Overview
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers four games to two in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series to conclude the 1981-82 NBA season. The victory gave the Lakers their second NBA championship in three seasons, and their eighth in franchise history.
The 76ers were making their seventh Finals appearance (including their years as the Syracuse Nationals) and their second in three seasons, having lost to the Lakers in 1980. This was the fourth meeting between the two franchises in the NBA Finals. The Lakers had won the previous three meetings (1980, 1954, 1950).
Magic Johnson won NBA Finals MVP honors, becoming just the second player to win the award multiple times (Willis Reed was the first). Johnson would go on to win one more Finals MVP award in his career.
The 76ers had home-court advantage for the Finals, which were played under the 2-2-1-1-1 format. The two teams split their regular-season meetings in 1981-82, with each team winning on its home court.
The 76ers were making their seventh Finals appearance (including their years as the Syracuse Nationals) and their second in three seasons, having lost to the Lakers in 1980. This was the fourth meeting between the two franchises in the NBA Finals. The Lakers had won the previous three meetings (1980, 1954, 1950).
Magic Johnson won NBA Finals MVP honors, becoming just the second player to win the award multiple times (Willis Reed was the first). Johnson would go on to win one more Finals MVP award in his career.
The 76ers had home-court advantage for the Finals, which were played under the 2-2-1-1-1 format. The two teams split their regular-season meetings in 1981-82, with each team winning on its home court.
Road to the Finals
| Team | Lakers | 76ers |
| Regular Season | 57-25, 1st in Pacific Division | 58-24, 2nd in Atlantic Division |
| First Round | Bye | Def. (6) Atlanta Hawks, 2-0 |
| Conference Semifinals | Def. (5) Phoenix Suns, 4-0 | Def. (2) Milwaukee Bucks, 4-2 |
| Conference Finals | Def. (2) San Antonio Spurs, 4-0 | Def. (1) Boston Celtics, 4-3 |
Game 1 - Lakers 124, 76ers 117
In one of the biggest turnarounds in Finals history, the Lakers, who had been off for 12 days before the Finals, turned a 15-point third-quarter deficit into a 16-point fourth-quarter lead with a backbreaking 40-9 run to take Game 1. The Lakers began the comeback with a 19-2 run to take their first lead late in the third quarter, then poured on the offense in the fourth, setting an NBA record with their ninth consecutive postseason victory.
The Lakers used only seven players in the game, each of whom scored in double figures. Magic Johnson was the lowest-scoring Lakers player, finishing with just 10 points, but had 14 rebounds and nine assists. Julius Erving led all players with 27 points for the 76ers.
The Lakers used only seven players in the game, each of whom scored in double figures. Magic Johnson was the lowest-scoring Lakers player, finishing with just 10 points, but had 14 rebounds and nine assists. Julius Erving led all players with 27 points for the 76ers.
Game 2 - 76ers 110, Lakers 94
The 76ers again rushed out to a big lead but were able to break the Lakers' trap defense and hold on for a Game 2 victory. The 76ers led by as many as 15 points in the third quarter and outrebounded the Lakers by double figures.
Julius Erving, guarded by Magic Johnson one-on-one for most of the game, finished with a game-high 24 points. Johnson once again fell just shy of a triple-double for the Lakers, who used only seven players for the second consecutive game.
Julius Erving, guarded by Magic Johnson one-on-one for most of the game, finished with a game-high 24 points. Johnson once again fell just shy of a triple-double for the Lakers, who used only seven players for the second consecutive game.
Game 3 - Lakers 129, 76ers 108
Back at home in Los Angeles, the Lakers overcame Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's foul trouble to take a double-digit lead in the first half and cruise to a 21-point win. The 76ers never led at any point of the game and fell behind by more than 20 points early in the third quarter.
The Lakers, who were outrebounded badly in Game 2, won the battle of the glass in Game 3. Norm Nixon bounced back from his struggles in Game 2 to lead the Lakers with 29 points, going 8-of-10 from the field in the second half. Magic Johnson finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Andrew Toney was the one bright spot for the 76ers, scoring 36 points while making 14 of his 22 shots. Julius Erving scored 21 points in just 32 minutes, missing on stretch of the game after having his bridge broken. Bobby Jones suffered a hip pointer and went scoreless in 21 minutes.
The Lakers, who were outrebounded badly in Game 2, won the battle of the glass in Game 3. Norm Nixon bounced back from his struggles in Game 2 to lead the Lakers with 29 points, going 8-of-10 from the field in the second half. Magic Johnson finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Andrew Toney was the one bright spot for the 76ers, scoring 36 points while making 14 of his 22 shots. Julius Erving scored 21 points in just 32 minutes, missing on stretch of the game after having his bridge broken. Bobby Jones suffered a hip pointer and went scoreless in 21 minutes.
Game 4 - Lakers 111, 76ers 101
After the Lakers jumped out to a big first-quarter lead, the 76ers came right back and took a two-point lead in the second quarter. But L.A. quickly responded with an 18-2 run and never looked back. The 76ers never got closer than seven points, pulling within that margin with three minutes left before back-to-back turnovers sealed their fate.
Magic Johnson and Jamaal Wilkes each scored 24 points to lead the Lakers. Johnson added eight rebounds and seven assists for L.A. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 22 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Andrew Toney had 28 points and 11 assists for the 76ers, while Julius Erving had 25 points. No other 76ers player had more than 12 points.
Magic Johnson and Jamaal Wilkes each scored 24 points to lead the Lakers. Johnson added eight rebounds and seven assists for L.A. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 22 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Andrew Toney had 28 points and 11 assists for the 76ers, while Julius Erving had 25 points. No other 76ers player had more than 12 points.
Game 5 - 76ers 135, Lakers 102
Facing elimination but back at home, the 76ers turned the tables on the Lakers, using a version of their zone trap defense to help spark a blowout and hand the Lakers their worst postseason defeat in franchise history. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar picked up two fouls in the first 1:36 of the game, allowing the 76ers to attack the paint while leaving the Lakers without one of their top offensive weapons. The Lakers, who had been outscored by 10 points in the first half, actually took the lead, 68-64, three minutes into the third quarter, before being outscored 71-34 for the rest of the game.
Andrew Toney led the 76ers in scoring for the third consecutive game, finishing with 31 points. Julius Erving, who missed eight of his first nine shots, finished with 23 points after making nine of his last 10 shots of the game. Abdul-Jabbar finished with just six points, his lowest total ever in a playoff game, and his lowest in any game since the 1977 season opener, when he was ejected for punching Kent Benson. Bob McAdoo, playing extended minutes in place of Abdul-Jabbar, led the Lakers with 23 points.
Andrew Toney led the 76ers in scoring for the third consecutive game, finishing with 31 points. Julius Erving, who missed eight of his first nine shots, finished with 23 points after making nine of his last 10 shots of the game. Abdul-Jabbar finished with just six points, his lowest total ever in a playoff game, and his lowest in any game since the 1977 season opener, when he was ejected for punching Kent Benson. Bob McAdoo, playing extended minutes in place of Abdul-Jabbar, led the Lakers with 23 points.
Game 6 - Lakers 114, 76ers 104
The Lakers jumped out to a nine-point lead at halftime, but the 76ers were able to stay close throughout the second half, before a late Lakers run clinched the game and the title for Los Angeles. Bob McAdoo, known primarily for his offense, made a key defensive play in the second half, blocking a potential go-ahead layup by Julius Erving, and keeping the Lakers out in front.
Jamaal Wilkes led the Lakers with 27 points, while Magic Johnson, who earned series MVP honors, had a triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists. McAdoo, who finished as the runner-up to Johnson in the MVP voting, had 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots, winning the first championship of his Hall of Fame career.
Andrew Toney led all scorers with 30 points for the 76ers and Erving added 29. The other three 76ers starters combined for just 24 points. Darryl Dawkins had 10 points and just one rebound in 20 minutes before fouling out in what would turn out to be his final game as a 76er.
Jamaal Wilkes led the Lakers with 27 points, while Magic Johnson, who earned series MVP honors, had a triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists. McAdoo, who finished as the runner-up to Johnson in the MVP voting, had 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots, winning the first championship of his Hall of Fame career.
Andrew Toney led all scorers with 30 points for the 76ers and Erving added 29. The other three 76ers starters combined for just 24 points. Darryl Dawkins had 10 points and just one rebound in 20 minutes before fouling out in what would turn out to be his final game as a 76er.