1970 NBA Playoffs
Encyclopedia
The 1970 NBA Playoffs
was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association
's 1969-1970 season
. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion New York Knicks
defeating the Western Division champion Los Angeles Lakers
, four games to three in the NBA Finals
. New York's Willis Reed
was named NBA Finals MVP.
It was the first NBA championship for the Knicks in franchise history, and marked their first appearance in the NBA Finals since losing their third consecutive NBA Finals in 1953
, ironically, to the Lakers while they still played in Minneapolis, Minnesota
.
For the Lakers, it was the third straight Western Division championship, and the second consecutive year they lost in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Lakers dropped their eighth straight NBA Finals series (the previous seven, to the Boston Celtics
) and were denied their first NBA championship since 1954
.
The 1970 playoffs featured the postseason debut of the second-year Milwaukee Bucks
, and they managed a first-round defeat of the Philadelphia 76ers
.
The Lakers became only the second NBA team to win a series after trailing 3 games to 1 when they beat Phoenix in 7 games in the first round.
The Boston Celtics failed to make the playoffs in 1970, despite being the defending champions.
Division Semifinals
(1) Atlanta Hawks
vs. (4) Chicago Bulls
:
Hawks win series 4-1
(2) Los Angeles Lakers
vs. (3) Phoenix Suns
:
Lakers win series 4-3
Division Finals
(1) Atlanta Hawks
vs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers
:
Lakers win series 4-0
Division Semifinals
(1) New York Knicks
vs. (3) Baltimore Bullets
:
Knicks win series 4-3
(2) Milwaukee Bucks
vs. (4) Philadelphia 76ers
:
Bucks win series 4-1
Division Finals
(1) New York Knicks
vs. (2) Milwaukee Bucks
:
Knicks win series 4-1
VS. (2) Los Angeles Lakers
:
Knicks win series 4-3
In Game 7, Willis Reed
surprises the fans by walking onto the court during warmups, prompting widespread applause. His performance inspired the Knicks to win the championship.
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
's 1969-1970 season
1969-70 NBA season
The 1969–70 NBA Season was the 24th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the New York Knicks winning the NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
defeating the Western Division champion Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, four games to three in the NBA Finals
1970 NBA Finals
The 1970 NBA Finals was a best-of-7 series for the world championship of the National Basketball Association. It featured the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks and the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers...
. New York's Willis Reed
Willis Reed
Willis Reed, Jr. is a retired American basketball player, coach and manager of basketball teams. He spent his entire professional playing career with the New York Knicks. In 1982, his outstanding record and achievements were recognized by his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall...
was named NBA Finals MVP.
It was the first NBA championship for the Knicks in franchise history, and marked their first appearance in the NBA Finals since losing their third consecutive NBA Finals in 1953
1953 NBA Playoffs
The 1953 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1952-1953 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Minneapolis Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks, four games to one in the NBA Finals.The Lakers...
, ironically, to the Lakers while they still played in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
.
For the Lakers, it was the third straight Western Division championship, and the second consecutive year they lost in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Lakers dropped their eighth straight NBA Finals series (the previous seven, to the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
) and were denied their first NBA championship since 1954
1954 NBA Playoffs
The 1954 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1953-1954 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Minneapolis Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Syracuse Nationals, four games to three in the NBA Finals.For the...
.
The 1970 playoffs featured the postseason debut of the second-year Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
, and they managed a first-round defeat of the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
.
The Lakers became only the second NBA team to win a series after trailing 3 games to 1 when they beat Phoenix in 7 games in the first round.
The Boston Celtics failed to make the playoffs in 1970, despite being the defending champions.
Western Division
Champion: Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
Division Semifinals
(1) Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
vs. (4) Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
:
Hawks win series 4-1
- Game 1 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 129, Chicago 111
- Game 2 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 124, Chicago 104
- Game 3 @ Chicago: Atlanta 106, Chicago 101
- Game 4 @ Chicago: Chicago 131, Atlanta 120
- Game 5 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 113, Chicago 107
(2) Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
vs. (3) Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
:
Lakers win series 4-3
- Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 128, Phoenix 112
- Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Phoenix 114, Los Angeles 101
- Game 3 @ Phoenix: Phoenix 112, Los Angeles 98
- Game 4 @ Phoenix: Phoenix 112, Los Angeles 102
- Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 138, Phoenix 121
- Game 6 @ Phoenix: Los Angeles 104, Phoenix 93
- Game 7 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 129, Phoenix 94 (Lakers become first team to come back from both a 2-0 and a 3-1 deficit.)
Division Finals
(1) Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
vs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
:
Lakers win series 4-0
- Game 1 @ Atlanta: Los Angeles 119, Atlanta 115
- Game 2 @ Atlanta: Los Angeles 105, Atlanta 94
- Game 3 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 115, Atlanta 114
- Game 4 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 133, Atlanta 114
Eastern Division
Champion: New York KnicksNew York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
Division Semifinals
(1) New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
vs. (3) Baltimore Bullets
Baltimore Bullets
Baltimore Bullets has been the name of three different basketball franchises:* Baltimore Bullets , an American Basketball League franchise and National Basketball Association franchise that folded in 1954....
:
Knicks win series 4-3
- Game 1 @ New York: New York 120, Baltimore 117
- Game 2 @ Baltimore: New York 106, Baltimore 99
- Game 3 @ New York: Baltimore 127, New York 113
- Game 4 @ Baltimore: Baltimore 102, New York 92
- Game 5 @ New York: New York 101, Baltimore 80
- Game 6 @ Baltimore: Baltimore 96, New York 87
- Game 7 @ New York: New York 127, Baltimore 114
(2) Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
vs. (4) Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
:
Bucks win series 4-1
- Game 1 @ Milwaukee: Milwaukee 125, Philadelphia 118
- Game 2 @ Milwaukee: Philadelphia 112, Milwaukee 105
- Game 3 @ Philadelphia: Milwaukee 156, Philadelphia 120
- Game 4 @ Philadelphia: Milwaukee 118, Philadelphia 111
- Game 5 @ Milwaukee: Milwaukee 115, Philadelphia 106
Division Finals
(1) New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
vs. (2) Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
:
Knicks win series 4-1
- Game 1 @ New York: New York 110, Milwaukee 102
- Game 2 @ New York: New York 112, Milwaukee 111
- Game 3 @ Milwaukee: Milwaukee 101, New York 96
- Game 4 @ Milwaukee: New York 117, Milwaukee 105
- Game 5 @ New York: New York 132, Milwaukee 96
NBA finals
(1) New York KnicksNew York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
VS. (2) Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
:
Knicks win series 4-3
- Game 1 @ New York: New York 124, Los Angeles 112
- Game 2 @ New York: Los Angeles 105, New York 103
- Game 3 @ Los Angeles : New York 111, Los Angeles 108 (OT;Jerry WestJerry WestJerry Alan West is a retired American basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . His nicknames include "Mr...
sank a desperation buzzer-beating 60-foot shot to tie the game and send it to OT.) - Game 4 @ Los Angeles : Los Angeles 121, New York 115
- Game 5 @ New York: New York 107, Los Angeles 100
- Game 6 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 135, New York 113
- Game 7 @ New York: New York 113, Los Angeles 99
In Game 7, Willis Reed
Willis Reed
Willis Reed, Jr. is a retired American basketball player, coach and manager of basketball teams. He spent his entire professional playing career with the New York Knicks. In 1982, his outstanding record and achievements were recognized by his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall...
surprises the fans by walking onto the court during warmups, prompting widespread applause. His performance inspired the Knicks to win the championship.