Today in Boston Celtics history, the storied ball club lost Game 3 of their 2020 NBA Playoffs’ Eastern Semis series vs. the Toronto Raptors 104-103, the series then with Boston up 2-1 after winning the first two games. The loss came about due to a last-second trey from Toronto wing OG Anunoby via a full-court pass from Kyle Lowry, despite Celtics center Tacko Fall being brought in to make things hard for Lowry with his 7-foot-5 frame. The defeat was in spite of 29 points from Kemba Walker, Boston’s first loss in the Orlando bubble playoffs.
Jaylen Brown added 19 points and 12 rebounds and Jayson Tatum another 15 points, 9 boards, and 6 assists. “It hurts and stings to lose,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens related after the loss via the AP. “But we’ll just get back to it and get ready for Saturday.”
Sep 3, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker (8) and Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) embrace as they walk past Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) during the first half in game three of the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
“Much credit to those guys,” Walker said. “That was a hell of a shot.”
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Rest in Peace
Today is unfortunately also the date of the passing of former Boston big man Woody Sauldsberry in 2007. Born in rural Winnsboro, Louisiana in 1934, Sauldsberry would play his college ball with the Texas Southern University Tigers, he would be drafted in the eighth round of the 1957 NBA draft (there were many more rounds in that era by the (then) Philadelphia Warriors (now, Golden State).
Nov 26, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; The Boston Celtics logo is seen before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
He would play a total of seven seasons in the NBA with the Warriors, (then) St. Louis Hawks (now, Atlanta), the defunct Chicago Packers, and Zephyrs before leaving the NBA for two seasons starting in 1963 to play in other leagues. Sauldsberry would return to the NBA briefly with the Celtics in their 1965-66 season, playing in 39 games for the team, and helping them win a title in a reserve role.
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Celtics infrastructure
It is also the date in 1898 that the Tremont Street subway would be extended to Causeway Street from Park Street to create North Station.
Jun 9, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; A general view of the North Station entrance to TD Garden before game two of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
It would be another 30 years before the original Boston Garden would be built on the site at 150 Causeway Street.
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Finally, it is also the date that the Celtics sent Juancho Hernangomez to the San Antonio Spurs as part of a three-team deal that brought back Bol Bol and PJ Dozier to Boston from the Denver Nuggets.
Nov 6, 2021; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Boban Marjanovic (left) jokes with Boston Celtics forward Juancho Hernangomez (center) before the game at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The star of the Netflix film “Hustle” saw his tenure with the team he ended up with in the movie as well, having averaged just 1.1 points and 1.4 rebounds per game with the Celtics.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Game 3 loss to Raps in ’20 bubble; Sauldsberry passes