April 18

From Hoopedia

• 1962 - Above: Boston Celtics center Bill Russell pulls down 40 rebounds in a Game 7 overtime win against the Los Angeles Lakers, giving Boston the 1962 NBA championship and matching his 1960 playoff record for rebounds in a game. Boston wins despite Lakers forward Elgin Baylor's 11 straight 30-plus point playoff games, an NBA Playoff record. It is Boston's fourth straight title, the first time any NBA team won more than three in a row.

• 1966 - Egypt wins the inaugural FIBA Africa Championship for Women.

• 1966 - Bill Russell is named Boston Celtics coach, becoming the first African American head coach of an NBA team.

• 1967 - Rick Barry of San Francisco scores 55 points as the Warriors beat Philadelphia, 130-124, in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, a series Philadelphia eventually wins in six games. Barry’s 55 points is tied for the second-highest point total in playoff history and his 22 field goals made tied Elgin Baylor’s NBA Finals record.

• 1989 - The Charlotte Hornets snap out of a rocky start to their franchise and defeat the New Jersey Nets 121-105, the largest margin of victory of their charter year.

• 1996 - Orlando’s Dennis Scott set an NBA single-game record by connecting on 11 three-point attempts against Atlanta.