During this series, Washington Head Coach Dick Motta famously proclaimed, “The opera isn’t over until the fat lady sings.”
Final Thoughts: This Day In NBA Sports History
If you missed the last article entitled This Day In NBA Sports History, read about it here on June 6.
