Los Angeles Lakers: On this day in team history, March 19th
With the NBA season suspended, we take a look back on this day, March 19th, in Los Angeles Lakers history.
It has been more than a week without Los Angeles Lakers basketball, yet it feels much longer. Every day there is more and more news about the coronavirus and it always seems negative.
The number of people testing positive goes up every day. The Lakers have now had two players test positive for the virus, which brings the total to 14 in the NBA after Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics also tested positive.
With basketball on hold for the foreseeable future, we’re taking a look at what has happened in the past for the organization. On this day in Lakers’ history, March 19th, some memorable games occurred, some more positive than others.
All the way back in 1956, while still playing in Minneapolis, the Lakers played a playoff game against the St. Louis Hawks. The Hawks and Lakers faced off in the Western Division Finals and things went remarkably well for the Lakers.
Minneapolis absolutely demolished St. Louis, winning Game 2 133-75. That 58-point margin of victory was the largest in the history of the NBA. All 10 Lakers players scored in double-figures that game, led by 19 from Slater Martin.
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The next notable event that occurred involving the Lakers wasn’t nearly as positive. In 1967, the Lakers played against the expansion Chicago Bulls. Things didn’t go too well for the Lakers that night, as the Bulls won the game 122-109.
This date is memorable because the Bulls set the record for wins by an expansion team that night, winning their 33rd game. The Bulls head coach, Johnny Kerr, also known as Red, earned Coach of the Year honors for how well the team played.
The last memorable game from this date was a lot more positive for the Lakers. Coincidentally, it involves another blowout in which the Lakers were on the right side of.
In 1972, at the Forum, the Lakers hosted the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers destroyed the Warriors, winning 162-99. At the time, it was the most lopsided victory in the history of the NBA.
Eight Lakers would score in double-figures in this game, led by Gail Goodrich, who scored 30 points. Happy Hairston scored 16 points with 20 rebounds, while Jerry West also double-doubled with 17 points and 13 assists. Leroy Ellis also registered a double-double off the bench with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
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It Lakers’ margin of victory was a mark that would last 19 years. On December 17th in 1991, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Miami Heat by 68 points. Cleveland won the game 148-80.