We're partway through the Round of 64 in the NBA/ABA Tournament of Champions. This round will cut the field down to 32 and get us closer to finding the greatest NBA/ABA team of all time.
Our first set of series mostly ended fairly quickly, with the higher seeds needing just five games to win in three of the four series covered. The other was a full seven game donnybrook that went down to the wire in the winner-take-all contest. Hopefully this round will contain more of the latter than the former.
The up to date bracket, scores, and results from Group Play can be found here. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's get to it!
(7) 1960 Boston Celtics vs (2) 2017 Golden State Warriors
Game 1: @ '17 GS 139, '60 BOS 115
The teams pushed the pace early in this game, but that benefitted the Warriors as they led by double digits just six minutes into the contest. The Celtics closed the quarter on a 6-2 run, which trimmed the margin back to single digits. Boston would pull within four a few times in the second quarter, and fought off a late Golden State surge to keep the deficit at halftime within eight. But a 12-2 Warrior run early in the third effectively put the game out of reach, and the margin hit 20 almost immediately to start the fourth.
Kevin Durant ('17 GS): 25 pts, 9 reb, 9 ast, 4 blk
Steph Curry ('17 GS): 31 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast
Tommy Heinsohn ('60 BOS): 23 pts, 9 reb, 3 stl
Game 2: @ '17 GS 133, '60 BOS 98
This one wasn't particularly close, as the Warriors jumped out to a 9-2 lead just two minutes into the game and pushed it to double digits by the halfway mark of the quarter. It was 17 by quarter's end and Golden State got it to 20 almost immediately in the second. Boston managed to trim it to 17 by halftime, but they'd get no closer, and the Warriors pushed the lead to 30 by the middle of the third quarter and led by as many as 44 as they took care of business at home.
Kevin Durant ('17 GS): 39 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast, 3 blk
Steph Curry ('17 GS): 26 pts, 10 reb, 10 ast, 5 stl
Bill Russell ('60 BOS): 23 pts, 20 reb
Game 3: '17 GS 144, @ '60 BOS 112
Boston got some energy from the Garden crowd to open Game 3, as they trailed by just two about four minutes into the game, but a 9-0 Warrior run stole the momentum and it was all the Celtics could do to keep it a single digit game after one. Golden State pushed it to double digits early in the second and briefly pushed it to 20 before taking a 17 point advantage into halftime. Boston would get no closer in the third, Golden State pushed the lead to 30 early in the fourth, and that was that.
Kevin Durant ('17 GS): 33 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast, 4 blk
Draymond Green ('17 GS): 10 pts, 12 reb, 6 ast, 4 stl
Bob Cousy ('60 BOS): 15 pts, 12 ast
This seemed like it would follow the pattern of the first three games, as an early equal footing and mini Boston run alternated with a couple dominant Warrior stretches, but that kept the margin at seven through one quarter. Golden State pushed the margin to double digits in the second but couldn't keep it there, needing an Andre Igoudala basket at the buzzer to make it a nine point game at halftime. Boston must have made some halftime adjustments, because after giving up a Kevin Durant tip in that made it an 11 point game again, the Celtics went on a 17-5 run that saw the Warriors go almost five minutes without a field goal for Boston's first second half lead of the series. Golden State would respond to take a six point lead, but Boston closed the period on an 11-4 run, capped by a Bill Russell basket that gave the Celtics a one point lead. Boston pushed it to five quickly, but a 10-2 Warrior run gave Golden State the lead back. They went back and forth until a pair of Klay Thompson threes with about four minutes to go gave Golden State a four point lead. Even then the Celtics furiously fought back and Russell gave the Celtics a 113-111 lead with 39 seconds to go. But Curry answered with a go-ahead three at the other end, two Boston shots from close missed, and Golden State closed out the series at the line.
Kevin Durant ('17 GS): 39 pts, 18 reb, 5 blk
Klay Thompson ('17 GS): 25 pts, 5 ast
Bill Russell ('60 BOS): 24 pts, 25 reb, 6 ast, 4 blk, 3 stl
(8) 1976 New York Nets vs (1) 1987 Los Angeles Lakers
Game 1: '76 NYN 107, @ '87 LAL 105
Each team managed to hold a five point lead in the opening quarter before the Lakers took a one point advantage into the second quarter. The second quarter was more of the same, seeing the Lakers go to the locker room up just two. Leads were traded for much of the third until the Nets used a 12-2 run to open up a nine point lead late in the period. LA seemed like they were going to run away with it in the fourth though, as they used an early 16-2 run to flip the script around, but the Nets responded with five straight to tie the game and force us into a photo finish. New York led 104-101 with just two and a half minutes to play, but the Lakers took advantage of a couple second chances, grabbing the lead on a Byron Scott fadeaway with just over a minute to play. The Nets couldn't respond despite getting an offensive rebound, but Kim Hughes stole a pass on LA's ensuing possession, and on a third chance got a baseline jumper from Julius Erving to go ahead. Kareem missed a go-ahead look from the paint with six seconds to go, and Erving split a pair of free throws with virtually no time on the clock to seal the Game 1 upset.
Julius Erving ('76 NYN): 32 pts, 14 reb, 8 ast; made game-winning shot with 21 seconds left
Kim Hughes ('76 NYN): 9 pts, 15 reb, 3 stl, 3 blk
Magic Johnson ('87 LAL): 25 pts, 7 reb, 14 ast
Game 2: @ '87 LAL 121, '76 NYN 85
After surrendering an early three, the Lakers used a 9-2 run to grab a decent early lead, though the Nets fought back and turned this into a back and forth affair that saw the Lakers lead by just two after one quarter. The second quarter saw a lot of separation though, as the Lakers used an extended 24-4 run to pull away and take full command of this game. After leading by 21 at halftime, LA pushed the lead as high as 28 in the third and as high as 37 in the fourth.
Magic Johnson ('87 LAL): 32 pts, 11 ast
James Worthy ('87 LAL): 13 pts, 10 reb, 6 ast
Julius Erving ('76 NYN): 20 pts, 13 reb, 7 ast
Game 3: @ '76 NYN 120, '87 LAL 105
Despite falling behind 9-2 early, the Lakers fought back with an 8-0 run to retake the lead. New York fought back, though a Mychal Thompson three point play late in the quarter broke a 26-all tie. The second quarter saw a ton of back and forth, but with the Nets flipping the margin in their favor by halftime. The third quarter saw the Nets slowly start to build their lead despite LA's best efforts, getting to double digits with just under four minutes to play. LA cut it to four with about a minute to go, but a late surge got it back to eight by the end of the frame. The Lakers got within four a couple times early in the frame, but the Nets slowly pulled away for the home win.
Brian Taylor ('76 NYN): 19 pts, 6 reb, 11 ast
Julius Erving ('76 NYN): 26 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast, 4 stl
James Worthy ('87 LAL): 26 pts, 8 reb, 5 blk
Game 4: '87 LAL 123,@ '76 NYN 120
The Lakers got out to an early six point lead in this one, but the Nets fought back and the teams went back and forth in the first, ending up tied at 32 by period's end. LA led by as many as five early in the second, but the Nets answered, eventually leading by as many as seven before going to the locker room up five. The Nets led by as many as eight midway through the third before a 15-2 Laker run flipped the script, though New York fought back to retake a one point lead going into the fourth. After giving up an opening bucket to the Lakers, the Nets went on a 12-0 run to take a double digit lead. They led by a dozen with just over eight minutes to play, then the Lakers started clawing back. A 12-2 run late gave the Lakers the lead back, and after a Julius Erving three, James Worthy hit a finger roll to put the Lakers back up one. A Byron Scott field goal and four Magic Johnson free throws helped push the lead to three going to the final possession, where Erving missed a game-tying three at the buzzer and the Lakers even the series.
Magic Johnson ('87 LAL): 23 pts, 14 reb, 14 ast
James Worthy ('87 LAL): 26 pts, 8 reb
Julius Erving ('76 NYN): 43 pts, 12 reb, 5 ast
Game 5: @ '87 LAL 121, '76 NYN 111
This one started reasonably close as the Lakers led 15-12 about halfway through the opening quarter. Then LA went on an 18-2 run to blow the game open and went up by 21 after one quarter. The Lakers got it to 30 by halftime, then began to coast in the second half. New York cut it to under 20 midway through the third, though it ballooned back to 23 by quarter's end. The Nets did briefly get the margin down to single digits with about a minute to play, but by then it was too little, too late.
Magic Johnson ('87 LAL): 22 pts, 8 reb, 14 ast, 3 stl
James Worthy ('87 LAL): 24 pts, 8 reb
Julius Erving ('76 NYN): 35 pts, 16 reb, 8 ast, 3 stl, 3 blk
After some early back and forth the Lakers built a two to three possession lead and stayed up by four after one quarter. They eventually pushed it to double digits midway through the second quarter before a cold spell got the Nets back in it. Despite getting within four, LA pushed it back to double digits by halftime. The teams traded runs in the third, with the Nets ending the quarter managing to tie the score at 87. A 7-0 Laker run in the fourth gave them a sizable lead. New York's last gasp got them within three with just over a minute to go, but a Byron Scott three point play sealed the series for the Lakers.
Magic Johnson ('87 LAL): 17 pts, 7 reb, 17 ast, 4 blk
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('87 LAL): 26 pts, 9 reb, 3 stl
Julius Erving ('76 NYN): 36 pts, 14 reb, 4 ast
(7) 1989 Detroit Pistons vs (2) 2013 Miami Heat
Game 1: @ '13 MIA 106, '89 DET 88
The Heat used separate runs of 10-2 and 9-2 in the opening quarter, including holding Detroit without a field goal over the final 2:35 of the frame to build a double digit lead 12 minutes in. An 11-2 run to open the second quarter just pushed the game firmly into Miami's hands, though the Pistons would cut the deficit back to 12 by halftime. It then took most of the third quarter before Detroit finally trimmed it to single digits, but even then they only got within eight by frame's end. Unfortunately the Pistons went without a field goal for almost four minutes to start the fourth, and the Heat pulled back away for a comfortable Game 1 victory.
LeBron James ('13 MIA): 32 pts, 14 reb, 12 ast
Dwyane Wade ('13 MIA): 15 pts, 7 ast
Bill Laimbeer ('89 DET): 16 pts, 12 reb
Game 2: '89 DET 91, @ '13 MIA 87
Switching its lineup around a bit for Game 2, the Pistons converted three and-one's in the opening quarter en route to building a two point lead by frame's end. After a back and forth start to the second, Detroit used a 12-0 run to take control, then survived a late Miami flurry to lead by four at the break. After the Heat used a back and forth start of the third to tie the game, Detroit closed the stanza on a 10-0 run over the final three and a half minutes. It took three minutes for a score in the fourth, but even then it was the Pistons who did so as they built their lead up to 15. Miami wasn't ready to give up though, using a 12-2 run to cut the deficit down to just two points with a minute to play. But Rick Mahorn and Mark Aguirre both hit clutch shots in the final minute to propel the Pistons to a split in South Florida.
Rick Mahorn ('89 DET): 18 pts, 8 reb
Vinnie Johnson ('89 DET): 18 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast
LeBron James ('13 MIA): 19 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast
Game 3: '13 MIA 98, @ '89 DET 80
Trying to build off momentum from the Game 2 upset and coming home, the Pistons fought to a fairly even draw with the Heat, leading by one after one quarter. But Miami made its run in the second, using an extended 13-1 run to open up a 12 point lead, and push it to 13 by the break. The Pistons opened the second half on a 10-2 run to get back into the game, but the Heat quickly responded to push the lead back to double digits. Miami got it to 15 by the end of the third, and up to 20 early in the fourth. The Pistons would get no closer than 16 the rest of the way.
LeBron James ('13 MIA): 27 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast
Chris Bosh ('13 MIA): 15 pts, 8 reb
Joe Dumars ('89 DET): 18 pts, 8 ast
Game 4: @ '89 DET 106, '13 MIA 103
A 9-0 Pistons run midway through the first quarter gave the hosts the early advantage, and they parlayed that into a seven point lead after one quarter. Detroit would push the lead as high as 16 midway through the second, but Miami went on a 16-4 run to cut it to four. The Pistons closed the frame with six straight to take a double digit lead to the locker room. They would lead by as many as 16 in the third, though the Heat got the benefit of a beyond half court heave by Chris Bosh at the third quarter buzzer to cut it back to single digits. That seemed to shift momentum, as despite the Pistons having some answers, the Heat clawed their way back to take the lead with 5:41 to play. The teams swapped leads from there until Dumars gave the hosts the lead for good with just three minutes to go. Rick Mahorn and LeBron James traded three point plays, then six straight from Detroit effectively iced the game.
LeBron James ('13 MIA): 39 pts, 10 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl
Joe Dumars ('89 DET): 27 pts, 7 ast
Isiah Thomas ('89 DET): 22 pts, 4 reb, 6 ast
Game 5: @ '13 MIA 113, '89 DET 95
A tightly contested first quarter saw Miami lead by just two, though the Pistons fought back to take a narrow lead midway through the second, though the Heat would erase that and reestablish their narrow advantage by the intermission. Six straight from the Pistons that gave them that lead midway through the third was followed by 12 in a row from the Heat, helping propel them to a seven point lead with one quarter to play. Detroit got within four early in the frame, but an 11-0 Miami run got the lead out to 15, and the Pistons never got closer than nine the rest of the way.
LeBron James ('13 MIA): 37 pts, 6 reb, 9 ast, 3 stl
Chris Bosh ('13 MIA): 18 pts, 9 reb
James Edwards ('89 DET): 15 pts, 5 reb
This one seemed over quickly, as Miami opened the game on a 14-2 run and the Heat held the Pistons to just 12 first quarter points. The Pistons would get as close as six in the second quarter, but Miami used an 8-2 run to close the first half with a 14 point lead. Miami attempted to run away with the game, though Detroit would get back within ten somehow by the end of the third. Even late in the fourth, the Pistons only found themselves down seven with about five minutes to play. But James Edwards' tip in at that point was Detroit's final field goal of the game as Miami locked it down and the reserves iced the series away.
LeBron James ('13 MIA): 22 pts, 9 reb, 11 ast
Dwyane Wade ('13 MIA): 24 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl
Joe Dumars ('89 DET): 18 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast
(8) 2008 Boston Celtics vs (1) 2020 Los Angeles Lakers
Game 1: @ '20 LAL 105, '08 BOS 78
A 7-0 Lakers run midway through the opening quarter put the hosts in control and helped them to a five point lead by frame's end. LA then opened the second on a 13-2 run to push the margin to 16. An 11-3 Celtic run got Boston back into it, but the Lakers answered with nine straight, and they pushed the lead to 19 by halftime. The Lakers quickly got it over 20 in the third, and the Celtics got no closer than 18 the rest of the way.
Anthony Davis ('20 LAL): 27 pts, 18 reb, 3 stl
LeBron James ('20 LAL): 35 pts, 6 ast
Kevin Garnett ('08 BOS): 10 pts, 12 reb
Game 2: @ '20 LAL 105, '08 BOS 80
A 12-2 run early in the opening quarter of Game 2 got the Lakers off and running, and LA added a stretch where they held Boston without a field goal for three and a half minutes. The result was a 31-18 lead after one. LA continued that momentum with seven straight to open the second; they would lead by as many as 18 before the Celtics closed the half on an 11-2 run to pull within five. Once again that was short lived, as the Lakers opened the third with nine straight, then led by double digits the rest of the way.
Anthony Davis ('20 LAL): 22 pts, 11 reb, 3 blk
LeBron James ('20 LAL): 27 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast
Ray Allen ('08 BOS): 23 pts, 5 reb
Game 3: '20 LAL 101, @ '08 BOS 89
The Celtics got a bit of an early boost in game 3, using an 11-2 run to build a decent lead late in the first quarter, but the Lakers closed the frame on an 11-1 run to flip the momentum. Boston responded with seven straight to begin the second, but the Lakers immediately answered with an 11-0 run. Boston did all it could, but couldn't keep the halftime margin under single digits. After most of the third saw the Lakers' lead in the teens, Boston used a 9-0 run to cut it to six by the end of the third. The Celtics would get within four early in the final quarter, but an Anthony Davis three point play and Rajon Rondo three got the margin back to double digits. Even then the Celtics had another run in them as they cut it to one with just under five minutes to play, and again at the three minute mark. But that basket was Boston's last score as the Lakers pulled away to put a stranglehold on the series.
Anthony Davis ('20 LAL): 22 pts, 8 reb, 4 blk
LeBron James ('20 LAL): 20 pts, 9 reb, 8 ast
Kevin Garnett ('08 BOS): 17 pts, 14 reb, 5 ast
Early on this seemed like Boston's game, as they jumped out to a 13-6 lead, survived an 8-0 Laker run, and led by six by the first quarter's end. Boston held the Lakers scoreless for the first three minutes of the second and were able to build a 15 point lead late in the half, but LA closed the frame on a 14-4 run to make it interesting at halftime. Boston pushed back in the third, managing to get the lead to a dozen by the end of the third, but the Lakers were biding their time. LA scored the first 11 of the fourth to cut it to one and survived a couple Celtics answers, using a 9-0 run to surge back in front with 3:19 to go. Boston's Rajon Rondo cut it to a one possession game a couple times, but the Lakers had immediate answers both times, and Anthony Davis and LeBron James iced the game at the line to complete the sweep.
LeBron James ('20 LAL): 27 pts, 9 reb, 11 ast
Anthony Davis ('20 LAL): 30 pts, 9 reb, 4 blk
Paul Pierce ('08 BOS): 31 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast
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