He scored 16 factors within the first half. However even because the Lakers constructed an enormous lead within the third quarter, Abdul-Jabbar resisted forcing pictures and persistently handed out of traps. A 12-footer alongside the baseline gave him 18 factors for the sport. By the beginning of the fourth quarter, the sport was so out of attain that Frank Layden, the coach of the Jazz, started eradicating his key gamers to protect them for the playoffs.
However Abdul-Jabbar was so near the file that he re-entered the sport, and he tied Chamberlain when James Worthy handed to him for a dunk. The subsequent help wanted to belong to Johnson, and when Johnson handed out of hassle to Bob McAdoo, one of many Lakers’ reserves, his teammates shouted at McAdoo to move it again to Johnson.
“Magic nearly ran up and grabbed it,” Scott stated, laughing on the reminiscence.
Bob Hansen, a first-year guard for the Jazz that season, was guarding Johnson and made the unconventional choice to provide him just a little area to make an entry move to Abdul-Jabbar on the correct block.
“Didn’t need to actually get in the way in which of historical past,” Hansen stated.
Hansen’s teammates had different concepts. Eaton and Inexperienced tried to double-team the 7-2 Abdul-Jabbar, however he took one dribble, pivoted to his proper, then spun to his left to rise for a sky hook over Eaton, who had been dreading such a second. Chick Hearn, the longtime play-by-play announcer for the Lakers, rejoiced when the ball splashed by way of the ring.
“The brand new king of scoring has ascended his throne,” Hearn stated on the printed as Abdul-Jabbar’s teammates embraced him. “This man has completed one thing that I don’t imagine — and I imply this sincerely — I don’t assume this may ever occur once more.”
As reporters, photographers and dignitaries swarmed Abdul-Jabbar, Hansen waded by way of the mass of humanity with the ball in his palms. He discovered Abdul-Jabbar close to midcourt.
“I stated: ‘Right here you go, massive fella, right here’s the ball. Would you like the ball?’ He was like: ‘Yeah! Thanks, little man,’” stated Hansen, who’s 6-6. “And he patted me on the top.”