1973 NBA Finals
Encyclopedia
For the third time in four seasons, the New York Knicks
of the Eastern Conference met the Los Angeles Lakers
of the Western Conference for the NBA World Championship in the 1973 NBA Finals. The series was an exact reversal of the prior year, with the Lakers winning Game 1 and the Knicks taking the next four games.
as co-favorites in the West with the Milwaukee Bucks
, but both teams faced inspired opponents in the first round. The Chicago Bulls
gave the Lakers all they could handle before the Lakers came from behind in Game 7 to take the series. The Lakers next faced the Golden State Warriors
for the Western Conference Championship (the Warriors had upset the Bucks in six games). In Game 1, the Lakers won by 2, and in Game 2 the Lakers won by 10. In Game 3 at Oakland, the Lakers routed the Warriors 126-70, but the Warriors won Game 4 to send the series back to Los Angeles. In the Forum, the Lakers took Game 5 and advanced to their fourth NBA Finals series in five seasons.
One year removed from their NBA Finals loss, the Knicks were back in the playoffs. For some of the Knicks, including Jerry Lucas
and Earl Monroe
, this was probably their last shot at an NBA title. In the first round they paired against the Baltimore Bullets
. The Knicks won the first two games in New York, but lost Game 3 at Baltimore (in that game, the Bullets used a strange lineup of two centers and three guards). New York would take Games 4 and 5 as Walt Frazier
averaged 20 points per game in this series. In the Conference Finals, the Knicks faced none other than the 68-14 Boston Celtics
, who had the league's best record. The Celtics won Game 1 at the Boston Garden
, but the Knicks stunned the Celtics in Game 2 with a big 129-96 victory. The Knicks eventually held a 3-1 series lead before Boston came back with two critical wins. However, that had to be done without their star John Havlicek
, who was nursing an elbow injury. The loss would come back to haunt the Celtics as they lost again at home to the Knicks. Even rarer was the fact that this was a Game 7 lost on their home court.
televised its last NBA Finals, until 2003.
Knicks win series 4-1
This was the first NBA Championship win for Knick players Jerry Lucas
and Earl Monroe
.
Game 5 of the 1973 Finals was Wilt Chamberlain's last game played in the NBA. Chamberlain scored the last points of the game, and of his career, on an uncontested fast break dunk shot with one second remaining.
This would be the last NBA Finals appearance for the Lakers until 1980
; the Knicks would not make it back to the NBA Finals until 1994
.
(played by Jason O'Mara
) as a treasured memory of his father on the U.S. version of the TV series Life on Mars.
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...
of the Eastern Conference met the 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...
of the Western Conference for the NBA World Championship in the 1973 NBA Finals. The series was an exact reversal of the prior year, with the Lakers winning Game 1 and the Knicks taking the next four games.
How They Got Here
The Los Angeles Lakers entered the 1973 NBA Playoffs1973 NBA Playoffs
The 1973 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1972-1973 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers, four games to one in the NBA Finals. The Knicks...
as co-favorites in the West with the 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....
, but both teams faced inspired opponents in the first round. The 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...
gave the Lakers all they could handle before the Lakers came from behind in Game 7 to take the series. The Lakers next faced the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
for the Western Conference Championship (the Warriors had upset the Bucks in six games). In Game 1, the Lakers won by 2, and in Game 2 the Lakers won by 10. In Game 3 at Oakland, the Lakers routed the Warriors 126-70, but the Warriors won Game 4 to send the series back to Los Angeles. In the Forum, the Lakers took Game 5 and advanced to their fourth NBA Finals series in five seasons.
One year removed from their NBA Finals loss, the Knicks were back in the playoffs. For some of the Knicks, including Jerry Lucas
Jerry Lucas
Jerry Ray Lucas was a basketball player from the 1950s to the 1970s, and is now a memory education expert. In 1996, the NBA's 50th anniversary, he was named one of the 50 greatest players in National Basketball Association history...
and Earl Monroe
Earl Monroe
Vernon Earl Monroe is an American former professional basketball player known for his flamboyant dribbling, passing, and play-making. His nicknames is "Earl the Pearl".-Early years:...
, this was probably their last shot at an NBA title. In the first round they paired against the Baltimore Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
. The Knicks won the first two games in New York, but lost Game 3 at Baltimore (in that game, the Bullets used a strange lineup of two centers and three guards). New York would take Games 4 and 5 as Walt Frazier
Walt Frazier
Walter "Clyde" Frazier is a retired American basketball player in the National Basketball Association . He was blessed with a unique combination of court vision, quickness, and size for a guard...
averaged 20 points per game in this series. In the Conference Finals, the Knicks faced none other than the 68-14 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...
, who had the league's best record. The Celtics won Game 1 at the Boston Garden
Boston Garden
The Boston Garden was an arena in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Designed by boxing promoter Tex Rickard, who also built the third iteration of New York's Madison Square Garden, it opened on November 17, 1928 as "Boston Madison Square Garden" and outlived its original namesake by some 30 years...
, but the Knicks stunned the Celtics in Game 2 with a big 129-96 victory. The Knicks eventually held a 3-1 series lead before Boston came back with two critical wins. However, that had to be done without their star John Havlicek
John Havlicek
John J. "Hondo" Havlicek is a retired American professional basketball player who competed for 16 seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning eight NBA titles, half of them coming in his first four seasons....
, who was nursing an elbow injury. The loss would come back to haunt the Celtics as they lost again at home to the Knicks. Even rarer was the fact that this was a Game 7 lost on their home court.
Series summary
After losing the first game, the Knicks reeled off four straight wins to reclaim the NBA title, exactly like the Lakers did in 1972. This is the Knicks' last NBA Championship to date. ABCAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
televised its last NBA Finals, until 2003.
| Game | Date | Home Team | Score | Road Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Tue. May 1 | Los Angeles Lakers | 115-112 (1-0) | New York Knicks |
| Game 2 | Thu. May 3 | Los Angeles Lakers | 95-99 (1-1) | New York Knicks |
| Game 3 | Sun. May 6 | New York Knicks | 87-83 (2-1) | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Game 4 | Tue. May 8 | New York Knicks | 103-98 (3-1) | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Game 5 | Thu. May 10 | Los Angeles Lakers | 93-102 (1-4) | New York Knicks |
Knicks win series 4-1
This was the first NBA Championship win for Knick players Jerry Lucas
Jerry Lucas
Jerry Ray Lucas was a basketball player from the 1950s to the 1970s, and is now a memory education expert. In 1996, the NBA's 50th anniversary, he was named one of the 50 greatest players in National Basketball Association history...
and Earl Monroe
Earl Monroe
Vernon Earl Monroe is an American former professional basketball player known for his flamboyant dribbling, passing, and play-making. His nicknames is "Earl the Pearl".-Early years:...
.
Game 5 of the 1973 Finals was Wilt Chamberlain's last game played in the NBA. Chamberlain scored the last points of the game, and of his career, on an uncontested fast break dunk shot with one second remaining.
This would be the last NBA Finals appearance for the Lakers until 1980
1980 NBA Finals
The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1979–80 NBA season.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the league's MVP. But midway through Game 5, the Laker center suffered a severely sprained ankle. He managed to come back in the game in the 4th quarter to lead the Lakers to victory...
; the Knicks would not make it back to the NBA Finals until 1994
1994 NBA Finals
The 1994 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1993–94 National Basketball Association season, featuring the Western Conference's Houston Rockets defeating the Eastern Conference's New York Knicks....
.
In popular culture
These Finals were cited by Sam TylerSam Tyler
DCI/DI Sam Tyler is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Life on Mars.In the original British version of Life on Mars, Tyler is played by John Simm and in the American version he is played by Jason O'Mara....
(played by Jason O'Mara
Jason O'Mara
Jason O'Mara is an Irish actor who starred in the American television network dramas In Justice and Life on Mars. He now appears in the Fox series Terra Nova.- Career :He performed with The Royal Shakespeare Company...
) as a treasured memory of his father on the U.S. version of the TV series Life on Mars.