The 1976 NBA Playoffs

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 1975-1976 season

1975-76 NBA season

The 1975–76 NBA season was the 30th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship, beating the Phoenix Suns 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...

. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference

Eastern Conference (NBA)

The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...

 champion 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...

 defeating the Western Conference

Western Conference (NBA)

Below is a list of current Western Conference NBA team rosters.-Western Conference:There are a total of 15 teams in the Western Conference. The current leading team of the Western conference are the Dallas Mavericks....

 champion 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...

, four games to two in the NBA Finals

1976 NBA Finals

The 1976 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round for the 1975-76 NBA season.-Background:The Phoenix Suns finished the season with 42 wins and 40 losses, but beat the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors in the playoffs and went on to play the Boston Celtics in the NBA...

; the series was highlighted by Game Five, a triple-overtime victory by the Celtics. The Celtics earned their 13th NBA championship, second in the "Dave Cowens

Dave Cowens

David William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...

 era". Jo Jo White

Jo Jo White

Joseph Henry "Jo Jo" White is an American former professional basketball player.-Life and career:White was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of a minister...

 of the Celtics was named NBA Finals MVP.

The Suns earned their first two playoff series victories in franchise history to advance to the NBA Finals; they would win their second (and as of 2011, most recent) Western Conference championship in 1993

1993 NBA Playoffs

The 1993 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1992-1993 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their third consecutive championship by defeating the Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns four...

.

The sixth-year Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...

 made their first playoff appearance (and won their first playoff series) in this year's postseason.

The 1976 playoffs marked the last appearance of the Buffalo Braves

Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...

 in the playoffs until 1992

1992 NBA Playoffs

NBA Champions: Chicago BullsThe 1992 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament following the National Basketball Association's 1991-1992 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their second consecutive NBA championship by defeating the Western...

, when they would return as the Los Angeles Clippers.

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...

 made the playoffs for the first time since 1971

1971 NBA Playoffs

The 1971 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1970-1971 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks defeating the Eastern Conference champion Baltimore Bullets, four games to none in the NBA Finals.Led by...

, starting a twelve-year playoff run that included four NBA Finals

NBA Finals

The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....

 (1977

1977 NBA Finals

The 1977 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1976-77 NBA season. The Portland Trail Blazers of the Western Conference played against the Philadelphia 76ers of the Eastern Conference, with the 76ers holding home-court advantage. Their 4 regular season meetings had been...

, 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...

, 1982

1982 NBA Finals

The 1982 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1981-82 NBA season, the top level of competition in men's professional basketball in North America. The series saw the Los Angeles Lakers face the Philadelphia 76ers....

, 1983

1983 NBA Finals

The 1983 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1982–83 NBA season.-Overview:The final piece of the Philadelphia 76ers' championship puzzle was completed before the 1982-83 season when they acquired center Moses Malone from the Houston Rockets...

).

Bracket

Western Conference

Champion: 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...

1st Round

(1) Golden State Warriors, (2) Seattle SuperSonics & (3) Phoenix Suns have first round byes.

(4) 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. (5) Detroit Pistons

Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...

:
Pistons win series 2-1

• Game 1 @ Milwaukee: Milwaukee 110, Detroit 107
• Game 2 @ Detroit: Detroit 126, Milwaukee 123
• Game 3 @ Milwaukee: Detroit 107, Milwaukee 104

Conference Semifinals

(1) 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...

vs. (5) Detroit Pistons

Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...

:
Warriors win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Golden State: Golden State 127, Detroit 103
• Game 2 @ Golden State: Detroit 123, Golden State 111
• Game 3 @ Seattle: Golden State 113, Detroit 96
• Game 4 @ Seattle: Detroit 106, Golden State 102
• Game 5 @ Golden State: Golden State 128, Detroit 109
• Game 6 @ Seattle: Golden State 118, Detroit 116

(2) Seattle SuperSonics

Seattle SuperSonics

The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...

 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...

:
Suns win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Seattle: Seattle 102, Phoenix 99
• Game 2 @ Seattle: Phoenix 116, Seattle 111
• Game 3 @ Phoenix: Phoenix 103, Seattle 91
• Game 4 @ Phoenix: Phoenix 130, Seattle 104
• Game 5 @ Seattle: Seattle 114, Phoenix 108
• Game 6 @ Phoenix: Phoenix 123, Seattle 112

Conference Finals

(1) 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...

 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...

:
Suns win series 4-3

• Game 1 @ Golden State: Golden State 128, Phoenix 103
• Game 2 @ Golden State: Phoenix 108, Golden State 101
• Game 3 @ Phoenix: Golden State 99, Phoenix 91
• Game 4 @ Phoenix: Phoenix 133, Golden State 129
• Game 5 @ Golden State: Golden State 111, Phoenix 95
• Game 6 @ Phoenix: Phoenix 105, Golden State 104
• Game 7 @ Golden State: Phoenix 94, Golden State 86

Eastern Conference

Champion: 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...

1st Round

(1) Boston Celtics, (2) Cleveland Cavaliers & (3) Washington Bullets have first round byes.

(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...

 vs. (5) Buffalo Braves

Buffalo Braves

The Buffalo Braves were a team in the National Basketball Association. They later moved to San Diego, California to become the San Diego Clippers then subsequently the Los Angeles Clippers....

:
Braves win series 2-1

• Game 1 @ Philadelphia: Buffalo 95, Philadelphia 89
• Game 2 @ Buffalo: Philadelphia 131, Buffalo 106
• Game 3 @ Philadelphia: Buffalo 124, Philadelphia 123

Conference Semifinals

(1) 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...

vs. (5) Buffalo Braves

Buffalo Braves

The Buffalo Braves were a team in the National Basketball Association. They later moved to San Diego, California to become the San Diego Clippers then subsequently the Los Angeles Clippers....

:
Celtics win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 107, Buffalo 98
• Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 101, Buffalo 96
• Game 3 @ Buffalo: Buffalo 98, Boston 93
• Game 4 @ Buffalo: Buffalo 124, Boston 122
• Game 5 @ Boston: Boston 99, Buffalo 88
• Game 6 @ Buffalo: Boston 104, Buffalo 100

(2) Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...

vs. (3) Washington Bullets:
Cavaliers win series 4-3

• Game 1 @ Cleveland: Washington 100, Cleveland 95
• Game 2 @ Washington: Cleveland 80, Washington 79
• Game 3 @ Cleveland: Cleveland 88, Washington 76
• Game 4 @ Washington: Washington 109, Cleveland 98
• Game 5 @ Cleveland: Cleveland 92, Washington 91
• Game 6 @ Washington: Washington 102, Cleveland 98
• Game 7 @ Cleveland: Cleveland 87, Washington 85

Conference Finals
(1) 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...

vs. (2) Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...

:
Celtics win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 111, Cleveland 99
• Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 94, Cleveland 89
• Game 3 @ Cleveland: Cleveland 83, Boston 78
• Game 4 @ Cleveland: Cleveland 106, Boston 87
• Game 5 @ Boston: Boston 99, Cleveland 94
• Game 6 @ Cleveland: Boston 94, Cleveland 87

NBA finals

(1) 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...

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...

:
Celtics win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 98, Phoenix 87
• Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 105, Phoenix 90
• Game 3 @ Phoenix: Phoenix 105, Boston 98
• Game 4 @ Phoenix: Phoenix 109, Boston 107
• Game 5 @ Boston: Boston 128, Phoenix 126 (3OT)
• Game 6 @ Phoenix: Boston 87, Phoenix 80

External links

• Basketball-Reference.com's 1976 NBA Playoffs page