The NBA Belt · reign 475
Boston Celtics
Took the belt from Minneapolis Lakers, 118–115, on April 4, 1959. Lost it to Minneapolis Lakers, 136–115, on November 8, 1959.
9Defenses
218Days
48thReign for the franchise
+4Closest call · Oct 17, 1959
10.8Average winning margin
4thLongest of 3,250 reigns, by days
33rdMost defenses of 3,250 reigns
Defended against
Minneapolis Lakers ×3Cincinnati Royals ×2Syracuse NationalsKnicksSt. Louis HawksPhiladelphia Warriors
The seasons
- 1958–59: they had the best record (52–20–0); they won the NBA title while holding the belt; 4 belt games of this reign; the belt changed hands 43 times that season.
- 1959–60: Boston Celtics finished 59–16–0, 1st of 8 by record; they won the NBA title while holding the belt; 7 belt games of this reign; the belt changed hands 44 times that season.
Reign leaders
Most points for Boston Celtics across the 11 belt games of this reign with a box score.
| Player | PTS | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Heinsohn | 233 | 11 |
| 2 | Bill Sharman | 204 | 11 |
| 3 | Bob Cousy | 192 | 11 |
| 4 | Frank Ramsey | 188 | 11 |
| 5 | Bill Russell | 176 | 11 |
Every game of the reign
margins from Boston Celtics’ side| Belt game | Date | Result | Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,028 | Apr 4, 1959 | Boston Celtics beat Minneapolis Lakers 118–115 Playoffs Game → | +3 | Title change |
| 1,029 | Apr 5, 1959 | Boston Celtics beat Minneapolis Lakers 128–108 Playoffs | +20 | Defense |
| 1,030 | Apr 7, 1959 | Boston Celtics beat Minneapolis Lakers 123–110 Playoffs | +13 | Defense |
| 1,031 | Apr 9, 1959 | Boston Celtics beat Minneapolis Lakers 118–113 Playoffs | +5 | Defense |
| 1,032 | Oct 17, 1959 | Boston Celtics beat Cincinnati Royals 129–125 | +4 | Defense |
| 1,033 | Oct 24, 1959 | Boston Celtics beat Syracuse Nationals 121–109 | +12 | Defense |
| 1,034 | Oct 31, 1959 | Boston Celtics beat New York Knicks 123–109 | +14 | Defense |
| 1,035 | Nov 1, 1959 | Boston Celtics beat Cincinnati Royals 124–109 | +15 | Defense |
| 1,036 | Nov 3, 1959 | Boston Celtics beat St. Louis Hawks 103–98 | +5 | Defense |
| 1,037 | Nov 7, 1959 | Boston Celtics beat Philadelphia Warriors 115–106 | +9 | Defense |
| 1,038 | Nov 8, 1959 | Minneapolis Lakers beat Boston Celtics 136–115 Game → | −21 | Title change |