This Date In Sports History: Last Sporting Event In The Original Boston Garden

By Jordan Long

The 1994-1995 season was the last year the Boston Celtics played in the original Boston Garden.  The Boston Garden opened on November 17, 1928.  The final game ever there occurred on this date in 1995.  The Boston Celtics hosted the Orlando Magic.

                The Celtics came into the 1^st-round playoff series with a record of 35-47, 8^th in the Eastern Conference.  They faced the #1 seed Orlando Magic who went 57-25. In the best of 5 series, Boston entered game 4, down 2-1.  They lost game 1, 124-77.  Boston tied the series up winning game 2, 99-92.  It looked like at that point this series might go the whole 5 games.  Orlando took game 3, 82-77 forcing Boston to play an elimination game.  If they won game 4, the series would extend to a winner’s take all game 5, lose and their season was over.

                The Boston Celtics went with their regular lineup of Dino Radja, Sherman Douglas, Dominique Wilkins, Dee Brown, and Eric Montross.  The Magic started Penny Hardaway, Horace Grant, Shaquille O’Neal, Nick Anderson, and Donald Royal. 

Orlando knew they were facing a desperate Boston team looking to force a game 5. Orlando outscored Boston in the 1^st half 54-46.  Boston was still in the game.  They needed to play defense in the 2^nd half if they wanted to keep their season alive.

                Boston outscored Orlando 26-19 in the 3^rd quarter to cut their deficit to 1, 73-72.  It looked like it was going to be a close game in the 4^th quarter.  The team with the last possession would win the game.  In the 4^th quarter, Orlando put up 22 points while limiting Boston to 20.  Orlando won this game 95-92 to advance to the 2^nd round and it ended the last game in the Boston Garden.

The leading scorer in the game for Orlando was center Shaquille O’Neal.  He put up 25 points and added 13 rebounds.  For the Celtics, Dominique Wilkins totaled 22 points to lead the team.

                The Magic went all the way to the NBA Finals but were swept by the Houston Rockets.  The Boston Celtics would move into the TD Garden for the 1995 season.  That has been their home court ever since.