1987 NBA Playoffs

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

The 1987 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1986-87 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. The Lakers earned their 10th NBA championship, and Magic Johnson was named NBA Finals MVP for a then-record third time.

Before 2008, this was the last time the Celtics and Lakers met in the NBA Finals, though Boston threatened in 2002, making it to the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the Nets in 6 games.

By making it to the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pistons advanced farther in the playoffs than they had in the past 25 years. They would make their first NBA Finals appearance since 1956 the following season, the first of 3 straight trips to the Finals (winning the last 2).

The Warriors & Pacers made their first playoff appearances since 1977 and 1981. The Pacers also won their first NBA playoff game, in Game 3 of their first-round series against the Hawks.

By beating Dallas 3–1, the Sonics became the first #7 seed to defeat a #2 seed since the playoffs expanded to 16 teams in 1984. They reached the Western Conference Finals. The 1989 & 1991 Warriors, 1998 Knicks and 2010 Spurs were the other 7th seeds to beat the 2nd seed.

One of the most memorable moments of the playoffs occurred in the final moments of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals when, with Boston down 107-106, Isiah Thomas had his inbounds pass stolen by Larry Bird, who passed to Dennis Johnson for the game-winning layup.

Main article: Celtics–Pistons rivalry

The only dent in the Lakers' run to the Finals came in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Warriors, when Sleepy Floyd scored a playoff record 39 points in the second half, with a record 29 coming in the fourth quarter, to seal a 129-121 win. Both records still stand.


Contents

Bracket [edit]

  1st Round Conference Semifinals Conference Finals NBA Finals
                                     
1  L.A. Lakers 3  
8  Denver 0  
  1  L.A. Lakers 4  
   
  5  Golden State 1  
4  Utah 2
 
5  Golden State 3  
  1  L.A. Lakers 4  
Western Conference
  7  Seattle 0  
3  Portland 1  
 
6  Houston 3  
  6  Houston 2
   
  7  Seattle 4  
2  Dallas 1
 
7  Seattle 3  
  W1  L.A. Lakers 4
  E1  Boston 2
1  Boston 3  
8  Chicago 0  
  1  Boston 4
   
  4  Milwaukee 3  
4  Milwaukee 3
 
5  Philadelphia 2  
  1  Boston 4
Eastern Conference
  3  Detroit 3  
3  Detroit 3  
6  Washington 0  
  3  Detroit 4
   
  2  Atlanta 1  
2  Atlanta 3
7  Indiana 1  

Western Conference [edit]

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers

1st Round [edit]

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) Denver Nuggets: Lakers win series 3-0

  • Game 1 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (April 23): Los Angeles 128, Denver 95
  • Game 2 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (April 25): Los Angeles 139, Denver 127
  • Game 3 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (April 29): Los Angeles 140, Denver 103

Last Playoff Meeting: 1985 Western Conference Finals (Los Angeles won 4-1)

(2) Dallas Mavericks vs. (7) Seattle SuperSonics: SuperSonics win series 3-1

  • Game 1 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (April 23): Dallas 151, Seattle 129
  • Game 2 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (April 25): Seattle 112, Dallas 110
  • Game 3 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (April 28): Seattle 117, Dallas 107
  • Game 4 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (April 30): Seattle 124, Dallas 98 (Seattle becomes first 7th seeded team to eliminate 2nd seeded team since Playoffs moved to 16-team format in 1984.)

Last Playoff Meeting: 1984 Western Conference First Round (Dallas won 3-2)

(3) Portland Trail Blazers vs.(6) Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 3-1

  • Game 1 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (April 24): Houston 125, Portland 115
  • Game 2 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (April 26): Portland 111, Houston 98
  • Game 3 @ The Summit, Houston (April 28): Houston 117, Portland 108
  • Game 4 @ The Summit, Houston (April 30): Houston 113, Portland 101

Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Rockets and Trail Blazers.

(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) Golden State Warriors: Warriors win series 3-2

  • Game 1 @ Salt Palace, Salt Lake City (April 23): Utah 98, Golden State 85
  • Game 2 @ Salt Palace, Salt Lake City (April 25): Utah 103, Golden State 100
  • Game 3 @ Oakland Coliseum, Oakland (April 29): Golden State 110, Utah 95
  • Game 4 @ Oakland Coliseum, Oakland (May 1): Golden State 98, Utah 94
  • Game 5 @ Salt Palace, Salt Lake City (May 3): Golden State 118, Utah 113

Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Jazz and Warriors.

Conference Semifinals [edit]

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Golden State Warriors: Lakers win series 4-1

  • Game 1 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 5): Los Angeles 125, Golden State 116
  • Game 2 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 7): Los Angeles 116, Golden State 101
  • Game 3 @ Oakland Coliseum, Oakland (May 9): Los Angeles 133, Golden State 108
  • Game 4 @ Oakland Coliseum, Oakland (May 10): Golden State 129, Los Angeles 121 (Sleepy Floyd's record 39-point 2nd half and 29-point 4th quarter)
  • Game 5 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 12): Los Angeles 118, Golden State 106

Last Playoff Meeting: 1977 Western Conference Semifinals (Los Angeles won 4-3)

(6) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Seattle SuperSonics: SuperSonics win series 4-2

Last Playoff Meeting: 1982 Western Conference First Round (Seattle won 2-1)

Conference Finals [edit]

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) Seattle SuperSonics: Lakers win series 4-0

Last Playoff Meeting: 1980 Western Conference Finals (Los Angeles won 4-1)

Eastern Conference [edit]

Champion: Boston Celtics

1st Round [edit]

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Chicago Bulls: Celtics win series 3-0

Last Playoff Meeting: 1986 Eastern Conference First Round (Boston won 3-0)

(2) Atlanta Hawks vs. (7) Indiana Pacers: Hawks win series 3-1

  • Game 1 @ The Omni, Atlanta (April 24): Atlanta 110, Indiana 94
  • Game 2 @ The Omni, Atlanta (April 26): Atlanta 94, Indiana 93
  • Game 3 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (April 29): Indiana 96, Atlanta 87
  • Game 4 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 1): Atlanta 101, Indiana 97

Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Hawks and Pacers.

(3) Detroit Pistons vs. (6) Washington Bullets: Pistons win series 3-0

Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Pistons and Bullets/Wizards franchise.

(4) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (5) Philadelphia 76ers: Bucks win series 3-2

  • Game 1 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (April 24): Milwaukee 107, Philadelphia 104
  • Game 2 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (April 26): Philadelphia 125, Milwaukee 122
  • Game 3 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (April 29): Milwaukee 121, Philadelphia 120 (Jack Sikma gets his shot blocked, jumps back up, catches the ball in mid-air and line-drives it in with 2 seconds left for the game-winner.)
  • Game 4 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (May 1): Philadelphia 124, Milwaukee 118
  • Game 5 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (May 3): Milwaukee 102, Philadelphia 89 (Julius Erving's final NBA game)

Last Playoff Meeting: 1986 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Milwaukee won 4-3)

Conference Semifinals [edit]

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Milwaukee Bucks: Celtics win series 4-3

  • Game 1 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 5): Boston 111, Milwaukee 98
  • Game 2 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 6): Boston 126, Milwaukee 124
  • Game 3 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (May 8): Milwaukee 126, Boston 121
  • Game 4 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (May 10): Boston 138, Milwaukee 137
  • Game 5 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 13): Milwaukee 129, Boston 124
  • Game 6 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (May 15): Milwaukee 121, Boston 111
  • Game 7 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 17): Boston 119, Milwaukee 113

Last Playoff Meeting: 1986 Eastern Conference Finals (Boston won 4-0)

(2) Atlanta Hawks vs. (3) Detroit Pistons: Pistons win series 4-1

  • Game 1 @ The Omni, Atlanta (May 3): Detroit 112, Atlanta 111
  • Game 2 @ The Omni, Atlanta (May 5): Atlanta 115, Detroit 102
  • Game 3 @ Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac (May 8): Detroit 108, Atlanta 99
  • Game 4 @ Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac (May 10): Detroit 89, Atlanta 88 (Isiah Thomas makes the game-winning layup with 1 second left)
  • Game 5 @ The Omni, Atlanta (May 13): Detroit 104, Atlanta 96

Last Playoff Meeting: 1986 Eastern Conference First Round (Atlanta won 3-1)

Conference Finals [edit]

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Detroit Pistons [edit]

Last Playoff Meeting: 1985 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Boston won 4-2)

May 19 Box Score Detroit Pistons 91, Boston Celtics 104   Boston Garden, Boston, MA
Attendance: 14,890
Referees: Joe Crawford, Paul Mihalak
Scoring by quarter: 22-26, 18-18, 28-31, 23-29
Pts: Isiah Thomas 18
Rebs: Rick Mahorn 11
Asts: Isiah Thomas 10		 Pts: Robert Parish 31
Rebs: Larry Bird 16
Asts: Larry Bird 11
May 21 Box Score Detroit Pistons 101, Boston Celtics 110   Boston Garden, Boston, MA
Attendance: 14,890
Referees: Earl Strom, Bill Saar, Hue Hollins
Scoring by quarter: 23-32, 36-22, 22-28, 20-28
Pts: Isiah Thomas 36
Rebs: Bill Laimbeer 17
Asts: Isiah Thomas 10		 Pts: Larry Bird 31
Rebs: Larry Bird/Robert Parish 9
Asts: Larry Bird 12
May 23 Box Score Boston Celtics 104, Detroit Pistons 122   Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, MI
Attendance: 23,525
Referees: Darrell Garretson, Hue Hollins
Scoring by quarter: 28-37, 25-36, 28-20, 23-29
Pts: Sam Vincent 18
Rebs: Larry Bird 11
Asts: Dennis Johnson 8		 Pts: Adrian Dantley 25
Rebs: Rick Mahorn 12
Asts: Vinnie Johnson 8
May 24 Box Score Boston Celtics 119, Detroit Pistons 145   Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, MI
Attendance: 27,387
Scoring by quarter: 25-31, 33-31, 30-42, 31-41
Pts: Sam Vincent 18
Rebs: Kevin McHale 9
Asts: Sam Vincent 7		 Pts: Adrian Dantley 32
Rebs: Bill Laimbeer 13
Asts: Isiah Thomas/Joe Dumars 8
May 26 Box Score Detroit Pistons 107, Boston Celtics 108   Boston Garden, Boston, MA
Attendance: 14,890
Referees: Jack Madden, Jess Kersey
Scoring by quarter: 29-38, 27-20, 29-28, 22-22
Pts: Adrian Dantley 25
Rebs: Bill Laimbeer 14
Asts: Isiah Thomas 11		 Pts: Larry Bird 36
Rebs: Larry Bird 12
Asts: Larry Bird 9

Larry Bird steals Isiah Thomas inbound pass and gives the ball to Dennis Johnson, who hits the game-winning lay-up with one second left.

May 28 Box Score Boston Celtics 105, Detroit Pistons 113   Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, MI
Attendance: 28,383
Referees: Ed Rush, Joe Crawford, Bill Saar
Scoring by quarter: 33-31, 22-27, 28-26, 22-29
Pts: Larry Bird 35
Rebs: Kevin McHale 12
Asts: Dennis Johnson 11		 Pts: Adrian Dantley/Vinnie Johnson 24
Rebs: Rick Mahorn 18
Asts: Isiah Thomas 9
May 30 Box Score Detroit Pistons 114, Boston Celtics 117   Boston Garden, Boston, MA
Attendance: 14,890
Referees: Darrell Garretson, Earl Strom
Scoring by quarter: 31-24, 25-31, 24-26, 34-36
Pts: Joe Dumars 35
Rebs: Bill Laimbeer 13
Asts: Isiah Thomas 9		 Pts: Larry Bird 37
Rebs: Robert Parish 11
Asts: Dennis Johnson 11
Boston wins series 4-3

NBA Finals [edit]

Main article: 1987 NBA Finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (1) Boston Celtics Lakers win series 4-2

  • Game 1 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (June 2): Los Angeles 126, Boston 113
  • Game 2 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (June 4): Los Angeles 141, Boston 122
  • Game 3 @ Boston Garden, Boston (June 7): Boston 109, Los Angeles 103
  • Game 4 @ Boston Garden, Boston (June 9): Los Angeles 107, Boston 106 (Magic Johnson hits the game-winning "Baby-Hook" with 2 seconds left)
  • Game 5 @ Boston Garden, Boston (June 11): Boston 123, Los Angeles 108
  • Game 6 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (June 14): Los Angeles 106, Boston 93 (Bill Walton’s final NBA game)

Last Playoff Meeting: 1985 NBA Finals (Los Angeles won 4-2)

External links [edit]
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
Eastern
Atlantic
Central
Western
Midwest
Pacific
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1987_NBA_Playoffs&oldid=554062298"