April 20, 2018

300 years ago
1718

Born on this date
David Brainerd. U.S. missionary. Rev. Brainerd had a conversion experience at the age of 21, two months before he entered Yale University. His religious enthusiasm led to his expulsion from Yale, and after a brief time as a pastor, he embarked on missionary work among Native Americans in New York and New Jersey. From 1743-1746, Rev. Brainerd experienced success in working with the Delaware Indians in New Jersey, despite a chronic battle with an illness believe to be tuberculosis. He spent his last months as a guest of the famous revivalist Jonathan Edwards, and died of consumption on October 9, 1747 at the age of 29. Rev. Brainerd's influence was probably greater after his death than it was during his life, as Rev. Edwards' biography An Account of the Life of the Late Reverend Mr. David Brainerd (1749) influenced future missionaries such as William Carey, Jim Elliot, and Adoniram Judson.

200 years ago
1818

Law
Four days after the Court of King's Bench in England upheld murder suspect Abraham Thornton's right to trial by battle in Ashford v Thornton, the plaintiff declined to fight, allowing the defendant to go free rather than face a retrial.

125 years ago
1893

Born on this date
Harold Lloyd. U.S. actor. Mr. Lloyd was, in the opinion of this blogger, the greatest of the comic legends of the silent era, known for performing his own stunts. His films included Safety Last! (1923); The Freshman (1925); and Speedy (1928). Mr. Lloyd's sound films were less frequent and less successful than his silents, but he was financially successful that he was able to retire and devote his later years to Freemasonry. He died on March 8, 1971 at the age of 77.

Joan Miró. Spanish artist. Mr. Miró was a painter, sculptor, and ceramicist whose work has been described as surrealistic, and an attack on established styles of art. He died on December 25, 1983 at the age of 90.

Politics and government
Prince Edward Island amalgamated its Legislative Council with the Assembly.

120 years ago
1898

War
U.S. President William McKinley signed a joint resolution to Congress for declaration of War against Spain, beginning the Spanish–American War.

110 years ago
1908

Died on this date
Henry Chadwick, 83. U.K.-born U.S. baseball historian. Mr. Chadwick, who moved to Brooklyn, New York with his family at the age of 12, was one of the prime movers in the rise of baseball to its unprecedented popularity at the turn of the 20th century. He devised the box score, and began publishing Beadle’s Dime Base Ball Player, the first baseball guide, in 1860; it ran through 1881. Mr. Chadwick later took over editing the Spalding Guide. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee in 1938.

100 years ago
1918

Born on this date
Kai Siegbahn. Swedish physicist. Dr. Siegbahn, the son of Manne Siegbahn, winner of the 1924 Nobel Prize in Physics, was awarded a share of the 1981 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his contribution to the development of high-resolution electron spectroscopy." He died on July 20, 2007 at the age of 89.

Died on this date
Karl Ferdinand Braun, 67. German physicist. Dr. Braun built the first cathode-ray tube in 1897. He and Guglielmo Marconi shared the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics "for their contributions to the development of wireless telegraphy." Dr. Braun went to the United States at the beginning of World War I to help defend the German wireless station at Sayville, New York against attacks by the British-controlled Marconi Corporation. After the U.S.A. entered the war in 1917, Dr. Braun was detained, but was allowed to move around Brooklyn, New York, where he died at his home.

War
The government of Canada called up more men from the ages of 20-22 for military service. The Canadian wartime cabinet of Prime Minister Robert Borden passed an order-in-council to remove many exemptions from the Military Service Act, leaving farming operations across Canada short of much-needed labour. Manfred von Richthofen, better known as the Red Baron, shot down his 79th and 80th victims, his final victories before his death the following day.

90 years ago
1928

Died on this date
E.E. Ries, 65. U.S. scientist. Mr. Ries was the discoverer of alternating electric current. In 1913 he filed a patent application for recording sound on film, but the patent wasn’t granted until 1923.

75 years ago
1943

War
British forces seized Enfidaville and Takrouna near the Tunisian coast. A U.S. Navy report dislosed that ship-based helicopters were patrolling the 500-mile Atlantic gap beyond airplane range.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Mexican President Manuel Avila Camacho met in Monterrey, Mexico and pledged the extension of the Good Neighbor Policy in the postwar period.

Politics and government
Japanese Prime Minister General Hideki Tojo realigned his cabinet, with Mamoru Shigemitsu becoming Foreign Minister.

Business
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia found the Pullman companies and 31 officers and directors guilty of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Baseball
The Washington Nationals scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning as they overcame a 3-0 deficit and defeated the Philadelphia Athletics 7-5 before 25,093 fans at Griffith Stadium in Washington on opening day of the first season during which the induction of players into the armed services in World War II had a major impact on the caliber of play in the major leagues. For example, Philadelphia relief pitcher Orie Arntzen made his major league debut in this game at the age of 33, pitching the 8th inning and allowing 2 hits and 1 run--earned. Jim Tyack, 32, played his first major league game as the Athletics' left fielder, batting 2 for 5 with a double and 2 runs batted in, making 3 putouts in the field. Also making his major league debut was Philadelphia shortstop Irv Hall, 24, batting 0 for 3 with a base on balls and a run, making 2 putouts and an assist.

70 years ago
1948

On the radio
The Casebook of Gregory Hood, starring Elliott Lewis, on MBS
Tonight's episode: Fixed Prize Fight

Died on this date
Mitsumasa Yonai, 68. Prime Minister of Japan, 1940. Admiral Yonai was a career officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy who served as Minister of the Navy from 1937-1938 and again from 1944-1945. He was Prime Minister from January 16-July 22, 1940. As a politician he adopted a pro-U.K. and pro-U.S. stance, but was forced to resign as Prime Minister two months before Japan signed the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy. When Adm. Yonai returned as Navy Minister, he presided over the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy at the end of World War II. He died of pneumonia.

World events
U.K. authorities in Germany announced the suspension of water transport between Berlin and the British occupation zone, accusing the Soviets of attempting to impose new restrictions.

A Munich denazification court convicted former German American Bund leader Fritz Kuhn as a major Nazi offender and sentenced him in absentia to 10 months imprisonment and confiscation of property.

Crime
United Auto Workers of America President Walter Reuther was badly wounded in the arm and chest by an unidentified assailant firing a shotgun through the window of Mr. Reuther's Detroit home.

Politics and government
Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly's Political Committee, U.S. delegate Warren Austin urged that plans for a UN trusteeship over Jerusalem be extended temporarily to all of Palestine.

Michael Quill, co-founder of the American Labor Party, quit the party in New York, charging that it was Communist-dominated.

U.S. President Harry Truman named David Lilienthal to a five-year term as permanent U.S. Atomic Energy Commission chairman.

Labour
A U.S. federal court in Washington, D.C. fined the United Mine Workers of America $1.4 million and UMW President John L. Lewis $20,000 in a contempt of court conviction resulting from the recent miners' strike.

Basketball
BAA
Finals
Baltimore 82 @ Philadelphia 91 (Baltimore led best-of-seven series 3-2)

60 years ago
1958

On the radio
The Hound of the Baskervilles, Part 3, starring Carleton Hobbs and Norman Shelley, on BBC Light Programme

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents on CBS
Tonight's episode: Fatal Figures, starring John McGiver and Vivian Nathan

World events
West German Jewish community leader Heinz Galinski charged that there were "symptoms" of an anti-Semitic Nazi revival in West Germany.

Religion
140 leading Protestant clergymen and educators called on the United States to cancel its scheduled Eniwetok nuclear tests, terming it "morally indefensible and politically disastrous to hold these tests."

Health
University of California at Los Angeles Medical School Dean Stafford Warren said that there was no conclusive evidence that atomic radiation had any genetic effect on either animals or humans.

Labour
United Auto Workers of America President Walter Reuther said that his union would refrain from striking for three months despite the refusal of auto makers to extend their contracts. He conceded that the UAW was in an unfavourable bargaining position because auto dealers had 850,000 unsold cars and auto unemployment was high.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Montreal 5 @ Boston 3 (Montreal won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Boom Boom Geoffrion's second goal of the game, with 34 seconds remaining in the 2nd period, proved to be the winner as the Canadiens beat the Bruins at Boston Garden to win their third straight Stanley Cup championship. The Bruins, down 4-1, cut the Canadiens’ lead to 4-3 with 4 minutes left in regulation time, but Doug Harvey scored into an empty net in the last minute to clinch the victory for Montreal.

50 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Lady Madonna/The Inner Light--The Beatles

#1 single in France: Delilah--Tom Jones (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde--Georgie Fame

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Words--The Bee Gees (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Chance of a Lifetime--Pat McGeegan

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Lady Madonna--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Honey--Bobby Goldsboro (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Cinderella Rockefella--Esther and Abi Ofarim (4th week at #1)
2 Delilah--Tom Jones
3 Congratulations--Cliff Richard
4 Kom Uit De Bedstee Mijn Liefste--Egbert Douwe
5 Lady Madonna--The Beatles
6 If I were a Carpenter--The Four Tops
7 Rosie--Don Partridge
8 (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay--Otis Redding
9 Storybook Children--Nancy & Lee
10 The Legend of Xanadu--Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich

Singles entering the chart were Theme [from] Up the Junction by Manfred Mann (#36); Stay Away/U.S. Male by Elvis Presley (#37); and Forever Came Today by Diana Ross and the Supremes (#40). Theme [from] Up the Junction was from the movie.

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Honey--Bobby Goldsboro
2 Young Girl--The Union Gap
3 Lady Madonna--The Beatles
4 Cry Like a Baby--The Box Tops
5 Valleri--The Monkees
6 The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)--Manfred Mann
7 The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde--Georgie Fame
8 Dance to the Music--Sly and the Family Stone
9 I Got the Feelin'--James Brown and the Famous Flames
10 The Unicorn--The Irish Rovers

Singles entering the chart were If I were a Carpenter by the Four Tops (#67); I Promise to Wait My Love by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas (#72); Soul Train by the Classics IV (#86); Chain Gang by Jackie Wilson and Count Basie (#87); I am the Man for You Baby by Edwin Starr (#88); May I Take a Giant Step (Into Your Heart) by the 1910 Fruitgum Company (#93); Like to Get to Know You by Spanky & Our Gang (#94); Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While) by the Isley Brothers (#97); The Shadow of Your Love by the Five Stairsteps and Cubie (#98); and Can I Carry Your Balloon by the Swampseeds (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Young Girl--The Union Gap
2 Lady Madonna--The Beatles
3 Valleri--The Monkees
4 Honey--Bobby Goldsboro
5 Cry Like a Baby--The Box Tops
6 Cinderella Rockefella--Esther and Abi Ofarim
7 Scarborough Fair (/Canticle)--Simon & Garfunkel
8 Playboy--Gene and Debbe
9 The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)--Manfred Mann
10 The Legend of Xanadu--Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich

Singles entering the chart were Do You Know the Way to San Jose by Dionne Warwick (#71); Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (#72); Tip-Toe Thru' the Tulips with Me by Tiny Tim (#73); My Girl/Hey Girl by Bobby Vee (#76); You Ain't Going Nowhere by the Byrds (#77); She's Looking Good by Wilson Pickett (#79); Wear it on Our Face by the Dells (#80); Black Day in July by Gordon Lightfoot (#83); We're Rolling On by the Impressions (#92); I Can Remember by James & Bobby Purify (#93); Baby Make Your Own Sweet Music by Jay and the Techniques (#97); I Can't Make it Alone by Bill Medley (#98); and Loving You Has Made Me Bananas by Guy Marks (#100).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Honey--Bobby Goldsboro
2 The Unicorn--The Irish Rovers
3 Young Girl--The Union Gap
4 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly--Hugo Montenegro, his Orchestra and Chorus
5 Call Me Lightning--The Who
6 Lady Madonna/The Inner Light--The Beatles
7 Rice is Nice--The Lemon Pipers
8 The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)--Manfred Mann
9 Tapioca Tundra/Valleri--The Monkees
10 Black Day in July--Gordon Lightfoot

Singles entering the chart were Fading Away by Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers (#16, charting with its A-side, Does Your Mama Know About Me); Summertime Blues by Blue Cheer (#22); Delilah by Tom Jones (#24); Do You Know the Way to San Jose by Dionne Warwick (#25); Red Red Wine by Neil Diamond (#27); Funky Street by Arthur Conley (#28); A Beautiful Morning by the Rascals (#29); and Look to Your Soul by Johnny Rivers (#30).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Love is All Around--The Troggs
2 Young Girl--The Union Gap
3 Lady Madonna--The Beatles
4 A Question of Temperature--Balloon Farm
5 Valleri--The Monkees
6 Playboy--Gene and Debbe
7 The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)--Manfred Mann
8 Little by Little--Gainsborough Gallery
9 Forever Came Today--Diana Ross and the Supremes
10 The Unicorn--The Irish Rovers
Pick hit of the week: I Can't Make it Anymore--The Original Caste

Died on this date
Rudolf Dirks, 91. German-born U.S. cartoonist. Mr. Dirks, who moved to Chicago with his family at the age of 7, created the comic strip The Katzenjammer Kids, which was first published in the December 12, 1897 issue of American Humorist, a Sunday supplement to the New York Journal, a newspaper owned by William Randolph Hearst. After a series of legal battles with the Hearst organization between 1912 and 1914 (Mr. Dirks wanted to take a break from the strip, but the Hearst organization tried to prevent him from doing so), Mr. Dirks left The Katzenjammer Kids to be done by others at the Hearst papers, while he came up with a virtually identical strip, originally called Hanz und Fritz, and from 1918 on The Captain and the Kids, for the rival Pulitzer newspapers. Mr. Dirks continued to sign his name to that strip (although, beginning in 1946, his son John gradually assumed more of the work) until his death.

Abominations
Canada went under permanent foreign occupation when Pierre Trudeau officially took office as Prime Minister. His predecessor, Lester Pearson, wanted to leave office on April 22 in order to give him exactly five years as Prime Minister, but Mr. Trudeau, for reasons unknown (perhaps because it was Adolf Hitler’s birthday) insisted on moving the date up to April 20.

Politics and government
Former British cabinet minister Enoch Powell, addressing the West Midlands Area Conservative Political Centre in Birmingham, England, delivered his most famous speech, which was popularly misnamed Rivers of Blood, warning of the dangers of increased non-white immigration to Britain. The speech effectively ended Mr. Powell’s political career, but he proved to be prophetic. For the full text of Mr. Powell’s speech, go here.

Adventure
A U.S. Air Force plane, flying over Ralph Plaisted’s North Pole expeditionary party, confirmed that they were indeed at the pole. Mr. Plaisted and his associates became the first people to have their claim verified.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Chicago 1 @ Montreal 4 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Jean Beliveau scored 3 goals for the Canadiens as they defeated the Black Hawks at the Montreal Forum. Chicago coach Billy Reay was penalized twice with bench minors--the first for delay of game, and the second for calling referee John Ashley a "homer."

CPHL
Adams Cup
Finals
Fort Worth 1 @ Tulsa 2 (OT) (Tulsa led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Doug Barrie scored at 1:13 of the 1st overtime period to give the Oilers their win over the Wings at Assembly Center.

Basketball
ABA
Finals
New Orleans 109 @ Pittsburgh 100 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Baseball
Detroit Tigers' pitcher Jon Warden, the last man to make the team in spring training, picked up his third win in as many relief appearances as the Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox 4-1 in 10 innings before 4,067 fans at White Sox Park. The game was scoreless until Bill Freehan doubled home Mickey Stanley with 2 out in the top of the 9th, but the White Sox scored an unearned run in the bottom of the 9th when Tommy Davis led off with a single; Pete Ward reached first base on an error by Detroit pitcher Fred Lasher; Ken Berry advanced the runners to third and second bases, respectively, with a sacrifice bunt; Duane Josephson was intentionally walked; and Mr. Warden relieved Mr. Lasher and walked pinch hitter Wayne Causey to force home Mr. Davis. Dick McAuliffe singled home 2 runs in the top of the 10th and scored when Norm Cash grounded into a force play.

Ray Sadecki pitched a 4-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Bob Veale as the San Francisco Giants edged the Pitsburgh Pirates 1-0 before 8,156 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Willie Mays led off the 2nd inning with a triple, and Mr. Veale balked him home with the game's only run. Mr. Sadecki extended his string of consecutive scoreless innings to 15 1/3.

The Cincinnati Reds scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning and held on to edge the Atlanta Braves 2-1 before 7,727 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Jim Maloney pitched 2 scoreless innings in relief of Gerry Arrigo to get the win.

40 years ago
1978

At the movies
FM, starring Michael Brandon, Eileen Brennan, and Martin Mull, opened in theatres.

World events
Korean Air Lines Flight 902, a Boeing 707 passenger plane, was forced down when it strayed over Soviet territory near the Arctic Circle on a flight from Paris to Seoul. The jet, carrying 113 people, was forced to crash-land on a frozen lake when a Soviet jet fighter began firing at the plane. Two were killed and 13 injured in the landing.

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance began three days of meetings with Soviet leaders in Moscow, mainly for the purpose of making progress in Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT).

Terrorism
The kidnappers of Aldo Moro released a photograph of the former Italian Prime Minister that showed that he was still alive. Mr. Moro's wife Eleonora appealed, in vain, to the government to negotiate his release.

Hockey
WHA
Avco World Trophy
Quarter-Finals
Houston 1 @ Quebec 5 (Quebec led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Semi-Finals
Philadelphia 137 @ New York 126 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 3-0)

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Allt som jag känner--Tone Norum and Tommy Nilsson (10th week at #1)

World events
The Washington Post reported that the 10-member inner cabinet of Israel had discussed in advance the assassination of Palestine Liberation Organization military leader Khalil al-Wazir, alias Abu Jihad, who had been gunned down on April 16.

Terrorism
Algerian officials negotiated the release of the more than 30 hostages remaining from a Kuwait Airways airliner that had been hijacked on April 5 and flown to Mashhad, Iran, and eventually to Algiers on April 13.

Scandal
U.S. President Ronald Reagan met with Deputy Attorney General Arnold Burns and William Weld, chief of the justice department's criminal division, both of whom had resigned in March in protest against the leadership of Attorney General Edwin Meese. It was reported that Mr. Weld had told President Reagan that he would have sought an indictment against Mr. Meese if he had been the independent counsel. Another blow came that day when John Shepherd withdrew as Mr. Burns's replacement. Mr. Shepherd's membership in two private clubs, one all-white and one all-male, had become an issue, and he had also been accused of improprieties, which he denied, by a former bookkeeper.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the consumer price index had risen 0.5% in March.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference
Division Finals
Boston 4 @ Montreal 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
New Jersey 5 @ Washington 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Baseball
Pinch hitter Claudell Washington hit the 10,000th home run in New York Yankees history in a 7-6 victory in 10 innings over the Minnesota Twins before 22,369 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. Mr. Washington's homer, a solo blast with 1 out in the top of the 9th inning, gave the Yankees a 6-5 lead, but the Twins tied the score when Gene Larkin singled home Greg Gagne with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th. Jack Clark led off the top of the 10th with a home run that held up as the winning run.

The Baltimore Orioles set a major league record by losing their 14th consecutive game to start the season when they failed to hold a 5-3 lead after 4 1/2 innings, allowing 4 runs in the bottom of the 5th as they lost 8-6 to the Milwaukee Brewers before 7,284 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. The loss pushed the Orioles past the 1904 Washington Senators and the 1920 Detroit Tigers for the worst start in major league history.

Ron Hassey's 3-run home run with 2 out in the bottom of the 8th inning climaxed a 4-run inning as the Oakland Athletics rallied to defeat the California Angels 9-8 before 14,299 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Mike Scott pitched a 4-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Tom Glavine as the Houston Astros edged the Atlanta Braves 1-0 before 13,383 fans at the Astrodome. The only run was scored with 1 out in the bottom of the 4th inning on consecutive singles by Bill Doran, Glenn Davis, and Kevin Bass.

25 years ago
1993

Died on this date
Cantinflas, 81. Mexican comedian and actor. Born Fortino Mario Alfonso Moreno Reyes, Cantinflas was known as the "Charlie Chaplin of Mexico," and was a major movie star there from the late 1930s through the 1970s. His most famous role was as the co-star of Around the World in 80 Days (1956).

Adventure
The 85-foot French catamaran Commodore Explorer, skippered by Bruno Peyron of France, won the Trophy Jules Verne by breaking the 80-day round-the-world sailing barrier in 79 days 6 hours 16 minutes. Mr. Peyron started at Lizard Point on the southwestern coast of England, sailed via the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leewin and Cape Horn, and docked at Ushant, France.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference
Division Semi-Finals
Buffalo 4 @ Boston 0 (Buffalo led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Montreal 1 @ Quebec 4 (Quebec led best-of-seven series 2-0)
New Jersey 0 @ Pittsburgh 7 (Pittsburgh led best-of-seven series 2-0)
New York Islanders 5 @ Washington 4 (2OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Brian Mullen scored at 14:50 of the 2nd overtime period to give the Islanders their win over the Capitals at Capital Center in Landover, Maryland. Dale Hunter scored 3 goals for the Capitals, with his third coming with 3 seconds remaining in regulation time, sending the game into overtime. Pierre Turgeon scored the first 2 goals for the Islanders.

10 years ago
2008

Auto racing
Danica Patrick became the first--and so, far, only--female winner in IndyCar history by capturing the Indy Japan 300.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Western Conference
Quarter-Finals
Detroit 3 @ Nashville 0 (Detroit won best-of-seven series 4-2)
San Jose 0 @ Calgary 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)
Anaheim 1 @ Dallas 4 (Dallas won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Basketball
NBA
Playoffs
Eastern Conference
First Round
Atlanta 81 @ Boston 104 (Boston led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Philadelphia 90 @ Detroit 86 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Toronto 100 @ Orlando 114 (Orlando led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Western Conference
First Round
Denver 114 @ Los Angeles Lakers 128 (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 1-0)