And So It Begins: Boston vs. Minneapolis

The Lakers/Celtics rivalry started in 1959 when Boston took on Minneapolis in the NBA Finals. The Celtics swept the Lakers for their first of eight straight NBA championships.

(AP Photo/Gene Herrick)

Elgin Baylor Scores 61 at the Boston Garden (1962 NBA Finals, Game 5)

Los Angeles Lakers forward Elgin Baylor set a NBA Finals single-game scoring record after scoring 61 points in Game 2 of the 1962 NBA Finals at the Boston Garden. If the 61 points wasn’t enough, Baylor chipped in with 22 rebounds as well.

(AP Photo)

Russell Goes For 30 points, 40 rebounds (1962 NBA Finals, Game 7)

In the decisive Game 7 of the 1962 NBA Finals, Bill Russell scored 30 points and grabbed 40 rebounds as Boston defeated Los Angeles 110-107 in overtime for the franchise’s fifth championship.

(AP Photo)

Red Auerbach Announces Retirement, Replacement During 1966 NBA Finals

With the Lakers taking a 1-0 advantage in the 1966 NBA Finals, Celtics head coach Red Auerbach announced that he would be stepping down at the end of the series and Bill Russell would be his replacement. Boston made sure Auerbach went out a winner, winning in seven games.

(AP Photo/Bob Daugherty)

“Mr. Clutch” Scores 53 (1969 NBA Finals, Game 1)

Jerry West was known as “Mr. Clutch” for a reason and he proved it in Game 1 of the 1969 NBA Finals. West scored 53 points and had 10 assists in a 120-118 victory over the Celtics.

(AP Photo)

Premature Celebration: Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals

With the balloons suspended from the rafters of The Fabulous Forum, the Los Angeles Lakers let them go to waste after losing Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals despite Jerry West’s triple double. (42 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists.)

The Heat Game (90+ degrees inside The Garden)

There was a time when arenas didn’t have air conditioning and an unseasonably warm day in Boston resulted in the Boston Garden reaching 97 degrees for Game 5 of the 1984 NBA Finals. Larry Bird seemed to feed off the heat, scoring 34 points with 17 rebounds in a 121-103 victory.

(AP Photo)

Gerald Henderson Steal (1984 NBA Finals, Game 2)

Gerald Henderson went down in Boston Celtics lore after stealing James Worthy’s pass and scoring the game tying layup to force overtime in Game 2 of the 1984 NBA Finals.

(AP Photo)

Memorial Day Massacre (1985 NBA Finals, Game 1)

Dubbed the “Memorial Day Massacre,” the Boston Celtics trounced the Los Angeles Lakers 148-114. How hot were the Celtics? Swingman Scott Wedman went 11-for-11 from the field with four three-pointers. Ouch.

(AP Photo/ Amy Sweeney)

Let’s Get It On: Kevin McHale vs. Kurt Rambis (1984 NBA Finals, Game 4)

It wouldn’t be a Celtics-Lakers timeline without a fight between the two teams. In a testy Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals, Kevin McHale clotheslined Kurt Rambis, disrupting the Lakers from their game and giving the Celtics the upper hand in a 129-125 overtime victory.

(AP Photo/ Reed Saxon)

Lakers Rally Comes Up Short In Game 7 of the 1984 NBA Finals

After falling behind by 14 points, the Lakers rallied but came up short in Game 7 of the 1984 NBA Finals, losing 111-102. The late Dennis Johnson sealed the victory with two free throws for Boston’s seventh consecutive Finals series win over the Lakers.

Redemption For The Lakers

For the first time in nine NBA Finals appearances, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the 1985 NBA Finals. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became the oldest Finals MVP winner at the age of 38.

(AP Photo)

Magic Johnson Junior Sky Hook (1987 NBA Finals, Game 4)

With three seconds remaining in Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals, Magic Johnson sank a junior skyhook over Kevin McHale and Robert Parish to give the Lakers a 107-106 victory and leaving the sold out Boston Garden stunned.

(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

The Paul Pierce “Injury” in Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals

We will never know for sure if Paul Pierce really injured his knee or not but his performance after he was carried off the floor gave the Boston Celtics a 98-88 Game 1 victory and set the tone for the series.

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals (131-92 Boston)

In one of the most lopsided games in NBA Finals history, the Boston Celtics won their 17th championship after a 131-92 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. The loss has left a bad taste in the Lakers mouth ever since.

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)