Belt game 1,205 · March 21, 1961 · playoffs
Syracuse Nationals take the belt
Syracuse Nationals beat Boston Celtics 115–98 at home to start reign 552 of the NBA belt, the 53rd for the franchise.
Boston Celtics had held it since March 11, 1961, with 2 defenses over 10 days.
Syracuse Nationals held it for 2 days and 0 defenses, then lost it to Boston Celtics on March 23, 1961.
552Reign number
53Team's reign
0Defenses
2Days held
Box score
Syracuse Nationals
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG | 3P | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolph Schayes | 38 | 32 | 14 | 3 | — | — | 12-28 | — | 8-10 |
| Johnny Kerr | 40 | 17 | 19 | 5 | — | — | 7-15 | — | 3-5 |
| Larry Costello | 35 | 15 | 4 | 9 | — | — | 4-13 | — | 7-9 |
| Dick Barnett | 34 | 15 | 6 | 4 | — | — | 5-15 | — | 5-5 |
| Al Bianchi | 16 | 11 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4-10 | — | 3-4 |
| Hal Greer | 18 | 9 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 4-10 | — | 1-1 |
| Dave Gambee | 19 | 7 | 6 | 2 | — | — | 3-10 | — | 1-2 |
| Barney Cable | 32 | 7 | 7 | 2 | — | — | 3-6 | — | 1-2 |
| Harvey Halbrook | 8 | 2 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 1-3 | — | 0-0 |
Boston Celtics
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG | 3P | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Russell | 48 | 17 | 23 | 5 | — | — | 6-16 | — | 5-9 |
| Sam Jones | 22 | 15 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 4-10 | — | 7-8 |
| Frank Ramsey | 25 | 14 | 11 | 0 | — | — | 4-13 | — | 6-7 |
| Bill Sharman | 28 | 14 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 7-13 | — | 0-0 |
| Bob Cousy | 27 | 11 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 1-12 | — | 9-12 |
| Gene Conley | 8 | 8 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 3-5 | — | 2-2 |
| Tom Heinsohn | 29 | 7 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 2-16 | — | 3-6 |
| Jim Loscutoff | 21 | 6 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 2-6 | — | 2-2 |
| Thomas Sanders | 13 | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 3-5 | — | 0-0 |
| K.C. Jones | 19 | 0 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 0-8 | — | 0-0 |
Player box scores: Historical NBA Data and Player Box Scores by Eoin Moore (CC0).