This article will be permanently flagged as inappropriate and made unaccessible to everyone. Are you certain this article is inappropriate? Excessive Violence Sexual Content Political / Social
Email Address:
Article Id: WHEBN0008444771 Reproduction Date:
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.
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.
Champion: Los Angeles Lakers
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) Denver Nuggets: Lakers win series 3–0
Last Playoff Meeting: 1985 Western Conference Finals (Los Angeles won 4–1)
(2) Dallas Mavericks vs. (7) Seattle SuperSonics: SuperSonics win series 3–1
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
Last Playoff Meeting: This was the first meeting between the Rockets and Trail Blazers.
(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) Golden State Warriors: Warriors win series 3–2
Last Playoff Meeting: This was the first meeting between the Jazz and Warriors.
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Golden State Warriors: Lakers win series 4–1
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)
(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)
Champion: Boston Celtics
(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
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
Last Playoff Meeting: 1986 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Milwaukee won 4-3)
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Milwaukee Bucks: Celtics win series 4-3
Last Playoff Meeting: 1986 Eastern Conference Finals (Boston won 4-0)
(2) Atlanta Hawks vs. (3) Detroit Pistons: Pistons win series 4-1
Last Playoff Meeting: 1986 Eastern Conference First Round (Atlanta won 3-1)
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Detroit Pistons: Celtics win series 4-3
Last Playoff Meeting: 1985 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Boston won 4-2)
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (1) Boston Celtics Lakers win series 4-2
Last Playoff Meeting: 1985 NBA Finals (Los Angeles won 4-2)
Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston, Massachusetts, TD Garden
National Basketball Association, Miami Heat, Massachusetts, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets
National Register of Historic Places, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Sparks, North American Soccer League (1968–84)
Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, National Basketball Association, Los Angeles Lakers, Chauncey Billups
Seattle, Seattle Storm, Oklahoma City Thunder, Women's National Basketball Association, National Basketball Association
Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Kobe Bryant, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns
Michael Jordan, Madison Square Garden, The Palace (venue), The Forum (Inglewood), Chicago Stadium
LeBron James, Texas, San Antonio Spurs, Miami, Miami Heat
Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA on TNT
Eastern Conference (NBA), Atlantic Division (NBA), Boston Celtics, NBA Most Valuable Player Award, NBA Finals