April 21

From Hoopedia

• 1928 - Morgan Wootten, the only high school coach enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, is born in Durham, North Carolina.

• 1951 - The New York Knickerbockers lose the decisive Game 7 of the NBA Finals to the Rochester Royals, 79-75, when Royals guard Bob Davies sinks two free throws for the winning points. The Royals, led by Davies and Arnie Risen, won the first three games; the Knicks won three straight behind Vince Boryla and Harry Gallatin to force a Game 7.

• 1991 - The Denver Nuggets, following a 131-125 road loss at Houston, set the NBA record for points allowed per game, with an average of 130.8 PPG, breaking the previous mark of 126.0 PPG set by Denver in 1981-82.

• 1995 - The Boston Celtics play their final regular-season game at Boston Garden, their home since the team and league began in 1946. Soon afterward, the Garden is razed and replaced by the Fleet Center next door. The Garden's famous parquet floor is used there until 1999, when it is replaced by a replica.

• 1996 - The Chicago Bulls defeat the Bullets, 103-93, to finish the season with a 72-10 record and .878 winning percentage, eclipsing the NBA record set by 1972 Lakers, who went 69-13 for an .841 percentage. The victory over Washington also earns Chicago their 33rd road victory, the most ever in a season by an NBA team.

• 1996 - Cleveland, despite an 89-88 road loss at Indiana to close the season, set an NBA record for the fewest points allowed per game (88.5) since the NBA began utilizing the shot clock during the 1954-55 season.

• 1996 - Utah’s John Stockton makes NBA history by earning his ninth consecutive league assist title, handing out 916 in 82 games for an 11.2 APG average, breaking Bob Cousy’s previous record run of eight straight titles from 1953-60.

• 1996 - Chicago’s Michael Jordan sets an NBA record by winning his eighth NBA scoring title (breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record of seven), after netting 2,491 points in 82 games for a 30.4 PPG average.

• 2000 - Popular film Love & Basketball opens.