1985 NBA Finals
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The 1985 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1984-85 NBA season.
The Boston Celtics looking to repeat as NBA Champions for the first time since the 1968-69 NBA season. The Celtics had homecourt advantage for the second year in a row as they finished the regular season with a 63-19 record while the Los Angeles Lakers compiled a 62-20 record. The Lakers looked to bounce back from the previous year's painful loss to the Celtics in the NBA Finals. For the first time, the Finals went to a 2-3-2 format with Games 1 and 2 in Boston while the next three games were in Los Angeles. The final two games of the series would be played in Boston, if required.
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Celtics four games to two to defeat the Celtics for the first time in Laker history in the NBA Finals.
Television: CBS - Announcers: Brent Musburger, Dick Stockton, and Tom Heinsohn.
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[edit] Game 1
The Celtics destroyed the Lakers 148-114. The game was a profound embarrassment for the Lakers. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had only 12 points and 3 rebounds in his matchup with Robert Parish. Magic Johnson pulled down only one rebound. Danny Ainge of the Celtics started hot, scoring 15 points in the first quarter. Scot Wedman made all 11 shots he took from the field. The lopsided final score caused the game to be dubbed the "Memorial Day Massacre." Afterwards, Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar apologized to his teammates for his terrible performance.
[edit] Game 2
The Lakers responded with a 109-102 win, as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 30 points, 17 rebounds, 3 blocked shots, and 8 assists. Laker swingman Michael Cooper helped in the cause by finishing with 22 points on an 8 for 9 shooting performance. The series was evened at 1-1.
[edit] Game 3
The Celtics held a 48-38 lead in the second quarter before the Lakers, led by James Worthy, took a 65-59 lead at halftime. The Lakers pulled away in the second half and won the game 136-111. During the game, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became the league's all time leading playoff scorer. Meanwhile, Larry Bird's shooting slump from game 2 continued. He shot 17 of 42 from the field. He had been troubled by a bad back and a sore right elbow, although most people believed he was having trouble with Michael Cooper's defense.
[edit] Game 4
The Celtics tied the series in the fourth game, 107-105 as Dennis Johnson hit a jumper at the buzzer.
[edit] Game 5
In this game, the Lakers raced out to a 64-51 lead and stretched it to 89-72 before the Celtics cut the defecit to 101-97 with six minutes remaining. However, Magic Johnson made three shots while Kareem added four more shots and the Lakers came away with a 120-111 victory to take a 3-2 series lead.
[edit] Game 6
In the last game, the Lakers were led by Abdul-Jabbar who scored 29 points as the Lakers defeated the Celtics 111-100. Celtics' forward Kevin McHale scored 32 points in the losing effort. Thanks to Michael Cooper's defense and an injured right elbow, Larry Bird had a mediocre 12 for 29 shooting performance in the final game. It was the first and only time an opposing team had claimed a NBA championship in Boston Garden. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named MVP of the series. In the Lakers' four victories, Abdul-Jabbar averaged 30.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.0 blocks. In one memorable sequence, Abdul-Jabbar grabbed a rebound, drove the length of the court and swished a sky-hook. He even dove for a loose ball. "What you saw," Laker head coach Pat Riley told Sports Illustrated, "was passion."
After the game during an interview with Brent Musburger, Laker owner Jerry Buss quoted "This trophy removes the most odious sentence in the English Language. The Lakers have never beaten the Celtics", a reference to the Lakers eight failed attempts at beating Boston in the World Championship.
| Preceded by 1984 NBA Finals |
NBA Finals 1985 |
Succeeded by 1986 NBA Finals |
