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This Day in Basketball History

REUTERS/Danny Moloshok / reuters

1977 - Peja Stojakovic was born

Three-time All-Star Peja Stojakovic is undoubtedly one of the best shooters to ever don an NBA jersey. The Serbian sharpshooter crafted an illustrious career out of his silky smooth jumper. 

For a time in the early 2000's, nothing was more deadly than Peja curling off a pin-down from Vlade Divac or Chris Webber. The millennial Kings failed to capture a title, but they will be forever remembered as one of the most aesthetically-pleasing teams the league has seen.

Across 13 seasons in the league, Peja averaged 17 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game across stops in Sacramento, Indiana, New Orleans, Toronto and Dallas.

Despite his relatively brief tenure in the league, Peja ranks ninth all-time in career three pointers made with 1,790. He shot 45 percent from the field and 40 percent from three over 899 total games played.

1985 - Magic's Lakers best Bird's Celtics

In a classic battle that featured eight future Hall-of-Famers, the Los Angeles Lakers toppled the mighty Boston Celtics to capture their ninth title in franchise history.

The heavyweight bought featured two of the league's biggest stars in Celtics forward Larry Bird and Lakers guard Magic Johnson. Bird scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Magic countered with a triple-double (14 points, 10 rebounds, 14 assists).

However, the battle was won by the other two members of the Lakers' big-three. Forward James Worthy netted 28 points, while center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar poured in 29 points in the game.

Boston countered with forward Kevin McHale's 32-point effort, but he was ultimately betrayed by his front-court partner Robert Parish, who only managed 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting.

The Lakers won the tilt 111-100 and bested the Celtics 4-2 in the Finals.

2012 - LeBron's Heat flattens Pierce's Celtics

June 9th has historically been unkind to the Celtics, apparently. First, Magic and the Lakers. Then, LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

In an outcome familiar to many, the Heat were powered to victory by the duo of James and guard Dwyane Wade. They combined for 54 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists which overcame Boston's foursome of Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett.

The bench failed the Celtics, as their starters scored all but two of their 88 points on the night. In comparison, forward Chris Bosh popped off the pine for Miami and scored 19 by himself.

The Heat captured the 101-88 victory, thereby winning the Eastern Conference Finals by a score of 4-3. They went on to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Finals.

Birthdays

1964 - Wayman Tisdale
1980 - Udonis Haslem
1977 - Peja Stojakovic
1985 - Sebastian Telfair

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