On This Day (Dec. 27)
On This Day (Dec. 27)
Notable events from NBA history that occurred on December 27.
Bird’s 50th Triple-Double
On this day in 1989, the Boston Celtics’ Larry Bird had 37 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 115-112 win over the Sacramento Kings. It was the 50th triple-double of Bird's career. At the time, he was just the fourth player in NBA history to reach that mark.
Bird finished his career with 59 triple-doubles, which currently places him ninth on the NBA’s all-time list. The only forward in NBA history with more triple-doubles is LeBron James with 105.
Historic O-Fer
On this day in 1991, the Golden State Warriors’ Tim Hardaway set an ignominious NBA record by missing all 17 of his shots from the field in a 106-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The previous mark of 15 field goal attempts without a make was shared by multiple players. Hardaway still holds the record today.
Chris Mullin helped make up for Hardaway’s poor performance from the field, scoring 36 points on 15-24 shooting from the field (62.5%), adding seven rebounds, five steals, and four blocks. Several of Mullin’s field goals came courtesy of Hardaway, who dished out a game-high 13 assists.
Historic Halftime Lead
On this day in 2020, the Dallas Mavericks led the L.A. Clippers 77-27 at the half, the largest halftime lead in NBA history. The Mavericks then cruised to a 124-73 win, the second-largest margin of victory in franchise history.
The Mavericks are one of three teams in NBA history to outscore their opponent by 20 or more points in each of the first two quarters of a game:
St. Louis Hawks vs. Philadelphia Warriors (Feb. 15, 1961)
Dallas Mavericks vs. L.A. Clippers (Dec. 27, 2020)
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Orlando Magic (Nov. 22, 2021)
The Mavericks’ Luka Doncic had 24 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists — all team highs — in just 26 minutes of playing time.
First for Oscar
On this day in 1960, Cincinnati Royals rookie Oscar Robertson tallied 45 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists in a 129-124 win over the Syracuse Nationals. Robertson became the first player in NBA history to record at least 45 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game, and he remains the only rookie to do so.
This was one of four career 45-point triple-doubles for Robertson. The only players in NBA history with more such games are James Harden and Russell Westbrook, each with five.
Franchise First for Webber
On this day in 1995, the Washington Bullets’ Chris Webber had 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 115-94 win over the Golden State Warriors. Webber became the first player in franchise history to record a 40-point triple-double.
Webber shot 18-25 from the field with three 3-pointers made, an effective field goal percentage of 78.0%. Only two players in NBA history have recorded a 40-point triple-double with a higher effective field goal percentage (a total of four instances):
100.0% — Wilt Chamberlain (Feb. 24, 1967)
88.9% — Chamberlain (Feb. 14, 1966)
82.8% — Chamberlain (March 18, 1968)
79.5% — Nikola Jokic (March 6, 2022)