1972

The longest win streak in NBA history is broken at 33 games, when the Bucks defeat the Lakers 120-104 behind 39 points and 20 rebounds from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It started a stretch of four losses in six games for the Lakers, who recovered to win 28 of their final 34 to finish the season 69-13.

1947

Dino Martin of the Providence Steam Rollers becomes the first player to reach the 40 point plateau in an NBA game, finishing with exactly 40 in a 91-68 victory over the Cleveland Rebels. It sets the NBA single game scoring record for only five days, until it’s broken by Joe Fulks with 41.

1951

M.L. Carr is born in Wallace, North Carolina. He became the first Black student on the basketball team at his nearby high school, Wallace-Rose Hill.

The Washington Capitols fold 35 games into the ’50-’51 season, less than two years removed from making an NBA Finals appearance.

1956

Sports Illustrated highlights the NBA on the cover for the first time, with a feature story on Bob Cousy labelling him as “basketball’s creative genius.” The issue also featured a story about Bill Russell’s dominant performance leading San Francisco to the NCAA Holiday Festival championship at Madison Square Garden.

1965

Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues is born in Baltimore, Maryland. He helped lead Dunbar High School to the Maryland state title in 1982, alongside teammates Reggie Lewis, David Wingate, and Reggie Williams.

1989

Michael Beasley is born in Cheverly, Maryland. He played on the locally based PPG Jaguars, one of the most successful AAU youth teams of all time, alongside Kevin Durant.

1993

Bob Lanier has his jersey #16 retired by the Pistons. A seven-time All-Star for Detroit, Lanier had also previously been honored with his jersey getting retired by the Bucks.

1996

The Raptors become the first team in NBA history to not make a free throw during a game, going 0-for-3 from the line in a 92-91 loss to the Hornets. The feat has been repeated just one time since, by the Celtics in the ’23-’24 season.

2021

LaMelo Ball becomes the youngest player in NBA history to log a triple-double, finishing with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 113-105 Hornets win over the Hawks. Ball was 19 years and 140 days at the time, breaking the record previously set by Luka Doncic. Ball’s record would subsequently be broken just one year later by Josh Giddey.