1986 NBA Finals
Encyclopedia
The 1986 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1985-86 NBA season
. It pitted the Eastern Conference
champion Boston Celtics
against the Western Conference
champion Houston Rockets
. The Celtics defeated the Rockets four games to two to win their 16th NBA
championship. The championship would be the Celtics' last until the 2008 NBA Finals
. Larry Bird
was named the Finals MVP.
On another note, this series marked the first time the "NBA Finals" branding was used, as they dropped the "NBA World Championship" branding which had been in use since the beginning of the league.
Until the 2011
series, this was the last time the NBA Finals had started before June. Since game three, all NBA Finals games have been played in June. Starting with the following year
, the NBA Finals would be held exclusively in the month of June. It was also the last NBA Finals series to schedule a game on a Monday, and also the last NBA Final to be played on Memorial Day
.
CBS Sports used Dick Stockton
and Tom Heinsohn as the play-by-play man and color commentator respectively. Meanwhile, Brent Musburger
was the host and Pat O'Brien
(the Rockets
' sideline) and Lesley Visser
(the Celtics
' sideline) were the sideline reporter
s.
team, which finished the regular season 67-15, is generally considered to be the best of Larry Bird
's career. Under head coach K.C. Jones, the 1986 Celtics were certainly the deepest team of Bird's career. In addition to longtime teammates Kevin McHale
and Robert Parish
, Bird was joined on the front line by former NBA MVP Bill Walton
. Despite a career plagued by a series of serious injuries to his knees, ankles and chiefly his feet, Walton would win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
in 1986 appearing in a career high 80 games. The backcourt was almost equally talented, led by defensive stopper Dennis Johnson
and shooting guard Danny Ainge
. Off the bench, the Celtics featured former All-Star Scott Wedman
and recent acquisition (from the Indiana Pacers
) Jerry Sichting
.
The Celtics steamrolled through the Eastern Conference Playoffs
, sweeping the Chicago Bulls
3-0 in the first round. The highlight of the first round was undoubtedly the Celtics double-overtime classic game 2. Matched up against a far superior Celtics team, Michael Jordan
exploded for 63 points at the Boston Garden
and nearly lead his team to a stunning upset. The Celtics prevailed 135-131, and finished the series off two days later in Chicago. Then Boston defeated the young Atlanta Hawks
four games to one in the semifinals, highlighted by a game 5 blowout (132-99), that featured the Celtics hammering the Hawks in the third quarter by a score of 36-6.
The Eastern Conference Finals matched the Celtics up against the Milwaukee Bucks
and head coach Don Nelson
, a former Celtic player who enraged the Celtics in the 1983 NBA Playoffs
by accusing Celtic guard Danny Ainge
of "dirty" play. The Celtics got their revenge, sweeping the Bucks easily. The Bucks and the Celtics met in the Playoffs four times during the Larry Bird era (1983, 1984, 1986 and 1987), and Boston won three of four (Milwaukee swept Boston in the 1983 Playoffs).
, led by Hakeem Olajuwon
, Ralph Sampson
, and head coach Bill Fitch, won the Western Conference Championship in five games over the Los Angeles Lakers
. Houston was entering the NBA Finals for only the second time in their history. Their last appearance was in 1981
against their 1986 opponents, the Boston Celtics
. The season took an unexpected turn when the Houston Rockets eliminated the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, four games to one. Los Angeles had reshuffled its team in the off-season by releasing Bob McAdoo and Jamaal Wilkes
picking up veteran power forward Maurice Lucas
in a trade, and rookie A. C. Green
through the draft. The Lakers got off to a good start on their way to a 62-20 record, but complacency had begun to set in by playoff time as the Lakers blew out pretty much everyone they played.
The Rockets, on the other hand, played with confidence and enthusiasm. With Bill Fitch as coach, they sported the original "Twin Towers," 7-foot-4 Ralph Sampson
at power forward and 7'0 Hakeem Olajuwon at center. Jim Petersen
backed up the Twin Towers, while Robert Reid
and Rodney McCray shared time at small forward. The guards included Mitchell Wiggins
, Lewis Lloyd, Allen Leavell, and John Lucas before being suspended by the league for violating the leagues drug policy.
The Rockets claimed the Midwest Division
title with a 51-31 record. They ousted the Sacramento Kings
and the Denver Nuggets
easily in the playoffs before losing the first game against the Lakers in the Forum, then coming back to sweep four straight.
Their fourth victory against Los Angeles came on a buzzer-beating, turnaround jumper by Sampson in the Forum. Houston had set up the final play with a mere second on the clock. Sampson caught the inbounds pass, whirled and released. The ball hit the rim, bounced high and fell through the basket, ending the Lakers season and sending the Rockets back to the NBA Finals.
Allen Leavell and Robert Reid were the only Rockets with Finals experience, having played in the 1981 Finals with the team.
led Celtics would defeat the Rockets again 4 games to 2 in the 1986 NBA Finals. The Celtics dominated the first two games at the Boston Garden
, where they had gone 40-1 during the regular season
. The Rockets had been almost as good at home during the season, and they defeated the Celtics 106-104 in game three. Game 4 would be a tense battle at the Summit
and the Celtics prevailed 106-103, with Bill Walton
coming off the bench to spell a tired Robert Parish
to score a crucial basket. The infamous fifth game featured the signature moment of the series, when 7'4" Ralph Sampson
ignited a brawl with Jerry Sichting
, a player 15 inches (381 mm) shorter than he, ultimately leading to Sampson's ejection. While Jim Petersen
would lead the Rockets to a decisive victory, Sampson's actions would motivate the Celtics to end the series in six. Bird would dismantle the Rockets in game 6, as the Garden crowd booed every time Sampson touched the ball. The Celtics blew out the Rockets 114-97 in a game that wasn't as close as the score would indicate.
Bird was named the Finals' MVP for that year, averaging 24 points, 9.7 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 2.7 steals per game for the series. It was the Celtics' 16th championship in 40 years and it was their last championship before winning their 17th NBA championship in 2008
.
tipped in off an Olajuwon miss late in the fourth to put the Rockets ahead for good. The Celtics only managed one more shot in their final two possessions, a missed 5-footer by Robert Parish. Kevin McHale and Larry Bird both scored 28 points in the loss, but Bird was held to 3-for-12 shooting in the second half due to Reid's defense.
added 21, 19 and 17 respectively. The Rockets suffered their first home loss of the 1986 playoffs.
, 16 inches shorter than Sampson, leading to his ejection while the benches were cleared. The Rockets were leading 34-33 at the time of the brawl, and would lead by as many as 25 points in the second half to score a lopsided victory. Hakeem Olajuwon scored 32 points while blocking 8 shots. Though Kevin McHale scored 33, Larry Bird was held to only 17 points.
Following the conclusion of the 1986 NBA Finals, a video documentary of the 1986 NBA season, known as "Sweet Sixteen", was released. David Perry was the narrator after Dick Stockton
narrated the last three NBA season documentaries.
This would be the city of Boston's last professional championship until 2002 when the New England Patriots
won Super Bowl XXXVI
. Had the Boston Red Sox
won the 1986 World Series
(which they lost 4-3 to the New York Mets
), it would've given Boston two championships in the same calendar year.
The closing song following Game 6 was "Whatever We Imagine" by James Ingram
.
. Until 2008 this was the Celtics' last NBA championship. In the 1987 season the Celtics extended their home winning streak to 48 games and went on to win 59 games, 39 of which came at either Boston Garden
or Hartford Civic Center. The Celtics went the distance in the 1987 NBA Playoffs
; save for a three-game sweep of the Chicago Bulls
in the first round, they were pushed to a Game 7 against the Milwaukee Bucks
and Detroit Pistons
before eventually returning to the NBA Finals. The Celtics faltered down the stretch due to injuries, fatigue and age.
As for the Rockets, their stay at the top of the Western Conference would only be temporary, as Ralph Sampson
fell down with a knee injury that eventually curtailed his career. The Rockets would only win 42 games, and were bounced out of the playoffs' second round by the Seattle SuperSonics
. The 'Twin Towers' were disbanded after Sampson was traded to the Golden State Warriors
early in the 1987-88 NBA season
. The Rockets would not return to the finals until their championship season of .
1985-86 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Rookie of the Year: Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks*Defensive Player of the Year: Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs...
. It pitted 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...
against 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 Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
. The Celtics defeated the Rockets four games to two to win their 16th NBA
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...
championship. The championship would be the Celtics' last until the 2008 NBA Finals
2008 NBA Finals
The 2008 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2007–08 NBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Boston Celtics, top-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference, four games to two in a...
. Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
was named the Finals MVP.
On another note, this series marked the first time the "NBA Finals" branding was used, as they dropped the "NBA World Championship" branding which had been in use since the beginning of the league.
Until the 2011
2011 NBA Finals
The 2011 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2010–11 season of the National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks defeated the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, 4–2, to win their first NBA title...
series, this was the last time the NBA Finals had started before June. Since game three, all NBA Finals games have been played in June. Starting with the following year
1987 NBA Finals
The 1987 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1986-87 NBA season. The match took place between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. The Lakers won 4–2, beating the Celtics in the Finals. The key moment of the series was Magic Johnson's junior sky hook in Game 4...
, the NBA Finals would be held exclusively in the month of June. It was also the last NBA Finals series to schedule a game on a Monday, and also the last NBA Final to be played on Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
.
CBS Sports used Dick Stockton
Dick Stockton
Dick Stockton is an American sportscaster. He is currently employed by Fox Sports and Turner Sports as a football, baseball, and basketball play-by-play announcer.-Early life and career:...
and Tom Heinsohn as the play-by-play man and color commentator respectively. Meanwhile, Brent Musburger
Brent Musburger
Brent Woody Musburger is an American sportscaster for the ESPN and ABC television networks. Formerly with CBS Sports and one of the original members of their legendary program The NFL Today, Musburger has covered NASCAR, NBA, MLB, NCAA football and basketball games. Musburger has also served as a...
was the host and Pat O'Brien
Pat O'Brien (television)
Pat O'Brien is currently a radio host with Fox Sports Radio as well as an author. He is best known for his time as a sportscaster with CBS Sports and as anchor/host of Access Hollywood and The Insider .O'Brien covered five Olympic Games, two for CBS...
(the Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
' sideline) and Lesley Visser
Lesley Visser
Lesley Candace Visser is an American sportscaster, radio personality, and sportswriter. Visser is the first female NFL analyst on TV, and the only sportscaster in history, male or female, who has worked on Final Four, NBA Finals, World Series, Triple Crown, Monday Night Football, the Olympics, the...
(the 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...
' sideline) were the sideline reporter
Sideline reporter
A sideline reporter, also known as a field reporter, courtside reporter , clubhouse reporter or dugout reporter , rinkside reporter or inside-the-glass reporter , on-court reporter , hole reporter , or boundary rider , is a member of the...
s.
Boston Celtics
The 1986 Boston CelticsBoston 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...
team, which finished the regular season 67-15, is generally considered to be the best of Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
's career. Under head coach K.C. Jones, the 1986 Celtics were certainly the deepest team of Bird's career. In addition to longtime teammates Kevin McHale
Kevin McHale
Kevin Edward McHale is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the Houston Rockets. After his playing career, he worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves as the team's general manager and later its coach. He was fired as coach in June 2009...
and Robert Parish
Robert Parish
Robert Lee Parish is a retired American basketball center. He was known for his strong defense and jump shooting, and was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003...
, Bird was joined on the front line by former NBA MVP Bill Walton
Bill Walton
William Theodore "Bill" Walton III is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while...
. Despite a career plagued by a series of serious injuries to his knees, ankles and chiefly his feet, Walton would win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Sixth Man of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1982–83 NBA season to the league's most valuable player for his team coming off the bench as a substitute . A panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from throughout...
in 1986 appearing in a career high 80 games. The backcourt was almost equally talented, led by defensive stopper Dennis Johnson
Dennis Johnson
Dennis Wayne Johnson nicknamed "DJ", was an American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics and coach of the Los Angeles Clippers...
and shooting guard Danny Ainge
Danny Ainge
Daniel Ray "Danny" Ainge is an American basketball manager and retired professional basketball and baseball player, currently serving as President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics....
. Off the bench, the Celtics featured former All-Star Scott Wedman
Scott Wedman
Scott Dean Wedman is a former NBA basketball player. He was drafted by Kansas City-Omaha Kings in the first round in the 1974 NBA Draft.-Kansas City Kings:...
and recent acquisition (from the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
) Jerry Sichting
Jerry Sichting
Jerry Lee Sichting is a retired American basketball player in the NBA.-1972-1975:Jerry Sichting, the 6'1", 175 lb guard, attended Martinsville High School, located in Martinsville, Indiana...
.
The Celtics steamrolled through the Eastern Conference Playoffs
1986 NBA Playoffs
The 1986 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1985-86 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets, four games to two, in the NBA Finals. The Celtics won...
, sweeping 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...
3-0 in the first round. The highlight of the first round was undoubtedly the Celtics double-overtime classic game 2. Matched up against a far superior Celtics team, Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
exploded for 63 points 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...
and nearly lead his team to a stunning upset. The Celtics prevailed 135-131, and finished the series off two days later in Chicago. Then Boston defeated the young 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:...
four games to one in the semifinals, highlighted by a game 5 blowout (132-99), that featured the Celtics hammering the Hawks in the third quarter by a score of 36-6.
The Eastern Conference Finals matched the Celtics up against 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....
and head coach Don Nelson
Don Nelson
Donald Arvid "Don" Nelson is a former NBA player and head coach. He coached the Milwaukee Bucks, the New York Knicks, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Golden State Warriors....
, a former Celtic player who enraged the Celtics in the 1983 NBA Playoffs
1983 NBA Playoffs
The 1983 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1982-1983 season. This was the final postseason using the 12-team format, before the NBA expanded the postseason to 16 teams the next season...
by accusing Celtic guard Danny Ainge
Danny Ainge
Daniel Ray "Danny" Ainge is an American basketball manager and retired professional basketball and baseball player, currently serving as President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics....
of "dirty" play. The Celtics got their revenge, sweeping the Bucks easily. The Bucks and the Celtics met in the Playoffs four times during the Larry Bird era (1983, 1984, 1986 and 1987), and Boston won three of four (Milwaukee swept Boston in the 1983 Playoffs).
Houston Rockets
The Houston RocketsHouston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
, led by Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2008,...
, Ralph Sampson
Ralph Sampson
Ralph Lee Sampson, Jr. is a retired American college and professional basketball player.A 7-foot-4 phenom, three-time College Player of the Year, and No...
, and head coach Bill Fitch, won the Western Conference Championship in five games over 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...
. Houston was entering the NBA Finals for only the second time in their history. Their last appearance was in 1981
1981 NBA Finals
The 1981 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1980-81 NBA season, pitting the Boston Celtics against the Houston Rockets.-Houston Rockets:...
against their 1986 opponents, 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...
. The season took an unexpected turn when the Houston Rockets eliminated the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, four games to one. Los Angeles had reshuffled its team in the off-season by releasing Bob McAdoo and Jamaal Wilkes
Jamaal Wilkes
Jamaal Wilkes is a retired American basketball player who played the small forward position and won four NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. Wilkes was also a key player in the run of NCAA championships accumulated during the John Wooden era of UCLA basketball...
picking up veteran power forward Maurice Lucas
Maurice Lucas
Maurice Lucas was an American professional basketball player. The first two years of his postcollegiate career were spent in the American Basketball Association with the Spirits of St. Louis and Kentucky Colonels...
in a trade, and rookie A. C. Green
A. C. Green
A.C. Green, Jr., is a retired American NBA basketball player who played in more consecutive games than any other player in NBA and ABA history. With 1,192 straight games played, he earned the nickname "Iron Man". He played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat...
through the draft. The Lakers got off to a good start on their way to a 62-20 record, but complacency had begun to set in by playoff time as the Lakers blew out pretty much everyone they played.
The Rockets, on the other hand, played with confidence and enthusiasm. With Bill Fitch as coach, they sported the original "Twin Towers," 7-foot-4 Ralph Sampson
Ralph Sampson
Ralph Lee Sampson, Jr. is a retired American college and professional basketball player.A 7-foot-4 phenom, three-time College Player of the Year, and No...
at power forward and 7'0 Hakeem Olajuwon at center. Jim Petersen
Jim Petersen
James "Jim" Richard Petersen is a retired American basketball player, and a current assistant coach with the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA. He played as either a power forward or a center.-High school / College:...
backed up the Twin Towers, while Robert Reid
Robert Reid (basketball)
Robert Keith Reid is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'8" forward from St. Mary's University, Texas, Reid played thirteen seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Houston Rockets, Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Philadelphia 76ers...
and Rodney McCray shared time at small forward. The guards included Mitchell Wiggins
Mitchell Wiggins
Mitchell Lee Wiggins is a retired American professional basketball player, in the shooting guard position.-High school/college career:...
, Lewis Lloyd, Allen Leavell, and John Lucas before being suspended by the league for violating the leagues drug policy.
The Rockets claimed the Midwest Division
Midwest Division (NBA)
The Midwest Division was a division in the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association . The division was created at the start of the 1970–71 season, when the league expanded from 14 to 17 teams with the addition of the Buffalo Braves, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Portland Trail...
title with a 51-31 record. They ousted the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
and the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
easily in the playoffs before losing the first game against the Lakers in the Forum, then coming back to sweep four straight.
Their fourth victory against Los Angeles came on a buzzer-beating, turnaround jumper by Sampson in the Forum. Houston had set up the final play with a mere second on the clock. Sampson caught the inbounds pass, whirled and released. The ball hit the rim, bounced high and fell through the basket, ending the Lakers season and sending the Rockets back to the NBA Finals.
Allen Leavell and Robert Reid were the only Rockets with Finals experience, having played in the 1981 Finals with the team.
The Finals
The Larry BirdLarry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
led Celtics would defeat the Rockets again 4 games to 2 in the 1986 NBA Finals. The Celtics dominated the first two games 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...
, where they had gone 40-1 during the regular season
1985-86 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Rookie of the Year: Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks*Defensive Player of the Year: Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs...
. The Rockets had been almost as good at home during the season, and they defeated the Celtics 106-104 in game three. Game 4 would be a tense battle at the Summit
Compaq Center (Houston)
The Lakewood Church Central Campus is a house of worship in Houston, Texas, United States...
and the Celtics prevailed 106-103, with Bill Walton
Bill Walton
William Theodore "Bill" Walton III is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while...
coming off the bench to spell a tired Robert Parish
Robert Parish
Robert Lee Parish is a retired American basketball center. He was known for his strong defense and jump shooting, and was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003...
to score a crucial basket. The infamous fifth game featured the signature moment of the series, when 7'4" Ralph Sampson
Ralph Sampson
Ralph Lee Sampson, Jr. is a retired American college and professional basketball player.A 7-foot-4 phenom, three-time College Player of the Year, and No...
ignited a brawl with Jerry Sichting
Jerry Sichting
Jerry Lee Sichting is a retired American basketball player in the NBA.-1972-1975:Jerry Sichting, the 6'1", 175 lb guard, attended Martinsville High School, located in Martinsville, Indiana...
, a player 15 inches (381 mm) shorter than he, ultimately leading to Sampson's ejection. While Jim Petersen
Jim Petersen
James "Jim" Richard Petersen is a retired American basketball player, and a current assistant coach with the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA. He played as either a power forward or a center.-High school / College:...
would lead the Rockets to a decisive victory, Sampson's actions would motivate the Celtics to end the series in six. Bird would dismantle the Rockets in game 6, as the Garden crowd booed every time Sampson touched the ball. The Celtics blew out the Rockets 114-97 in a game that wasn't as close as the score would indicate.
Bird was named the Finals' MVP for that year, averaging 24 points, 9.7 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 2.7 steals per game for the series. It was the Celtics' 16th championship in 40 years and it was their last championship before winning their 17th NBA championship in 2008
2008 NBA Finals
The 2008 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2007–08 NBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Boston Celtics, top-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference, four games to two in a...
.
Series summary
| Game | Date | Home Team | Result | Road Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Monday, May 26 | Boston Celtics | 112-100 (1-0) | Houston Rockets |
| Game 2 | Thursday, May 29 | Boston Celtics | 117-95 (2-0) | Houston Rockets |
| Game 3 | Sunday, June 1 | Houston Rockets | 106-104 (1-2) | Boston Celtics |
| Game 4 | Tuesday, June 3 | Houston Rockets | 103-106 (1-3) | Boston Celtics |
| Game 5 | Thursday, June 5 | Houston Rockets | 111-96 (2-3) | Boston Celtics |
| Game 6 | Sunday, June 8 | Boston Celtics | 114-97 (4-2) | Houston Rockets |
Game 1
The "Twin Towers" Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon were saddled with foul trouble for much of the game. Sampson got three quick fouls just 4:45 into the game and scored only two points; Olajuwon picked up five fouls despite scoring 33, 25 of which came in the first half. The backcourt tandem of Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge provided the third quarter spurt for the Celtics, combining for 22 points, while Boston held Houston to just 17 points in an expected victory.Game 2
The third quarter again proved decisive for the Celtics, outscoring the Rockets 34-19 in the quarter. Sampson and Olajuwon combined for 32 points in the first half, but only seven in the second. Larry Bird paced the Celtics with 31 points on 12-for-19 shooting, while Kevin McHale added 25 in another Boston rout. It was Boston's 40th consecutive victory at home, regular season and playoffs combined.Game 3
The Rockets rallied from eight points down in the fourth quarter before escaping to a much-needed two-point win at home, despite another third quarter meltdown. Sampson and Olajuwon combined for 47 points and 30 rebounds, Robert Reid added 20, while reserve guard Mitchell WigginsMitchell Wiggins
Mitchell Lee Wiggins is a retired American professional basketball player, in the shooting guard position.-High school/college career:...
tipped in off an Olajuwon miss late in the fourth to put the Rockets ahead for good. The Celtics only managed one more shot in their final two possessions, a missed 5-footer by Robert Parish. Kevin McHale and Larry Bird both scored 28 points in the loss, but Bird was held to 3-for-12 shooting in the second half due to Reid's defense.
Game 4
Larry Bird's three-pointer with 2:26 remaining gave Boston the lead for good, while holding the Rockets to just one basket in the final four minutes, keyed by Kevin McHale's three forced turnovers on Houston's final three possessions. Robert Parish scored 22 while hauling 15 rebounds. Dennis Johnson also added 22, while Bird scored 21 and dished out 10 assists. Ralph Sampson led the Rockets with 25 points, while Hakeem Olajuwon, Robert Reid and Rodney McCrayRodney McCray (basketball)
Rodney Earl McCray is a retired American basketball player. A 6'7" small forward, he spent ten seasons in the National Basketball Association, tallying 9,014 career points and 5,087 career rebounds.Rodney McCray attended the University of Louisville and was a key member of the Cardinals team...
added 21, 19 and 17 respectively. The Rockets suffered their first home loss of the 1986 playoffs.
Game 5
The game was highlighted by Ralph Sampson's ejection early in the second quarter. With 9:40 remaining in the second, Sampson threw punches at the Celtics' reserve guard Jerry SichtingJerry Sichting
Jerry Lee Sichting is a retired American basketball player in the NBA.-1972-1975:Jerry Sichting, the 6'1", 175 lb guard, attended Martinsville High School, located in Martinsville, Indiana...
, 16 inches shorter than Sampson, leading to his ejection while the benches were cleared. The Rockets were leading 34-33 at the time of the brawl, and would lead by as many as 25 points in the second half to score a lopsided victory. Hakeem Olajuwon scored 32 points while blocking 8 shots. Though Kevin McHale scored 33, Larry Bird was held to only 17 points.
Game 6
In a masterful display of team basketball, Larry Bird notched a triple-double of 29 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists to pace a lopsided Boston win that clinched their 16th NBA championship. Kevin McHale added 29 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Hakeem Olajuwon paced the Rockets with 21 points and 10 rebounds, but Ralph Sampson was held to only eight points on 4-for-12 shooting, visibly distracted by an angry Boston Garden crowd in the aftermath of Game 5. The Celtics led by as much as 30 in the fourth to put away the Rockets.Following the conclusion of the 1986 NBA Finals, a video documentary of the 1986 NBA season, known as "Sweet Sixteen", was released. David Perry was the narrator after Dick Stockton
Dick Stockton
Dick Stockton is an American sportscaster. He is currently employed by Fox Sports and Turner Sports as a football, baseball, and basketball play-by-play announcer.-Early life and career:...
narrated the last three NBA season documentaries.
This would be the city of Boston's last professional championship until 2002 when the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
won Super Bowl XXXVI
Super Bowl XXXVI
Super Bowl XXXVI was an American football game played on February 3, 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 2001 regular season. The American Football Conference champion New England Patriots won their first Super...
. Had the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
won the 1986 World Series
1986 World Series
The 1986 World Series pitted the New York Mets against the Boston Red Sox. It was cited in the legend of the "Curse of the Bambino" to explain the error by Bill Buckner in Game 6 that allowed the Mets to extend the series to a seventh game...
(which they lost 4-3 to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
), it would've given Boston two championships in the same calendar year.
The closing song following Game 6 was "Whatever We Imagine" by James Ingram
James Ingram
James Ingram is an American soul musician. He is best known as a vocalist. He is also a self-taught musician who plays piano, guitar, bass, drums and keyboards...
.
Aftermath
The Celtics would return to the NBA Finals in ; however they fell in six games to the 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...
. Until 2008 this was the Celtics' last NBA championship. In the 1987 season the Celtics extended their home winning streak to 48 games and went on to win 59 games, 39 of which came at either 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...
or Hartford Civic Center. The Celtics went the distance in the 1987 NBA Playoffs
1987 NBA Playoffs
The 1987 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1986-1987 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics four games to two in the Finals...
; save for a three-game sweep of 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...
in the first round, they were pushed to a Game 7 against 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....
and 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...
before eventually returning to the NBA Finals. The Celtics faltered down the stretch due to injuries, fatigue and age.
As for the Rockets, their stay at the top of the Western Conference would only be temporary, as Ralph Sampson
Ralph Sampson
Ralph Lee Sampson, Jr. is a retired American college and professional basketball player.A 7-foot-4 phenom, three-time College Player of the Year, and No...
fell down with a knee injury that eventually curtailed his career. The Rockets would only win 42 games, and were bounced out of the playoffs' second round by the 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...
. The 'Twin Towers' were disbanded after Sampson was traded to 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...
early in the 1987-88 NBA season
1987-88 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls*Rookie of the Year: Mark Jackson, New York Knicks*Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls...
. The Rockets would not return to the finals until their championship season of .