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1985 NBA playoffs
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The 1985 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1984–85 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named NBA Finals MVP for the second time (he had won the award under his birth name, Lew Alcindor, as a Buck in 1971).
Key Information
The Lakers had been unsuccessful in their previous eight attempts to defeat the Celtics in the NBA Finals, losing 7 times from 1959–1969 and 1984. The Lakers, moreover, won the title in Boston, something no other NBA team would accomplish until 2022, and would be the only road team to clinch the title at Boston Garden.
The Cavaliers made the playoffs for the first time since 1978.
It was also the first time that all three teams from Texas made the playoffs in the same year.
The Denver Nuggets advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 1978 and would not advance that far again until 2009. The Philadelphia 76ers, on the other hand, advanced to the conference finals for the fifth time in six years, but would not reach that level again until 2001.
It was also the first time that Turner Broadcasting was covering the playoffs as TBS was the home for some playoff games.
Games 3 and 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals at the Spectrum forced a Phil Collins concert at the arena to be canceled so that he would play the Philadelphia half of Live Aid, as noted by Charlie Van Dyke when he sub-hosted an episode of American Top 40 on July 6 of that year.
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Bracket
[edit]| First Rounds | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | NBA Finals | ||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Boston* | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E8 | Cleveland | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Boston* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Detroit | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Detroit | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E5 | New Jersey | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Boston* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Philadelphia | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Philadelphia | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E6 | Washington | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Philadelphia | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Milwaukee* | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Milwaukee* | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E7 | Chicago | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Boston* | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | LA Lakers* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | LA Lakers* | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| W8 | Phoenix | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | LA Lakers* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W5 | Portland | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Dallas | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W5 | Portland | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | LA Lakers* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Denver* | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Houston | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| W6 | Utah | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| W6 | Utah | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Denver* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Denver* | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| W7 | San Antonio | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
- * Division winner
- Bold Series winner
- Italic Team with home-court advantage
First round
[edit]Eastern Conference first round
[edit](1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Cleveland Cavaliers
[edit]April 18
|
| Cleveland Cavaliers 123, Boston Celtics 126 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 30–31, 28–39, 40–31, 25–25 | ||
| Pts: Roy Hinson 24 Rebs: Roy Hinson 11 Asts: John Bagley 11 |
Pts: Larry Bird 40 Rebs: Kevin McHale 12 Asts: Dennis Johnson 11 | |
| Boston leads series, 1–0 | ||
April 20
|
| Cleveland Cavaliers 106, Boston Celtics 108 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 30–30, 28–31, 24–24, 24–23 | ||
| Pts: World B. Free 25 Rebs: Roy Hinson 6 Asts: World B. Free 7 |
Pts: Larry Bird 30 Rebs: Bird, Parish 11 each Asts: Larry Bird 7 | |
| Boston leads series, 2–0 | ||
April 23
|
| Boston Celtics 98, Cleveland Cavaliers 105 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 24–25, 21–30, 21–21, 32–29 | ||
| Pts: Scott Wedman 30 Rebs: Kevin McHale 11 Asts: Dennis Johnson 10 |
Pts: World B. Free 32 Rebs: Roy Hinson 9 Asts: John Bagley 15 | |
| Boston leads series, 2–1 | ||
April 25
|
| Boston Celtics 117, Cleveland Cavaliers 115 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 32–33, 31–33, 31–23, 23–26 | ||
| Pts: Larry Bird 34 Rebs: Larry Bird 14 Asts: Larry Bird 7 |
Pts: World B. Free 30 Rebs: Lonnie Shelton 8 Asts: John Bagley 10 | |
| Boston wins series, 3–1 | ||
- Dennis Johnson blocks a World B. Free 3 with 2 seconds left.
| Boston won 6–0 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first meeting.
| Boston leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (7) Chicago Bulls
[edit]April 19
|
| Chicago Bulls 100, Milwaukee Bucks 109 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 30–31, 24–27, 19–22, 27–29 | ||
| Pts: Quintin Dailey 25 Rebs: David Greenwood 13 Asts: Michael Jordan 10 |
Pts: Sidney Moncrief 30 Rebs: Paul Mokeski 10 Asts: Paul Pressey 9 | |
| Milwaukee leads series, 1–0 | ||
April 21
|
| Chicago Bulls 115, Milwaukee Bucks 122 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 31–30, 22–29, 32–29, 30–34 | ||
| Pts: Michael Jordan 30 Rebs: Jawann Oldham 9 Asts: Michael Jordan 12 |
Pts: Terry Cummings 30 Rebs: Terry Cummings 9 Asts: Terry Cummings 11 | |
| Milwaukee leads series, 2–0 | ||
April 24
|
| Milwaukee Bucks 107, Chicago Bulls 109 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 31–29, 24–29, 26–24, 26–27 | ||
| Pts: Terry Cummings 37 Rebs: Terry Cummings 9 Asts: Moncrief, Pressey 5 each |
Pts: Michael Jordan 35 Rebs: Sidney Green 9 Asts: Michael Jordan 7 | |
| Milwaukee leads series, 2–1 | ||
- Michael Jordan hits his first playoff game-winner with 22 seconds left.
April 26
|
| Milwaukee Bucks 105, Chicago Bulls 97 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 27–27, 28–18, 28–25, 22–27 | ||
| Pts: Terry Cummings 29 Rebs: Terry Cummings 12 Asts: Paul Pressey 4 |
Pts: Michael Jordan 29 Rebs: Dave Corzine 9 Asts: Michael Jordan 5 | |
| Milwaukee wins series, 3–1 | ||
| Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bucks winning the first meeting.
| Milwaukee leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(3) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (6) Washington Bullets
[edit]April 17
|
| Washington Bullets 97, Philadelphia 76ers 104 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 21–28, 27–27, 28–21, 21–28 | ||
| Pts: Cliff Robinson 24 Rebs: Jeff Ruland 10 Asts: Gus Williams 8 |
Pts: Moses Malone 26 Rebs: Charles Barkley 12 Asts: Maurice Cheeks 6 | |
| Philadelphia leads series, 1–0 | ||
April 21
|
| Washington Bullets 94, Philadelphia 76ers 113 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 27–26, 25–30, 19–25, 23–32 | ||
| Pts: Jeff Malone 30 Rebs: Cliff Robinson 11 Asts: Darren Daye 9 |
Pts: Andrew Toney 31 Rebs: Malone, Barkley 14 each Asts: Maurice Cheeks 5 | |
| Philadelphia leads series, 2–0 | ||
April 24
|
| Philadelphia 76ers 100, Washington Bullets 118 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 35–28, 20–32, 13–30, 32–28 | ||
| Pts: Moses Malone 17 Rebs: Charles Barkley 11 Asts: Andrew Toney 5 |
Pts: Gus Williams 28 Rebs: three players 7 each Asts: Ruland, Johnson 5 each | |
| Philadelphia leads series, 2–1 | ||
April 26
|
| Philadelphia 76ers 106, Washington Bullets 98 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 27–24, 34–23, 13–21, 32–30 | ||
| Pts: Julius Erving 25 Rebs: Charles Barkley 14 Asts: Clint Richardson 4 |
Pts: Jeff Malone 24 Rebs: Jeff Ruland 10 Asts: Jeff Ruland 7 | |
| Philadelphia wins series, 3–1 | ||
| Philadelphia won 4–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bullets winning two of the first three meetings.
| Washington leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(4) Detroit Pistons vs. (5) New Jersey Nets
[edit]April 18
|
| New Jersey Nets 105, Detroit Pistons 125 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 26–39, 19–25, 28–29, 32–32 | ||
| Pts: Buck Williams 23 Rebs: Buck Williams 9 Asts: Micheal Ray Richardson 10 |
Pts: Bill Laimbeer 23 Rebs: Bill Laimbeer 13 Asts: Isiah Thomas 11 | |
| Detroit leads series, 1–0 | ||
April 21
|
| New Jersey Nets 111, Detroit Pistons 121 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 32–32, 27–32, 31–23, 21–34 | ||
| Pts: Buck Williams 23 Rebs: Buck Williams 11 Asts: Micheal Ray Richardson 14 |
Pts: Isiah Thomas 29 Rebs: Bill Laimbeer 12 Asts: Isiah Thomas 14 | |
| Detroit leads series, 2–0 | ||
April 24
|
| Detroit Pistons 116, New Jersey Nets 115 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 22–33, 36–30, 26–28, 32–24 | ||
| Pts: Terry Tyler 23 Rebs: Tripucka, Tyler 11 each Asts: Isiah Thomas 11 |
Pts: Williams, King 28 each Rebs: Buck Williams 12 Asts: Micheal Ray Richardson 10 | |
| Detroit wins series, 3–0 | ||
| New Jersey won 5–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Pistons and the Nets.[4]
Western Conference first round
[edit](1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) Phoenix Suns
[edit]April 18
|
| Phoenix Suns 114, Los Angeles Lakers 142 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 24–45, 27–32, 35–36, 28–29 | ||
| Pts: Charles Pittman 22 Rebs: Maurice Lucas 11 Asts: Jay Humphries 8 |
Pts: Mike McGee 22 Rebs: Cooper, McAdoo 6 each Asts: Magic Johnson 19 | |
| LA Lakers lead series, 1–0 | ||
April 20
|
| Phoenix Suns 130, Los Angeles Lakers 147 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 31–42, 34–33, 25–35, 40–37 | ||
| Pts: Alvan Adams 23 Rebs: Maurice Lucas 9 Asts: Maurice Lucas 6 |
Pts: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24 Rebs: Kurt Rambis 7 Asts: Cooper, Johnson 12 each | |
| LA Lakers lead series, 2–0 | ||
April 23
|
| Los Angeles Lakers 119, Phoenix Suns 103 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 25–25, 43–30, 18–22, 33–26 | ||
| Pts: James Worthy 23 Rebs: Kurt Rambis 9 Asts: Magic Johnson 11 |
Pts: Maurice Lucas 26 Rebs: Maurice Lucas 13 Asts: Adams, Holton 5 each | |
| LA Lakers win series, 3–0 | ||
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona
Attendance: 8,741 Referees: Hugh Evans, Wally Rooney |
| Los Angeles won 5–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first four meetings.
| Los Angeles leads 4–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (7) San Antonio Spurs
[edit]April 18
|
| San Antonio Spurs 111, Denver Nuggets 141 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 24–35, 27–33, 32–36, 28–37 | ||
| Pts: Mike Mitchell 23 Rebs: Ozell Jones 8 Asts: Johnny Moore 5 |
Pts: Alex English 33 Rebs: Elston Turner 8 Asts: Fat Lever 11 | |
| Denver leads series, 1–0 | ||
April 20
|
| San Antonio Spurs 113, Denver Nuggets 111 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 31–31, 28–25, 29–29, 25–26 | ||
| Pts: George Gervin 41 Rebs: Artis Gilmore 12 Asts: Johnny Moore 8 |
Pts: Alex English 29 Rebs: Wayne Cooper 10 Asts: Fat Lever 13 | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
April 23
|
| Denver Nuggets 115, San Antonio Spurs 112 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 32–29, 28–22, 34–28, 21–33 | ||
| Pts: Alex English 27 Rebs: Calvin Natt 8 Asts: Calvin Natt 8 |
Pts: George Gervin 30 Rebs: Artis Gilmore 14 Asts: Johnny Moore 9 | |
| Denver leads series, 2–1 | ||
April 26
|
| Denver Nuggets 111, San Antonio Spurs 116 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 22–32, 29–26, 31–27, 29–31 | ||
| Pts: Alex English 27 Rebs: Alex English 8 Asts: Fat Lever 7 |
Pts: Mike Mitchell 37 Rebs: Artis Gilmore 13 Asts: Johnny Moore 16 | |
| Series tied, 2–2 | ||
April 28
|
| San Antonio Spurs 99, Denver Nuggets 126 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 24–31, 21–34, 24–32, 30–29 | ||
| Pts: Artis Gilmore 19 Rebs: Gilmore, Iavaroni 8 each Asts: Johnny Moore 4 |
Pts: Alex English 33 Rebs: Calvin Natt 10 Asts: Fat Lever 10 | |
| Denver wins series, 3–2 | ||
| Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Spurs winning the first meeting.
| San Antonio leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(3) Houston Rockets vs. (6) Utah Jazz
[edit]April 19
|
| Utah Jazz 115, Houston Rockets 101 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 28–28, 32–15, 21–33, 34–25 | ||
| Pts: Adrian Dantley 34 Rebs: Thurl Bailey 10 Asts: Rickey Green 10 |
Pts: Ralph Sampson 26 Rebs: Ralph Sampson 24 Asts: Lionel Hollins 7 | |
| Utah leads series, 1–0 | ||
April 21
|
| Utah Jazz 96, Houston Rockets 122 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 25–29, 18–34, 29–26, 24–33 | ||
| Pts: Jeff Wilkins 22 Rebs: Jeff Wilkins 12 Asts: Green, Stockton 6 each |
Pts: Lewis Lloyd 27 Rebs: Ralph Sampson 14 Asts: Lloyd, Lucas 6 each | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
April 24
|
| Houston Rockets 104, Utah Jazz 112 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 23–24, 26–27, 33–29, 22–32 | ||
| Pts: Hakeem Olajuwon 26 Rebs: Hakeem Olajuwon 16 Asts: John Lucas 7 |
Pts: Adrian Dantley 29 Rebs: Bailey, Wilkins 11 each Asts: Rickey Green 10 | |
| Utah leads series, 2–1 | ||
April 26
|
| Houston Rockets 96, Utah Jazz 94 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 19–24, 19–25, 29–19, 29–26 | ||
| Pts: Sampson, Olajuwon 18 each Rebs: Ralph Sampson 18 Asts: John Lucas 5 |
Pts: Rickey Green 22 Rebs: Thurl Bailey 12 Asts: Rickey Green 11 | |
| Series tied, 2–2 | ||
April 28
|
| Utah Jazz 104, Houston Rockets 97 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 20–26, 19-18, 28–32, 37–21 | ||
| Pts: Adrian Dantley 25 Rebs: Mark Eaton 10 Asts: Rickey Green 6 |
Pts: Hakeem Olajuwon 32 Rebs: Hakeem Olajuwon 14 Asts: John Lucas 8 | |
| Utah wins series, 3–2 | ||
| Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the Jazz.[7]
(4) Dallas Mavericks vs. (5) Portland Trail Blazers
[edit]April 18
|
| Portland Trail Blazers 131, Dallas Mavericks 139 (2OT) | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 24–23, 33–25, 28–40, 27–24, Overtime: 9–9, 10–18 | ||
| Pts: Kiki VanDeWeghe 25 Rebs: Sam Bowie 14 Asts: Darnell Valentine 13 |
Pts: Rolando Blackman 43 Rebs: Mark Aguirre 14 Asts: Rolando Blackman 6 | |
| Dallas leads series, 1–0 | ||
April 20
|
| Portland Trail Blazers 124, Dallas Mavericks 121 (OT) | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 15–25, 28–20, 35–32, 32–33, Overtime: 14–11 | ||
| Pts: Kiki VanDeWeghe 27 Rebs: Sam Bowie 20 Asts: Clyde Drexler 12 |
Pts: Rolando Blackman 41 Rebs: Sam Perkins 19 Asts: Derek Harper 8 | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
April 23
|
| Dallas Mavericks 109, Portland Trail Blazers 122 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 28–31, 34–25, 25–35, 22–31 | ||
| Pts: Blackman, Aguirre 30 each Rebs: Perkins, Vincent 9 each Asts: Brad Davis 5 |
Pts: Kiki VanDeWeghe 24 Rebs: Sam Bowie 11 Asts: Clyde Drexler 10 | |
| Portland leads series, 2–1 | ||
April 25
|
| Dallas Mavericks 113, Portland Trail Blazers 115 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 26–25, 31–30, 28–33, 28–27 | ||
| Pts: Mark Aguirre 39 Rebs: Sam Perkins 10 Asts: Brad Davis 8 |
Pts: Kiki VanDeWeghe 27 Rebs: Kenny Carr 10 Asts: Darnell Valentine 9 | |
| Portland wins series, 3–1 | ||
| Dallas won 4–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the Trail Blazers.[8]
Conference semifinals
[edit]Eastern Conference semifinals
[edit](1) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Detroit Pistons
[edit]April 28
|
| Detroit Pistons 99, Boston Celtics 133 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 29–35, 24–29, 20–37, 26–32 | ||
| Pts: Isiah Thomas 23 Rebs: three players 5 each Asts: Isiah Thomas 8 |
Pts: Robert Parish 27 Rebs: Robert Parish 16 Asts: Ainge, Williams 7 each | |
| Boston leads series, 1–0 | ||
April 30
|
| Detroit Pistons 114, Boston Celtics 121 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 36–32, 17–27, 28–27, 33–35 | ||
| Pts: Isiah Thomas 28 Rebs: Thomas, Laimbeer 9 each Asts: Isiah Thomas 15 |
Pts: Larry Bird 42 Rebs: McHale, Bird 10 each Asts: Dennis Johnson 7 | |
| Boston leads series, 2–0 | ||
May 2
|
| Boston Celtics 117, Detroit Pistons 125 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 34–38, 28–24, 34–36, 21–27 | ||
| Pts: Dennis Johnson 27 Rebs: Larry Bird 13 Asts: Larry Bird 8 |
Pts: Bill Laimbeer 27 Rebs: Bill Laimbeer 13 Asts: Isiah Thomas 16 | |
| Boston leads series, 2–1 | ||
May 5
|
| Boston Celtics 99, Detroit Pistons 102 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 23–26, 30–28, 34–22, 12–26 | ||
| Pts: Kevin McHale 24 Rebs: Kevin McHale 10 Asts: Larry Bird 7 |
Pts: Vinnie Johnson 34 Rebs: Bill Laimbeer 12 Asts: Isiah Thomas 10 | |
| Series tied, 2–2 | ||
May 8
|
| Detroit Pistons 123, Boston Celtics 130 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 33–38, 34–30, 23–27, 33–35 | ||
| Pts: Vinnie Johnson 30 Rebs: Bill Laimbeer 13 Asts: Isiah Thomas 7 |
Pts: Larry Bird 43 Rebs: Larry Bird 13 Asts: D. Johnson, Ainge 6 each | |
| Boston leads series, 3–2 | ||
May 10
|
| Boston Celtics 123, Detroit Pistons 113 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 36–31, 27–21, 29–34, 31–27 | ||
| Pts: Dennis Johnson 22 Rebs: Robert Parish 13 Asts: Danny Ainge 9 |
Pts: Isiah Thomas 37 Rebs: Bill Laimbeer 13 Asts: Isiah Thomas 9 | |
| Boston wins series, 4–2 | ||
| Boston won 4–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first meeting.
| Boston leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers
[edit]April 28
|
| Philadelphia 76ers 127, Milwaukee Bucks 105 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 37–24, 29–27, 28–23, 33–31 | ||
| Pts: Moses Malone 27 Rebs: Charles Barkley 8 Asts: Maurice Cheeks 9 |
Pts: Terry Cummings 17 Rebs: Paul Pressey 10 Asts: Hodges, Pressey 8 each | |
| Philadelphia leads series, 1–0 | ||
April 30
|
| Philadelphia 76ers 112, Milwaukee Bucks 108 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 25–31, 29–22, 28–25, 30–30 | ||
| Pts: Moses Malone 25 Rebs: Julius Erving 10 Asts: Maurice Cheeks 9 |
Pts: Terry Cummings 41 Rebs: Cummings, Lister 12 each Asts: Paul Pressey 16 | |
| Philadelphia leads series, 2–0 | ||
May 3
|
| Milwaukee Bucks 104, Philadelphia 76ers 109 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 23–34, 20–23, 34–28, 27–24 | ||
| Pts: Terry Cummings 21 Rebs: Cummings, Lister 8 each Asts: Paul Pressey 7 |
Pts: Andrew Toney 20 Rebs: Moses Malone 13 Asts: Toney, Cheeks 7 each | |
| Philadelphia leads series, 3–0 | ||
May 5
|
| Milwaukee Bucks 112, Philadelphia 76ers 121 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 24–30, 27–22, 26–31, 35–38 | ||
| Pts: Moncrief, Pressey 25 each Rebs: Alton Lister 14 Asts: Sidney Moncrief 8 |
Pts: Moses Malone 31 Rebs: Moses Malone 13 Asts: Andrew Toney 11 | |
| Philadelphia wins series, 4–0 | ||
| Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning three of the first four meetings.
| Philadelphia leads 3–1 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
Western Conference semifinals
[edit](1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Portland Trail Blazers
[edit]April 27
|
| Portland Trail Blazers 101, Los Angeles Lakers 125 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 24–33, 21–40, 27–28, 29–24 | ||
| Pts: Steve Colter 26 Rebs: Kenny Carr 10 Asts: Steve Colter 8 |
Pts: Byron Scott 20 Rebs: Kurt Rambis 14 Asts: Magic Johnson 12 | |
| LA Lakers lead series, 1–0 | ||
- The CBS coverage of this game would mark the final on-air assignment for Frank Glieber (calling the game alongside James Brown); as Glieber died from a heart attack three days later at the age of 51.
April 30
|
| Portland Trail Blazers 118, Los Angeles Lakers 134 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 32–39, 20–30, 33–32, 33–33 | ||
| Pts: Kiki VanDeWeghe 23 Rebs: Kenny Carr 12 Asts: Darnell Valentine 9 |
Pts: Byron Scott 31 Rebs: Magic Johnson 9 Asts: Magic Johnson 18 | |
| LA Lakers lead series, 2–0 | ||
May 3
|
| Los Angeles Lakers 130, Portland Trail Blazers 126 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 35–32, 37–24, 32–36, 26–34 | ||
| Pts: James Worthy 28 Rebs: Abdul-Jabbar, McAdoo 9 each Asts: Magic Johnson 23 |
Pts: Kiki VanDeWeghe 27 Rebs: Clyde Drexler 11 Asts: Clyde Drexler 14 | |
| LA Lakers lead series, 3–0 | ||
May 5
|
| Los Angeles Lakers 107, Portland Trail Blazers 115 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 30–23, 19–36, 25–27, 33–29 | ||
| Pts: Magic Johnson 31 Rebs: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 17 Asts: Magic Johnson 13 |
Pts: VanDeWeghe, Thompson 17 each Rebs: Mychal Thompson 10 Asts: Clyde Drexler 10 | |
| LA Lakers lead series, 3–1 | ||
May 7
|
| Portland Trail Blazers 120, Los Angeles Lakers 139 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 32–33, 27–35, 24–32, 37–39 | ||
| Pts: Jerome Kersey 18 Rebs: Kenny Carr 11 Asts: Clyde Drexler 12 |
Pts: Magic Johnson 34 Rebs: Magic Johnson 9 Asts: Magic Johnson 19 | |
| LA Lakers win series, 4–1 | ||
| Los Angeles won 5–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.
| Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Utah Jazz
[edit]April 30
|
| Utah Jazz 113, Denver Nuggets 130 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 39–36, 27–37, 23–32, 24–25 | ||
| Pts: Adrian Dantley 28 Rebs: Dantley, Kelley 9 each Asts: Rickey Green 6 |
Pts: Alex English 31 Rebs: Fat Lever 16 Asts: Fat Lever 18 | |
| Denver leads series, 1–0 | ||
May 2
|
| Utah Jazz 123, Denver Nuggets 131 (OT) | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 34–32, 32–38, 32–24, 21–25, Overtime: 4–12 | ||
| Pts: Rickey Green 25 Rebs: Adrian Dantley 14 Asts: Rickey Green 10 |
Pts: Alex English 26 Rebs: Fat Lever 13 Asts: Alex English 12 | |
| Denver leads series, 2–0 | ||
May 4
|
| Denver Nuggets 123, Utah Jazz 131 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 27–37, 34–30, 38–32, 24–32 | ||
| Pts: Calvin Natt 30 Rebs: Mike Evans 8 Asts: English, Lever 5 each |
Pts: Adrian Dantley 32 Rebs: Thurl Bailey 14 Asts: Rickey Green 7 | |
| Denver leads series, 2–1 | ||
May 5
|
| Denver Nuggets 125, Utah Jazz 118 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 36–26, 33–29, 29–33, 27–30 | ||
| Pts: Alex English 40 Rebs: Wayne Cooper 14 Asts: Calvin Natt 10 |
Pts: Adrian Dantley 33 Rebs: Rich Kelley 8 Asts: John Stockton 10 | |
| Denver leads series, 3–1 | ||
May 7
|
| Utah Jazz 104, Denver Nuggets 116 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 23–43, 22–28, 34–26, 25–19 | ||
| Pts: Rickey Green 22 Rebs: Rich Kelley 11 Asts: Rickey Green 7 |
Pts: Alex English 30 Rebs: Wayne Cooper 11 Asts: Alex English 6 | |
| Denver wins series, 4–1 | ||
| Denver won 4–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning the first meeting.
| Utah leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
Conference finals
[edit]Eastern Conference finals
[edit](1) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers
[edit]May 12
|
| Philadelphia 76ers 93, Boston Celtics 108 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 28–33, 24–24, 21–19, 20–32 | ||
| Pts: Maurice Cheeks 27 Rebs: Charles Barkley 12 Asts: Maurice Cheeks 7 |
Pts: Kevin McHale 28 Rebs: Robert Parish 13 Asts: Dennis Johnson 8 | |
| Boston leads series, 1–0 | ||
May 14
|
| Philadelphia 76ers 98, Boston Celtics 106 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 28–20, 24–26, 18–32, 28–28 | ||
| Pts: Julius Erving 22 Rebs: Moses Malone 13 Asts: Cheeks, Erving 7 each |
Pts: Larry Bird 24 Rebs: Robert Parish 16 Asts: Bird, Johnson 7 each | |
| Boston leads series, 2–0 | ||
May 18
|
| Boston Celtics 105, Philadelphia 76ers 94 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 20–28, 28–19, 31–27, 26–20 | ||
| Pts: Larry Bird 26 Rebs: Robert Parish 14 Asts: Danny Ainge 7 |
Pts: Andrew Toney 26 Rebs: Moses Malone 16 Asts: Andrew Toney 5 | |
| Boston leads series, 3–0 | ||
May 19
|
| Boston Celtics 104, Philadelphia 76ers 115 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 16–31, 28–29, 30–25, 30–30 | ||
| Pts: Kevin McHale 25 Rebs: Kevin McHale 17 Asts: Danny Ainge 8 |
Pts: Andrew Toney 26 Rebs: Charles Barkley 20 Asts: Julius Erving 6 | |
| Boston leads series, 3–1 | ||
May 22
|
| Philadelphia 76ers 100, Boston Celtics 102 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 30–28, 21–28, 26–25, 23–21 | ||
| Pts: Maurice Cheeks 26 Rebs: Moses Malone 15 Asts: Toney, Cheeks 6 each |
Pts: Dennis Johnson 23 Rebs: Kevin McHale 14 Asts: Dennis Johnson 8 | |
| Boston wins series, 4–1 | ||
- Larry Bird makes the game-saving steal from Andrew Toney in the closing seconds to help the Celtics advance to the Finals.
| Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the 18th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning nine of the first 17 meetings.
| Boston leads 9–8 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
Western Conference finals
[edit](1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (2) Denver Nuggets
[edit]May 11
|
| Denver Nuggets 122, Los Angeles Lakers 139 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 30–38, 22–42, 36–34, 34–25 | ||
| Pts: Alex English 30 Rebs: Dan Issel 8 Asts: Mike Evans 11 |
Pts: Byron Scott 27 Rebs: three players 7 each Asts: Magic Johnson 16 | |
| LA Lakers lead series, 1–0 | ||
May 14
|
| Denver Nuggets 136, Los Angeles Lakers 114 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 30–27, 36–32, 23–27, 47–28 | ||
| Pts: Alex English 40 Rebs: Elston Turner 11 Asts: Elston Turner 8 |
Pts: Byron Scott 22 Rebs: Magic Johnson 9 Asts: Magic Johnson 15 | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
May 17
|
| Los Angeles Lakers 136, Denver Nuggets 118 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 39–38, 40–30, 35–20, 22–30 | ||
| Pts: James Worthy 28 Rebs: Magic Johnson 14 Asts: Magic Johnson 15 |
Pts: Calvin Natt 30 Rebs: Calvin Natt 7 Asts: Elston Turner 6 | |
| LA Lakers lead series, 2–1 | ||
May 19
|
| Los Angeles Lakers 120, Denver Nuggets 116 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 35–34, 33–36, 25–23, 27–23 | ||
| Pts: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 29 Rebs: James Worthy 13 Asts: Magic Johnson 13 |
Pts: Natt, English 28 each Rebs: Natt, English 8 each Asts: Elston Turner 10 | |
| LA Lakers lead series, 3–1 | ||
May 22
|
| Denver Nuggets 109, Los Angeles Lakers 153 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 34–34, 19–42, 28–39, 28–38 | ||
| Pts: Wayne Cooper 23 Rebs: Danny Schayes 9 Asts: Fat Lever 6 |
Pts: James Worthy 25 Rebs: Mitch Kupchak 10 Asts: Magic Johnson 19 | |
| LA Lakers win series, 4–1 | ||
- Dan Issel's final NBA game.
| Los Angeles won 3–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting.
| Los Angeles leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
NBA Finals: (E1) Boston Celtics vs. (W1) Los Angeles Lakers
[edit]May 27
|
| Los Angeles Lakers 114, Boston Celtics 148 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 24–38, 25–41, 30–29, 35–40 | ||
| Pts: James Worthy 20 Rebs: Kurt Rambis 9 Asts: Magic Johnson 12 |
Pts: McHale, Wedman 26 each Rebs: Kevin McHale 9 Asts: Dennis Johnson 10 | |
| Boston leads series, 1–0 | ||
- "Memorial Day Massacre"
May 30
|
| Los Angeles Lakers 109, Boston Celtics 102 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 31–26, 33–20, 23–29, 22–27 | ||
| Pts: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 30 Rebs: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 17 Asts: Magic Johnson 13 |
Pts: Larry Bird 30 Rebs: Larry Bird 12 Asts: Dennis Johnson 8 | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
June 2
|
| Boston Celtics 111, Los Angeles Lakers 136 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 29–25, 30–40, 26–35, 26–36 | ||
| Pts: Kevin McHale 31 Rebs: Kevin McHale 10 Asts: Danny Ainge 10 |
Pts: James Worthy 29 Rebs: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 14 Asts: Magic Johnson 16 | |
| LA Lakers lead series, 2–1 | ||
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar breaks Jerry West's all-time playoff scoring record.
June 5
|
| Boston Celtics 107, Los Angeles Lakers 105 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 28–32, 31–26, 23–26, 25–21 | ||
| Pts: Kevin McHale 28 Rebs: Kevin McHale 12 Asts: Dennis Johnson 12 |
Pts: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 21 Rebs: Magic Johnson 11 Asts: Magic Johnson 12 | |
| Series tied, 2–2 | ||
- Dennis Johnson hits the game-winner at the buzzer.
June 7
|
| Boston Celtics 111, Los Angeles Lakers 120 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 31–35, 20–29, 30–31, 30–25 | ||
| Pts: Robert Parish 26 Rebs: Kevin McHale 10 Asts: Dennis Johnson 17 |
Pts: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 36 Rebs: Kurt Rambis 9 Asts: Magic Johnson 17 | |
| LA Lakers lead series, 3–2 | ||
June 9
|
| Los Angeles Lakers 111, Boston Celtics 100 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 28–26, 27–29, 27–18, 29–27 | ||
| Pts: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 29 Rebs: Johnson, Rambis 10 each Asts: Magic Johnson 14 |
Pts: Kevin McHale 32 Rebs: Kevin McHale 16 Asts: Danny Ainge 11 | |
| LA Lakers win series, 4–2 | ||
- The Lakers become the only road team to win the NBA title in Boston Garden. They were the last visitor to win the title in Boston until the Golden State Warriors did it in the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden.
| Tied 1–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first eight meetings.
| Boston leads 8–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
Statistical leaders
[edit]| Category | Game high | Average | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | High | Player | Team | Avg. | GP | |
| Points | Larry Bird Rolando Blackman |
Boston Celtics Dallas Mavericks |
43 | Rolando Blackman | Dallas Mavericks | 32.8 | 4 |
| Rebounds | Ralph Sampson | Houston Rockets | 24 | Ralph Sampson | Houston Rockets | 16.6 | 5 |
| Assists | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers | 23 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers | 15.2 | 19 |
| Steals | Julius Erving Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Clyde Drexler Paul Pressey Moses Malone |
Philadelphia 76ers Los Angeles Lakers Portland Trail Blazers Milwaukee Bucks Philadelphia 76ers |
5 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls | 2.8 | 4 |
| Blocks | Mark Eaton | Utah Jazz | 10 | Mark Eaton | Utah Jazz | 5.8 | 5 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Cleveland Cavaliers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Milwaukee Bucks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Philadelphia 76ers versus Washington Wizards (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Brooklyn Nets versus Detroit Pistons (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Phoenix Suns (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Denver Nuggets versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Houston Rockets versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Dallas Mavericks versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Detroit Pistons (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Milwaukee Bucks versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Denver Nuggets versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Denver Nuggets versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
External links
[edit]1985 NBA playoffs
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Background
Regular Season Context
The 1984–85 NBA season consisted of 23 teams, each competing in an 82-game regular-season schedule that ran from October 26, 1984, to April 14, 1985.[5] This marked the first full season under Commissioner David Stern, who oversaw the league's growing popularity amid the rivalry between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. League-wide attendance saw a notable uptick, reaching a total of 10,506,355 fans across 943 games for an average of 11,141 per game, an increase of 521 spectators per game from the 1983–84 season's average of 10,620.[6] The season highlighted high-scoring offenses and veteran-led contenders, setting the stage for an intense playoff race. In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics led with a dominant 63–19 record, driven by Larry Bird's league MVP performance where he averaged 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game.[7] The Milwaukee Bucks followed closely at 59–23, showcasing a balanced attack anchored by Sidney Moncrief and Paul Pressey. The Philadelphia 76ers, featuring Moses Malone's league-leading 13.1 rebounds per game alongside Julius Erving and rookie Charles Barkley, secured a 58–24 mark, though the team navigated the challenges of integrating young talent with aging stars. In the Western Conference, the [Los Angeles Lakers](/page/Los Angeles_Lakers) paced the field at 62–20, powered by Magic Johnson's playmaking and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring prowess, while the Denver Nuggets compiled a 52–30 record with their fast-paced, high-octane style that averaged 120.0 points per game.[7][8][5] Several milestones underscored the season's significance. For the first time in league history, all three Texas franchises—the Houston Rockets (48–34), Dallas Mavericks (44–38), and San Antonio Spurs (41–41)—qualified for the playoffs, reflecting the growing strength of Southwestern basketball markets.[1] Additionally, the Cleveland Cavaliers ended a seven-year playoff drought, clinching a 36–46 record on the final day of the season with a victory over the New Jersey Nets, thanks to a late surge under coach George Karl that saw them win 34 of their last 61 games. These developments, combined with the introduction of the NBA salary cap ahead of the season, contributed to a competitive landscape that emphasized team depth and strategic roster management.[7]Team Seeding and Qualification
The 1985 NBA playoffs featured a 16-team field, with the top eight teams from each conference qualifying based on their regular-season records. In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics secured the No. 1 seed with a league-best 63-19 record, earning home-court advantage throughout the playoffs as the top overall team. Following them were the Milwaukee Bucks (59-23, No. 2 seed), Philadelphia 76ers (58-24, No. 3), and Detroit Pistons (46-36, No. 4), all of whom advanced directly to the first round. The New Jersey Nets (42-40, No. 5), Washington Bullets (40-42, No. 6), Chicago Bulls (38-44, No. 7), and Cleveland Cavaliers (36-46, No. 8) rounded out the field, with seeding determined by win percentage. Larry Bird's MVP-caliber season, averaging 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists, propelled Boston to the top spot.[9][9]| Eastern Conference Seeds | Team | Record | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Celtics | 63-19 | .768 |
| 2 | Milwaukee Bucks | 59-23 | .720 |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | 58-24 | .707 |
| 4 | Detroit Pistons | 46-36 | .561 |
| 5 | New Jersey Nets | 42-40 | .512 |
| 6 | Washington Bullets | 40-42 | .488 |
| 7 | Chicago Bulls | 38-44 | .463 |
| 8 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 36-46 | .439 |
| Western Conference Seeds | Team | Record | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles Lakers | 62-20 | .756 |
| 2 | Denver Nuggets | 52-30 | .634 |
| 3 | Houston Rockets | 48-34 | .585 |
| 4 | Dallas Mavericks | 44-38 | .537 |
| 5 | Portland Trail Blazers | 42-40 | .512 |
| 6 | Utah Jazz | 41-41 | .500 |
| 7 | San Antonio Spurs | 41-41 | .500 |
| 8 | Phoenix Suns | 36-46 | .439 |
Playoff Overview
Format and Schedule
The 1985 NBA playoffs featured a total of 16 teams, with eight qualifying from each conference based on regular-season performance: the top three finishers in each of the three divisions per conference (totaling six teams) plus the two remaining teams with the best overall records in that conference, serving as wild cards.[1] This structure ensured a balanced representation while prioritizing divisional strength. The tournament followed a single-elimination format, with matchups seeded 1 versus 8, 2 versus 7, 3 versus 6, and 4 versus 5 in the first round.[1] All series awarded home-court advantage to the higher-seeded team, with games alternating between venues starting at the higher seed's arena. The first round consisted of best-of-five series, employing a 2-2-1 format (two home games for each team, followed by one at the higher seed's home if necessary). Subsequent rounds—the conference semifinals, conference finals, and NBA Finals—were best-of-seven series using the 2-2-1-1-1 format (two home games each for the first four games, then alternating single home games). Notably, the 1985 NBA Finals introduced the 2-3-2 format to reduce cross-country travel for the East Coast versus West Coast matchup, granting the higher seed two initial home games, three to the lower seed, and two final games back at the higher seed's venue.[1][11] The playoffs commenced on April 17, 1985, and concluded on June 9, spanning approximately seven weeks. The first round ran from April 17 to April 26, followed by the conference semifinals from April 28 to May 12; conference finals occurred between May 14 and May 29; and the NBA Finals from May 27 to June 9. Teams generally received two days of rest between the end of one series and the start of the next, with games typically scheduled every other day within a series to allow recovery.[12] National broadcasts were primarily handled by CBS, which aired key games including the Finals, while Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) covered select earlier-round contests.[13] Prominent venues included the Boston Garden for the Celtics, The Forum for the Lakers, the Spectrum for the 76ers, and McNichols Sports Arena for the Nuggets.[1] Rule specifics emphasized fundamental play, as the three-point line—introduced league-wide in the 1979-80 season at a distance of 23 feet, 9 inches (22 feet in corners)—saw minimal utilization, with teams averaging fewer than four attempts per game across the postseason. Overtime periods followed the standard five-minute format, with no unique playoff modifications.[1][14]Bracket and Path to Finals
The 1985 NBA playoffs employed a 16-team bracket split between the Eastern and Western Conferences, with all teams participating in a first round of best-of-five series, followed by best-of-seven series in subsequent rounds, culminating in a best-of-seven NBA Finals. The structure followed a seeded format where the top four seeds in each conference were matched against the fifth through eighth seeds in a 1-8, 4-5, 2-7, and 3-6 pairing for the opening round, with winners advancing to face off in the conference semifinals (1/8 vs. 4/5, 2/7 vs. 3/6) and then the conference finals. This setup ensured a clear progression path without byes, emphasizing competitive balance across the tournament.[1] In the Eastern Conference, the bracket positioned the top-seeded Boston Celtics against the eighth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, the second-seeded Milwaukee Bucks versus the seventh-seeded Chicago Bulls, the third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers facing the sixth-seeded Washington Bullets, and the fourth-seeded Detroit Pistons matched with the fifth-seeded New Jersey Nets. The semifinal bracket then paired the winners of the 1-8 and 4-5 series on one side, and the 2-7 and 3-6 winners on the other, leading to a conference final between the victors—the Boston Celtics advanced by navigating this path to face the Philadelphia 76ers in a highly anticipated rematch rooted in their storied rivalry, which dated back to multiple prior playoff clashes including the 1981 and 1982 NBA Finals.[1][15] The Western Conference bracket mirrored this format, with the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers opening against the eighth-seeded Phoenix Suns, the second-seeded Denver Nuggets taking on the seventh-seeded San Antonio Spurs, the third-seeded Houston Rockets versus the sixth-seeded Utah Jazz, and the fourth-seeded Dallas Mavericks paired with the fifth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers. Progression through the semifinals (1/8 vs. 4/5, 2/7 vs. 3/6) highlighted the Lakers' dominance as the top seed, while the second-seeded Nuggets advanced by defeating Houston 4-2 to reach the conference finals, where the Lakers prevailed 4-1 to secure their Finals berth. This cross-conference setup set up a classic Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals matchup, underscoring the bracket's role in pitting conference champions against each other.[1]First Round
Eastern Conference Matchups
The Eastern Conference first round of the 1985 NBA playoffs featured four best-of-five series, with the top-seeded Boston Celtics facing the eighth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, the second-seeded Milwaukee Bucks against the seventh-seeded Chicago Bulls, the third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers versus the sixth-seeded Washington Bullets, and the fourth-seeded Detroit Pistons taking on the fifth-seeded New Jersey Nets.[1] These matchups highlighted the disparity in team strengths, as three of the four series concluded in four games or fewer, allowing the higher seeds to advance efficiently.[16] In the top matchup, the Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 3-1, overcoming a competitive series that saw the Cavaliers steal one game on the road.[17] Game 1 on April 18 resulted in a narrow 126-123 Celtics victory at home, powered by Larry Bird's 40 points and seven rebounds.[18] The Celtics followed with a 108-106 win in Game 2, but the Cavaliers responded in Game 3 with a 105-98 upset in Cleveland, where Bird sat out due to injury, limiting Boston's offense. Bird returned strongly in Game 4 on April 25, scoring 34 points and grabbing 14 rebounds to secure a 117-115 clincher, advancing Boston despite the series' tight total margin of just seven points across all games.[19] The Milwaukee Bucks eliminated the Chicago Bulls 3-1 in a series marked by the Bulls' rookie sensation Michael Jordan's playoff debut.[2] Milwaukee took Game 1 on April 19 with a 109-100 home win, holding Jordan to 23 points in his first postseason appearance.[20] The Bucks extended their lead in Game 2, winning 122-115, though Jordan responded with 30 points.[21] Chicago fought back in Game 3, defeating Milwaukee 109-107 at home behind Jordan's 35 points and a game-winning shot. However, the Bucks closed out the series in Game 4 with a 105-97 victory, limiting Jordan to 29 points in the loss and advancing with strong contributions from Sidney Moncrief and Terry Cummings. Jordan averaged 29.3 points per game in the series, showcasing his scoring prowess despite the defeat.[22] The Philadelphia 76ers dispatched the Washington Bullets 3-1, relying on the veteran leadership of Moses Malone, who had joined the team via a blockbuster trade from the Houston Rockets in 1982 and remained a dominant force in the paint.[23] Philadelphia opened with a 104-97 win in Game 1 on April 17, led by Julius Erving's all-around play. They dominated Game 2 at home, 113-94, with Malone contributing 18 points and 15 rebounds to stifle Washington's interior attack.[24] The Bullets avoided a sweep in Game 3, routing the 76ers 118-100 in Washington behind Jeff Ruland's 24 points and 19 rebounds.[25] But Philadelphia rebounded in Game 4 on April 26, winning 106-98 on the road, with Charles Barkley adding emerging energy off the bench to secure the series.[26] Malone's rebounding average of 12.5 per game underscored his pivotal role in controlling the boards.[27] The Detroit Pistons swept the New Jersey Nets 3-0 in the most lopsided Eastern series, demonstrating the up-and-coming team's defensive intensity under Isiah Thomas's leadership. Game 1 on April 18 ended in a 125-105 Pistons rout at home, with Thomas dishing out 13 assists to orchestrate the offense.[28] Detroit continued the momentum in Game 2, winning 121-111, as Thomas scored 21 points and the team's physical style overwhelmed the Nets. The sweep was completed in Game 3 on April 24 with a 111-94 victory in New Jersey, where Thomas's playmaking—averaging 10.7 assists—highlighted Detroit's transition to a contending force. The Pistons' ability to force turnovers and dominate rebounding proved decisive against a Nets squad led by Buck Williams but lacking depth.[29] Overall, the Eastern Conference first round was characterized by swift conclusions, with three series ending in sweeps or near-sweeps, reflecting the top seeds' regular-season dominance and setting up intense semifinal clashes.[1] The quick resolutions minimized wear on star players like Bird and Thomas, while introducing talents like Jordan to the playoff stage amid lopsided outcomes.[16]Western Conference Matchups
The Western Conference first round of the 1985 NBA playoffs featured four series, with the top two seeds advancing alongside upsets by the fifth- and sixth-seeded teams amid a mix of sweeps and extended battles that highlighted the conference's parity. Unlike the Eastern Conference, where higher seeds dominated more decisively, the West saw two series go the full five games, underscoring the competitive depth among mid-tier teams.[1] The top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers dispatched the eighth-seeded Phoenix Suns in a 3-0 sweep, showcasing their regular-season form with efficient victories. In Game 1 on April 18, the Lakers routed the Suns 142-114, powered by Magic Johnson's triple-double of 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, which set the tone for the series domination.[30] Game 2 ended 136-115, and Game 3 clinched the sweep 119-103, as the Lakers' balanced attack overwhelmed Phoenix's efforts led by Maurice Lucas' 26 points in the opener.[31] The second-seeded Denver Nuggets edged the seventh-seeded San Antonio Spurs 3-2 in a high-octane affair known for its offensive fireworks, averaging 233.4 points per game across the series. Alex English emerged as the scoring standout, averaging 29.8 points per game, including 42 in Game 3's 126-125 Nuggets win that shifted momentum.[32] The Nuggets sealed the series in Game 5 with a 127-116 victory, capitalizing on Denver's fast-paced style against San Antonio's Alvin Robertson, who averaged 20.4 points but couldn't overcome the deficit.[33] In a marquee matchup of young frontcourts, the sixth-seeded Utah Jazz upset the third-seeded Houston Rockets 3-2, marking a playoff debut for the "Twin Towers" duo of Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. Olajuwon, in his rookie postseason, averaged 21.2 points and 13.0 rebounds, while Sampson contributed 21.2 points and 16.6 rebounds, but the Jazz prevailed in Game 5, 104-97, with Utah stealing Games 1 and 3 behind Adrian Dantley's 24.6 points per game average.[34][16] The fifth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers upset the fourth-seeded Dallas Mavericks 3-1, fending off upset potential from Clyde Drexler's explosive play. Drexler averaged 17.0 points, scoring 19 in Portland's Game 3 122-109 triumph, as the Trail Blazers won Games 2 (124-121 OT), 3, and 4 (115-113) after Dallas took Game 1 139-131 in 2OT. Mark Aguirre averaged 29.0 points per game for Dallas despite the defeat.[35] Overall, the Western Conference matchups were more protracted than their Eastern counterparts, with two five-game series reflecting the region's talent depth and setting up intriguing semifinals; this competitiveness foreshadowed the Lakers' path through a gauntlet en route to the Finals.[1]Conference Semifinals
Eastern Conference Series
The Eastern Conference semifinals featured the top-seeded Boston Celtics against the fourth-seeded Detroit Pistons, and the second-seeded Milwaukee Bucks against the third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers. Both series were best-of-seven formats.[1] The Boston Celtics defeated the Detroit Pistons 4–2, advancing to the conference finals. The series began on April 28, 1985, with Boston winning the first two games on the road: 133–99 in Game 1 and 121–114 in Game 2. Detroit responded with home wins in Games 3 (125–117) and 4 (102–99), forcing a return to Detroit for Game 5, which Boston won 130–123. The Celtics closed out the series in Game 6 at Detroit, 123–113, on May 10. Larry Bird led Boston with 28.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, while Isiah Thomas averaged 25.5 points and 10.8 assists for Detroit. Robert Parish contributed 17.7 points and 11.2 rebounds for the Celtics.[36] In the other Eastern matchup, the Philadelphia 76ers swept the Milwaukee Bucks 4–0. The series started April 28 in Milwaukee, where Philadelphia won Game 1 127–105 behind Moses Malone's 27 points. Game 2 was a close 112–108 victory for the 76ers. Shifting to Philadelphia, they won Game 3 109–104 and Game 4 121–112 on May 5, with Malone scoring 31 points in the clincher. Malone averaged 25.0 points per game, while Terry Cummings led Milwaukee with 25.5 points per game. Charles Barkley added impactful bench play for Philadelphia in his playoff debut.[37]Western Conference Series
The Western Conference semifinals pitted the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers against the fifth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers, and the second-seeded Denver Nuggets against the sixth-seeded Utah Jazz, who had upset the third-seeded Houston Rockets in the first round.[1] The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 4–1. The series opened April 27 in Los Angeles with a 125–101 Lakers win, followed by 134–118 in Game 2. Portland hosted Games 3 and 4, winning Game 4 115–107 after losing Game 3 130–126. The Lakers clinched the series at home in Game 5 on May 7, 139–120, with Magic Johnson scoring 34 points. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar provided strong rebounding, including 17 in Game 4.[38] In the other Western series, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Utah Jazz 4–1. Starting April 30 in Denver, the Nuggets won Game 1 130–113 and Game 2 131–123. Utah took Game 3 at home 131–123 on May 4, but Denver rebounded with 125–118 in Game 4 and 116–104 in Game 5 on May 7. Alex English led Denver with 30.6 points per game, including 40 in Game 4, while Adrian Dantley averaged 26.0 points for Utah. The high-scoring series highlighted Denver's fast-paced offense.[39]| Western Conference Semifinals: Lakers vs. Trail Blazers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Game | Date | Score | Location |
| 1 | Apr 27 | Lakers 125, Trail Blazers 101 | Los Angeles |
| 2 | Apr 30 | Lakers 134, Trail Blazers 118 | Los Angeles |
| 3 | May 3 | Lakers 130, Trail Blazers 126 | Portland |
| 4 | May 5 | Trail Blazers 115, Lakers 107 | Portland |
| 5 | May 7 | Lakers 139, Trail Blazers 120 | Los Angeles |
| Western Conference Semifinals: Nuggets vs. Jazz | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Game | Date | Score | Location |
| 1 | Apr 30 | Nuggets 130, Jazz 113 | Denver |
| 2 | May 2 | Nuggets 131, Jazz 123 | Denver |
| 3 | May 4 | Jazz 131, Nuggets 123 | Utah |
| 4 | May 5 | Nuggets 125, Jazz 118 | Utah |
| 5 | May 7 | Nuggets 116, Jazz 104 | Denver |
Conference Finals
Eastern Conference Series
The Eastern Conference Finals featured a highly anticipated matchup between the top-seeded Boston Celtics and the third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers, reigniting one of the NBA's fiercest rivalries.[40] The series, played in a best-of-seven format starting May 12, 1985, at Boston Garden, pitted Larry Bird's versatile Celtics against Julius Erving's veteran-led 76ers, with the Celtics holding home-court advantage after a 63-19 regular season compared to Philadelphia's 58-24 record.[41] This clash marked the fourth Eastern Conference Finals meeting between the teams in the 1980s, following intense battles in 1981 and 1982 where each side claimed a series victory.[1] Boston dominated early, securing a 108-93 victory in Game 1 behind Kevin McHale's 28 points, while holding the 76ers to 44.4% shooting.[42] Game 2 extended the Celtics' home streak to 106-98, with Bird contributing 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists to showcase Boston's balanced attack. The series shifted to Philadelphia's Spectrum for Game 3, where the Celtics stole a 105-94 road win, led by Robert Parish's 14 points and 14 rebounds, marking the 76ers' first home loss of the postseason. Philadelphia responded forcefully in Game 4, erupting for a 115-104 triumph powered by Moses Malone's 21 points and 13 rebounds, along with rookie Charles Barkley's 15 points and 20 rebounds off the bench, avoiding a sweep and highlighting the young forward's emerging physical presence. The decisive Game 5 returned to Boston on May 22, where the Celtics edged out a tense 102-100 victory to claim the series 4-1. Bird sealed the win with crucial free throws in the final minute, finishing with 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, while the Celtics' depth—evident in contributions from Dennis Johnson (22 points) and Danny Ainge—overwhelmed Philadelphia's aging core.[43] Erving, limited to 14.0 points per game on 32.4% shooting amid defensive pressure from Boston's frontcourt, struggled to replicate his earlier dominance, underscoring the rivalry's evolution toward Bird's ascendancy.[41] Barkley, in his playoff debut, averaged a double-double (14.0 points, 11.2 rebounds) across the series, signaling his future stardom despite the loss.[44] With the triumph, Boston advanced to the NBA Finals, leveraging superior team cohesion and defensive intensity to prevail in the heated rivalry rematch.[40]Western Conference Series
The top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers, having defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 in the conference semifinals, faced the second-seeded Denver Nuggets, who had defeated the Houston Rockets 4-2 in the conference semifinals after a 3-2 first-round victory over the San Antonio Spurs.[1] The series pitted the Lakers' veteran core, anchored by the experience of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, against a youthful Nuggets squad known for its high-tempo offense led by Alex English and Fat Lever. This marked the Nuggets' first appearance in the NBA Western Conference Finals since joining the league from the ABA in 1976, while the Lakers were making their fourth straight trip to the conference finals.[45] The Lakers dominated the series, winning 4-1, showcasing their superior depth and defensive adjustments despite the Nuggets' fast-paced style that often led to high-scoring affairs but exposed defensive vulnerabilities.[46] Abdul-Jabbar averaged 20.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game, providing steady interior presence, including a crucial 29-point, 12-rebound effort in Game 4 to secure a narrow road victory.[46][47] English led the Nuggets with 30.3 points per game, highlighting their offensive firepower, but the team struggled to contain the Lakers' transition game and perimeter shooting.[46] Magic Johnson contributed 12.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and a series-high 15.6 assists per game, orchestrating the "Showtime" offense that overwhelmed Denver in key moments.[46]| Game | Date | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 11 | Lakers 139, Nuggets 122 | Los Angeles |
| 2 | May 14 | Nuggets 136, Lakers 114 | Los Angeles |
| 3 | May 17 | Lakers 136, Nuggets 118 | Denver |
| 4 | May 19 | Lakers 120, Nuggets 116 | Denver |
| 5 | May 22 | Lakers 153, Nuggets 109 | Los Angeles |
NBA Finals
Series Overview
The 1985 NBA Finals marked the eighth postseason meeting between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, a storied rivalry dating back to the league's early days, with the Celtics holding a perfect 7-0 series record against the Lakers in prior Finals appearances, including a dramatic 4-3 victory in the 1984 championship. The Lakers, seeking their first-ever Finals triumph over Boston, entered the series highly motivated to exorcise the ghosts of recent defeats and claim supremacy in what had become the NBA's defining matchup.[48] Pregame narratives centered on the intensifying rivalry between Boston's Larry Bird and Los Angeles' Magic Johnson, whose contrasting styles and personal competitiveness had elevated the league's popularity since their 1979 NCAA Finals clash, reaching a zenith in this anticipated rematch. Adding intrigue was the age disparity highlighted by Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who at 38 was in the twilight of his career yet pivotal to Los Angeles' championship aspirations against Boston's robust frontcourt. The series adopted a best-of-seven format, with the Celtics earning home-court advantage after finishing the 1984-85 regular season with a 63-19 record, edging out the Lakers' 62-20 mark.[9] Expectations were sky-high for a classic confrontation, as the Lakers aimed to reverse the previous year's outcome where Boston had rallied from a 3-1 deficit, while both teams had navigated challenging playoff paths—Boston defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals and Los Angeles overcoming the Denver Nuggets in the West.[7] Analysts viewed the series as a test of resilience, with Los Angeles' fast-paced "Showtime" offense pitted against Boston's gritty, defense-oriented play, setting the stage for what promised to be a pivotal chapter in NBA history.[48]Game-by-Game Analysis
Game 1: May 27, 1985 – Boston Garden (Boston, MA)The Boston Celtics dominated the Los Angeles Lakers in the series opener, securing a 148–114 victory known as the "Memorial Day Massacre." The Celtics set an NBA Finals record by scoring 77 points in the first half, shooting 61.5% from the field overall and overwhelming the Lakers with balanced scoring. Scott Wedman led Boston with 26 points on perfect 11-of-11 shooting, while Kevin McHale added 26 points and 9 rebounds, and Larry Bird contributed 19 points and 12 rebounds. For the Lakers, James Worthy scored a team-high 20 points, but Kareem Abdul-Jabbar struggled with just 12 points and 3 rebounds in a poor showing. The blowout established Boston's home-court intensity early in the series.[4] Game 2: May 30, 1985 – Boston Garden (Boston, MA)
The Lakers evened the series with a 109–102 win, jumping to an 18-point halftime lead and holding off a Celtics comeback. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar delivered a vintage performance with 30 points, 17 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals, outplaying Robert Parish and energizing Los Angeles after their Game 1 rout. Magic Johnson added 11 points and 15 assists, facilitating the offense effectively. Boston's Larry Bird scored 34 points, but the Celtics shot poorly at 39.5% from the field. A late surge by Boston narrowed the gap, but the Lakers maintained control to tie the series at 1–1.[49][4] Game 3: June 2, 1985 – The Forum (Inglewood, CA)
Returning home, the Lakers routed the Celtics 136–111 in a decisive blowout, taking a 2–1 series lead. The Lakers shot 57.3% from the field and capitalized on 22 Boston turnovers, building a 20-point lead by halftime. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 29 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, dominating the paint, while Magic Johnson dished out 21 assists—tying an NBA Finals record—to orchestrate the fast-break attack. Kevin McHale led the Celtics with 28 points and 11 rebounds, but Boston's defense faltered, allowing Los Angeles to regain momentum. This victory showcased the Lakers' home dominance and shifted the series westward. Game 4: June 5, 1985 – The Forum (Inglewood, CA)
In a thriller, the Celtics stole a 107–105 win on the road, tying the series at 2–2 with a dramatic buzzer-beater by Dennis Johnson. Boston trailed by 3 with seconds left when Johnson drove the baseline and sank a leaning jumper over two defenders as time expired, capping a resilient fourth-quarter rally. Kevin McHale paced the Celtics with 28 points and 10 rebounds, while Larry Bird added 23 points and 9 assists. For the Lakers, James Worthy scored 24 points, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 21 points and 10 rebounds, but a late turnover sealed their fate. The close contest highlighted the series' intensity and Boston's clutch play.[50] Game 5: June 7, 1985 – The Forum (Inglewood, CA)
The Lakers moved within one win of the championship, defeating the Celtics 120–111 to take a 3–2 lead. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar erupted for 36 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, turning back the clock at age 38 with efficient post play and skyhooks that overwhelmed Boston's frontcourt. James Worthy added 19 points, and Magic Johnson controlled the tempo with 12 assists. Larry Bird led the Celtics with 28 points and 14 rebounds, but Boston shot just 43.2% and committed 18 turnovers. A pivotal 12-2 run in the third quarter gave Los Angeles separation, setting up a potential closeout in Boston.[51][52] Game 6: June 9, 1985 – Boston Garden (Boston, MA)
The Lakers clinched their fourth NBA title with a 111–100 victory, becoming the first visiting team to win a deciding Finals game at Boston Garden and ending their 0-8 Finals record against the Celtics. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 29 points and secured 10 rebounds, earning Finals MVP honors for his series averages of 25.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. Magic Johnson contributed 14 points and 14 assists, while the Lakers' balanced attack limited Boston to 39.8% shooting. Larry Bird finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds, but the Celtics faded after a competitive first half. This win marked Los Angeles' first Finals triumph over Boston since joining the NBA.[3][4]
Notable Performances and Statistics
Individual Leaders
In the 1985 NBA playoffs, Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics led all players in scoring with 520 total points across 20 games, averaging 26.0 points per game, showcasing his scoring versatility from mid-range jumpers and drives to the basket.[53] Bird's efficiency was notable, as he maintained a 46.1% field goal percentage despite the Celtics' Finals loss, contributing significantly to their deep run through the Eastern Conference.[54] Other top scorers included Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers, who averaged 17.5 points per game in 19 contests while prioritizing playmaking.[55] Rebounding was dominated by Boston's Robert Parish, who recorded 219 total rebounds in 21 games for an average of 10.4 per game, providing crucial interior presence for the Celtics.[53] Moses Malone of the Philadelphia 76ers followed closely with 10.0 rebounds per game over 13 games, leveraging his physicality on the offensive glass despite his team's early exit.[56] Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Lakers averaged 9.0 rebounds per game in the Finals, anchoring the defense that secured the championship.[57] Magic Johnson's playmaking stood out as the playoffs' assist leader, dishing 289 total assists in 19 games for 15.2 per game, enabling the Lakers' fast-break offense and earning him a key role in their title win.[53] Defensive leaders included Byron Scott of the Lakers with 41 total steals (2.2 per game over 19 games), disrupting opponents' rhythms effectively.[53] Alvin Robertson of the San Antonio Spurs averaged 2.3 steals per game in five games, using his quick hands to generate turnovers in a brief appearance.[58] For blocks, Kevin McHale of the Celtics led with 46 total (2.2 per game in 21 games), protecting the rim with his length and timing.[53] Kareem Abdul-Jabbar added 1.5 blocks per game in the Finals, complementing his offensive output.[57] Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned Finals MVP honors with averages of 25.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game over six games, delivering veteran leadership that propelled the Lakers to victory. During Game 1 of the Finals, Abdul-Jabbar surpassed Jerry West's all-time NBA playoff scoring record of 5,780 points.[57]| Category | Leader | Team | Stat (Per Game / Total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics | 26.0 PPG / 520 |
| Rebounds | Robert Parish | Boston Celtics | 10.4 RPG / 219 |
| Assists | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers | 15.2 APG / 289 |
| Steals | Byron Scott | Los Angeles Lakers | 2.2 SPG / 41 |
| Blocks | Kevin McHale | Boston Celtics | 2.2 BPG / 46 |