Today in Boston Celtics history: 5th title vs. Lakers in 1962; Smart wins DPOY

Today in Boston Celtics history, the storied ball club won their fifth NBA Championship, for the 1961-62 season. The victory was won against their longstanding rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, in Game 7 of the series, with the Lakers then based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Boston triumphed in the decisive contest with a score of 110-107 in overtime, thanks to an outstanding outing by the Hall of Fame Celtics center Bill Russell, who contributed 30 points and 40 rebounds.

Russell's herculean effort contributed to a Finals series record of 189 total rebounds, which remains unmatched to this day. Additionally, Celtics guard Sam Jones added another 27 points and 8 rebounds to the team's big win. Laker Frank Selvy missed a last-second shot that would have won the game for L.

A. , but it bounced off the rim, sending the game into the extra period that Boston would use to secure the victory. Historic milestones It is also the date that Marcus Smart won the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year award, the first such nod to a backcourt player since Gary Payton Sr.

won the award in 1996. In a nice flourish by the league, the NBA had Payton hand the award to Smart in a surprise ceremony at Auerbach Center. This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: 5th title vs.