2005

With the Heat off to a sluggish start with a 11-10 record, Stan Van Gundy steps down as head coach, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. He is replaced by Pat Riley, who returns to coaching after two years exclusively in the Heat front office. At season’s end, Riley led the Heat to the first title in franchise history. Van Gundy returned to coaching two years later with the Magic, while Riley retired for good after the ’07-’08 season.

1932

Bob Pettit is born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was cut twice from the basketball team at Baton Rouge High School before finally making the roster as a junior and subsequently leading them to the Louisiana state title.

1948

Randy Smith is born in Bellport, New York. At Bellport High School, basketball was arguably his third best sport after soccer and track and field, the latter of which was his original athletic scholarship at Buffalo State.

1971

The Lakers defeat the Hawks 104-95 for their 21st consecutive win, a new NBA record. They would eventually stretch the streak to 33 wins.

1979

John Salmons is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He helped lead Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School to the Pennsylvania state title in 1997.

1988

With a 110-94 loss to the Jazz, the expansion Heat lose their 17th consecutive game to open the season, a new NBA record.

2023

During a Warriors loss to the Suns, Draymond Green strikes Jusuf Nurkic in the face and is ejected from the game. He is soon after suspended indefinitely by the NBA, eventually getting re-instated on January 6.

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