---

1928

Dolph Schayes is born in The Bronx, New York. He led DeWitt Clinton High School to the 1944 borough championship.

1932

NBA champion coach Bill Fitch is born in Davenport, Iowa.

1957

Four-time NBA All-Star Bill Laimbeer is born in Boston, Massachusetts.

1970

Roger Brown drops an ABA postseason record 53 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 143-120 victory over the Los Angeles Stars in game four of the ABA Finals.

1976

Kevin Garnett is born in Greenville, South Carolina.

Brian Skinner is born in Temple, Texas.

1986

Mario Chalmers is born in Anchorage, Alaska.

In a controversial move by general manager Jerry Krause, Stan Albeck is fired as head coach of the Bulls and replaced by 34-year-old Doug Collins. Albeck was reportedly let go for his refusal to limit Michael Jordan’s playing time after the superstar’s return from a foot injury late in the ’85-’86 season.

1988

The Mavericks clinch their first Conference Finals appearance in franchise history with a 108-95 victory over the Nuggets in game six of the Western Conference Semifinals.

1989

A pair of Michael Jordan free throws in the final seconds, followed by a Johnny Newman miss on an attempted buzzer beater, gives the #6 seeded Bulls a 113-111 victory over the #2 seeded Knicks in game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Jordan finishes with 40 points and 10 assists as Chicago clinches the series and advances to the Conference Finals, the first such appearance of Jordan’s career.

1990

A crucial Rod Strickland turnover late in overtime is the turning point in a thrilling game seven of the Western Conference Semifinals, in which the Trail Blazers defeat the Spurs 108-105. Terry Porter leads the Blazers with 36 points and nine assists.

1994

For just the second time in NBA history, a team comes back from a 3-0 playoff series deficit to force a game seven, as the Nuggets defeat the Jazz 94-91 in game six of the Western Conference Semifinals.

2005

Six months after the teams scuffled in the “Malice at the Palace,” the Pistons eliminate the Pacers from the postseason with an 88-79 victory in game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Ron Artest does not appear in the series due to his suspension.

2024

The Timberwolves return to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years and do so by eliminating the defending champion Nuggets in the Conference Semifinals with a 98-90 victory in a winner-take-all game seven.

---