The NBA Belt · reign 564
Boston Celtics
Took the belt from Cincinnati Royals, 119–96, on December 3, 1961. Lost it to Los Angeles Lakers, 104–101, on December 19, 1961.
7Defenses
16Days
72ndReign for the franchise
+1Closest call · Dec 6, 1961
9.6Average winning margin
188thLongest of 3,250 reigns, by days
77thMost defenses of 3,250 reigns
Defended against
Syracuse Nationals ×2Cincinnati RoyalsPhiladelphia WarriorsChicago PackersSt. Louis HawksKnicks
The season
- 1961–62: Boston Celtics finished 60–20–0, 1st of 9 by record; they won the NBA title while holding the belt; 9 belt games of this reign; the belt changed hands 42 times that season.
Reign leaders
Most points for Boston Celtics across the 9 belt games of this reign with a box score.
| Player | PTS | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sam Jones | 221 | 9 |
| 2 | Bill Russell | 181 | 9 |
| 3 | Tom Heinsohn | 180 | 9 |
| 4 | Frank Ramsey | 150 | 9 |
| 5 | K.C. Jones | 112 | 9 |
Every game of the reign
margins from Boston Celtics’ side| Belt game | Date | Result | Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,232 | Dec 3, 1961 | Boston Celtics beat Cincinnati Royals 119–96 Game → | +23 | Title change |
| 1,233 | Dec 6, 1961 | Boston Celtics beat Cincinnati Royals 103–102 | +1 | Defense |
| 1,234 | Dec 8, 1961 | Boston Celtics beat Syracuse Nationals 123–111 | +12 | Defense |
| 1,235 | Dec 9, 1961 | Boston Celtics beat Syracuse Nationals 106–102 | +4 | Defense |
| 1,236 | Dec 13, 1961 | Boston Celtics beat Philadelphia Warriors 123–113 | +10 | Defense |
| 1,237 | Dec 14, 1961 | Boston Celtics beat Chicago Packers 123–108 | +15 | Defense |
| 1,238 | Dec 16, 1961 | Boston Celtics beat St. Louis Hawks 130–113 | +17 | Defense |
| 1,239 | Dec 17, 1961 | Boston Celtics beat New York Knicks 117–109 | +8 | Defense |
| 1,240 | Dec 19, 1961 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Boston Celtics 104–101 Game → | −3 | Title change |