Wilt Chamberlain put up 53 points, 21 rebounds, and 15 blocks in a win over the Detroit Pistons. (Oct 24, 1965)

Wilt Chamberlain put up 53 points, 21 rebounds, and 15 blocks in a win over the Detroit Pistons.

(Oct 24, 1965)

“Detroit tried to match a $105,000 center with two rookies Saturday night and Wilt Chamberlain responded with a 53-point burst as the 76ers overpowered the Pistons, 120- 103, in ther hime opener before 5190 at Convention Hall, Chamberlain jammed in 22 points in 26 minutes against Joe Strawder, up from the Camden Bullets, and added 31 in 19 minutes when Detroit wetn to Bill Buntin, a 6-7 Michigan rookie.

Chamberlain hit on 21 of 25 shots while the other 76ers went 26-for-78 from the field. Wilt added 11 free throws, trapped 21 rebounds and blocked 15 shots. the 53 points represented nis high since joining the 76ers last January.

# 16-POINT ADVANTAGE

While the 76ers’ backcourt scorer, Hal Greer, wrestled with a tough nine-point first half, Wilt turned in for 27 points as the 76ers swept ahead, 57-41.

Greer popped in six straight points early in the third period. and Luke Jackson and Wally Jones hit as the 76ers construct- ed a 70-49 margin. The Pistons, who ran like contenders and shot like a shoo-in for last place in the Western Division, outhustled the 76ers through most of the third period to pull within 75-64, with two minutes left.

# STRAWDER FOULS OUT

Wilt fouled Strawder out and looper in a free throw, them scored twice over Buntin, giv- ing the 76ers an 80-68 lead going into the final period.

In the final period, Chamberlain outmuscled Buntin for 15 more points, getting his last basket on Buntin’s sixth personal with 4:12 left. It put the 76ers up, 106-93.

Rookie Billy Cunningham, Wally Jones, who went 28 minutes and accelerated the 76ers” offense, and Greer blended some needle passes into three quick baskets in the final minute of play.

# 14 ASSISTS FOR GREER

With the 76ers going to Chamberlain more than usual, Greer piled up 14 assists, another 76er club high and Jones accounted for nine other baskets with his swift feeds.

Eddie Miles, scoring on outside jumps, had 21 tough points for the Pistons. The other eight Pistons collectively shot 31 percent.

Following the win, the 76ers asked waivers on three-year veteran cornerman Ben Warley, and activated guard Gerry Ward, who had been the club’s farm-out player.

-At the same time, league president Walter Kennedy fined the Pistons an undisclosed sum for playing Miles with an inside out jersey.”

by Afraid-Impression702