What's Jerry West have to do to be noticed in this town? He scored
41 points in the Lakers' 118-112 Game 2 victory over the Celtics, but
the headlines went to Elgin Baylor.

Granted, Baylor scored 32, including the team's final 12 points. And
West didn't do as well as in Game 1, when he scored 53 to lead L.A.

The Celtics had never trailed 2-0 in a playoff series — EVER — but
The Times' coverage wasn't guaranteeing a Lakers title just yet.

"It isn't over and it's too premature to order the champagne but the
Celtics, who have won 10 championships in the last 12 years, are in
trouble," Mal Florence wrote. The series headed from the Forum to
Boston, where "Bill Russell and his gallant old men will make their
next stand."

It was a physical game, typical of the era and the Lakers-Celtics
rivalry. "The Celtics' Don Nelson had six stitches taken in his head
after colliding with [Wilt] Chamberlain's jaw in the second half,"
Florence wrote. "Five stitches were required to close a wound on Bill
Hewitt's jaw."

 "It's too bad my head didn't hit Wilt's chin. Then he would have to shave off that beard,"  Nelson said, laughing.

— Keith Thursby