This Week in NBA History (Mar. 9-15): Clutch Kyrie Irving drops 57 in 2015, Larry Bird goes off for 60 and more

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Kyrie Irving, Larry Bird, and Tracy McGrady

There have been countless moments in the 74-year history of the NBA that stand the test of the time; performances and achievements that will never be forgotten.

Throughout the season, we'll take you back in time to re-live some of the best moments from the past.

This week in NBA history for the week of March 9-15: 

March 10, 2004: Tracy McGrady's career-high 62 vs. Wizards

Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady (class of 2017) was among the league's elite scorers in the mid-2000s. For five straight seasons, he averaged 25 points or more including a couple (2002-03, 2003-04) where he won the scoring title. 

The highest-scoring game of his career came during the second of those scoring titles, in 2004, against the Washington Wizards. Gilbert Arenas dropped 40 points but McGrady was simply unstoppable, carrying the Orlando Magic to a 108-99 home win on the back of his career-high 62.

Playing nearly 46 minutes, the 6'8" wing shot 20-of-37 from the field (54.1%), while also recording 10 rebounds and five assists.

March 12, 1972: Celtics retire Bill Russell's jersey

On March 12 in 1972, hours before the Boston Celtics hosted the New York Knicks, Bill Russell's no. 6 jersey was raised to the rafters of the Garden.

The number was sewed in green on a flag that was raised in a private ceremony

Russell played all of his 13 seasons in the league for the Celtics, from 1957 to 1969, with career averages of 15.1 points, 22.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 973 regular-season games. He is the winningest-player in NBA history with 11 championships to his name. 

March 12, 1985: Larry Bird scores career-high 60 vs. Hawks

Given the ease with which Hall of Famer Larry Bird used to make scoring look, it comes as no surprise that his career-high tally of 60 points is also the Celtics franchise record. 

Against the Atlanta Hawks, playing nearly 43 minutes, Bird went 22-of-36 from the field and 15-of-16 from the free-throw line to lead the Celtics to a 126-115 win

March 12, 2015: Kyrie Irving goes off for career-high 57 vs. Spurs

Kyrie Irving scored 27 of his 57 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, including the clutch 3-pointer to force OT, to give the Cleveland Cavaliers the statement 128-125 road win in San Antonio. 

Playing 46:34 minutes of a possible 53, he was perfect from beyond the arc (7-of-7) and the free-throw line (10-of-10), while shooting 20-of-32 (62.5%) from the field.

The views expressed here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs.

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