Both of our teams that have won tournament championships were in action in the last batch of games, and as part of that, our defending Champion of Champions was unceremoniously swept out of their title defense. The two-time champion in the 1996 Chicago Bulls, however, remains alive to try and reclaim its throne.
After a set with a couple of upsets though, we were back to chalk in the last set as the higher seeds all prevailed, and all of them with relative ease. The batch of games we're doing today is pretty heavy with group winners, so we'll see if they continue to prevail to maintain home court advantage for yet another round.
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!
(5) 1971 Milwaukee Bucks vs (1) 1987 Los Angeles Lakers
Game 1: @ '87 LAL 121, '71 MIL 115
It took over three minutes for the hosts to get on the board in this one as the Bucks built a 6-0 lead early. But the Lakers bounced back and we saw a stretch of eight lead changes over just a couple minutes before Milwaukee started to pull away, ultimately leading by three after 12 minutes. A 10-2 Milwaukee run early in the second got the Bucks out to a double digit advantage, and they held it, going to the locker room up ten. The Lakers struggled to cut into the deficit in the third, but got within four a couple times midway through the period and once more late before Milwaukee pushed the lead back out, going to the fourth up seven. They were able to keep the pace up for much of the fourth and with 4:32 left led 109-100. Even then, with 1:50 to go a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar three point play put the Bucks up seven. But that was it for Milwaukee's scoring as LA's Kareem tied the game at 115 on a pull up with 51 seconds left, and after a '71 Kareem banker missed, Byron Scott knocked down a 15 footer with 27 seconds left to give the Lakers the lead, and Magic iced the game with four free throws in the closing seconds.
Magic Johnson ('87 LAL): 37 pts, 9 reb, 16 ast
AC Green ('87 LAL): 15 pts, 8 reb
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('71 MIL): 18 pts, 12 reb, 3 blk
Game 2: '71 MIL 124, @ '87 LAL 115
Thanks in part to a couple early 6-0 runs, the Lakers got out to a double digit lead just over five minutes into the game. But Milwaukee held them scoreless for the final five minutes of the frame, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hitting a shot with 24 seconds left to give the Bucks a one point lead after one. Milwaukee carried the momentum over into the second, opening it on a 10-2 run. The Lakers would pull back within four a number of times, but with 1:44 left in the half it seemed like the Bucks would go to the locker room in control. They struggled though, and a Michael Cooper tip of a Kareem shot at the horn tied the game at 51. Naturally Milwaukee opened the third with the first six points, which ended up being important as both offenses got going. Six times the Lakers pulled within a point off of a made basket, and every time Milwaukee had an answer. The Bucks slowly pulled away late in the third, going to the final stanza up 11. The Lakers could not cut into the lead, as Milwaukee led by as many as 13 with just over three minutes to go, and the Lakers' late rally was not enough as the Bucks salvage the split in LA.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('71 MIL): 35 pts, 20 reb, 5 blk
Bob Dandridge ('71 MIL): 24 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast
Magic Johnson ('87 LAL): 19 pts, 8 reb, 15 ast
Game 3: @ '71 MIL 132, '87 LAL 127 (OT)
This was a heavyweight fight from the outset, with 16 ties in the first quarter alone. After a Bob Boozer dunk with one second left in the opening quarter put the Bucks up two, Michael Cooper somehow had time to launch a three before the buzzer and hit it to give the Lakers the lead. After three early lead changes Milwaukee tried to pull away a little bit but couldn't do so, with a James Worthy dunk at the buzzer pulling the Lakers back within one going into the intermission. It was the Bucks in the third who finally got the game's first big run, scoring nine unanswered midway through the period to take an eight point lead. The Lakers responded with one of their own later in the period, and they would hold a three point lead going to the final quarter. After holding a lead around that for the early part of the period, the Lakers ended up in a back and fourth, seeing seven lead changes in the final six minutes of regulation. Up one, Magic Johnson hit a pair of free throws with 16 seconds left to put his team up three, but Kareem Abdul-Jabbar answered at the other end, converting a three point play with 11 ticks left to tie the game, and Magic missed a turnaround at the buzzer that would have ended things. Instead in the extra session, the Bucks scored the first five points and made enough other shots down the stretch that they were able to take the overtime victory.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('71 MIL): 46 pts, 11 reb, 5 ast, 4 stl, 8 blk
Oscar Robertson ('71 MIL): 23 pts, 4 reb, 13 ast
Magic Johnson ('87 LAL): 21 pts, 11 reb, 20 ast
Game 4: '87 LAL 122, @ '71 MIL 101
Milwaukee roared out to an 8-0 lead in this one, and parlayed that into early control. The Lakers were able to make it a one score game a few times, but by the time the first quarter buzzer sounded, the Bucks were up five. After a Mccoy McLemore bucket made it a seven point game to open the second, the Lakers went on a 14-3 run to flip the game around, and took absolute control of the contest with a 21-3 run late in the period. All told, LA scored 43 in the second period and led by 20 at the break. An 8-0 Milwaukee run midway through the third got the Bucks back into the game a little bit, but the Lakers answered with an 8-1 run of their own and by period's end the margin was still at 17. The Bucks got within 15 a time or two in the fourth, but that was as close as they got as the Lakers even the series.
AC Green ('87 LAL): 19 pts, 14 reb
Magic Johnson ('87 LAL): 20 pts, 4 reb, 12 ast
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('71 MIL): 29 pts, 13 reb, 3 blk
Game 5: @ '87 LAL 118, '71 MIL 115
A couple mini runs for the Lakers early in this contest helped them build a six point lead after one quarter, but the Bucks immediately erased it with seven in a row to open the second. The lead changed hands four more times over the next couple minutes before the Lakers went on an extended 18-2 run to build a lead of a dozen. Milwaukee wasn't really able to cut into it, and LA went into the break up 11. The Lakers got the lead up to 18 early in the third, and largely held it, though the Bucks were able to pull back within 16 by quarter's end. Slowly Milwaukee was able to work back into it in the fourth, finally getting back within single digits with 4:27 to play. Oscar Robertson scored eight unanswered points in 34 seconds, hitting a three to tie the game with 70 ticks to play. But Magic Johnson answered with a go-ahead basket on the next trip down, and after getting a stop, added another to put the Lakers up four with 42 seconds left. A Jon McGlocklin three point play brought it back to within one, but Magic broke free to hit another shot to go up three. The Bucks opted for the quick basket, which Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hit, but Magic followed up with two free throws to get the lead back to three. Greg Smith was able to get off a tying three from the corner at the buzzer, but it wasn't even close and the Lakers go up 3-2 in the series.
Magic Johnson ('87 LAL): 28 pts, 7 reb, 15 ast, 3 stl
James Worthy ('87 LAL): 22 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('71 MIL): 24 pts, 18 reb, 7 ast
Game 6: @ '71 MIL 118, '87 LAL 114
An early 6-0 run for the Bucks put the hosts in control, then Kareem Abdul-Jabbar went on a personal 7-1 run for Milwaukee to help maintain that lead, and by quarter's end that six point advantage held up. But the Lakers stuck around, and with Magic Johnson scoring six consecutive points for LA at one point, the Lakers ended up flipping the six point margin their way. But the Bucks answered back, with Bob Dandridge converting a drive at the halftime buzzer to tie the game at 61. LA would go back up six early in the third quarter, but the Bucks fought back and we saw a very back and forth period that saw a defining moment when Oscar Robertson hit a pair of free throws on a third chance opportunity to put Milwaukee up four with about three minutes to go, and that helped keep the Bucks ahead by two with just 12 minutes to play. The Lakers retook the lead early in the fourth and held it for a few minutes, though Milwaukee was still able to keep it close and send us down to the wire. Kareem ended up giving the Bucks a 113-112 lead with 2:15 to play before the defenses buckled down, then Greg Smith hit a scoop shot to put Milwaukee up three with 44 seconds to play. James Worthy immediately answered, but Robertson converted the dagger with 21 seconds left to force a winner-take-all game.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('71 MIL): 45 pts, 24 reb, 5 blk
Oscar Robertson ('71 MIL): 18 pts, 6 reb, 19 ast
Magic Johnson ('87 LAL): 31 pts, 8 reb, 14 ast
The Lakers scored five points in the first 38 seconds, and that helped spark them to a 10 point lead just five minutes into Game 7. But a 10-3 Milwaukee run got them back in the game, and threes by Bob Boozer and Mccoy McLemore in the final minute made it just a three point game after 12 minutes. Lucius Allen went off for 10 points in the first two and a half minutes of the third, including a couple threes, to help spark the Bucks to the lead, and hit a third shortly after to help build a five point cushion. LA fought back, with Byron Scott splitting a pair of free throws to tie the game at 51 with 5:41 left in the half, but those were the last points for almost four minutes for the Lakers as the Bucks scored nine in a row to take control. When the dust settled, Milwaukee led by six going to the break. The Bucks quickly got it to ten once the second half started, but a 10-3 Laker run got it back to a one possession game with 4:36 left in the period. Milwaukee was able to answer, with Allen getting a basket at the buzzer to push the margin to seven going into the deciding period. Five straight points from Bob Dandridge helped get the Bucks back up by double digits, and Milwaukee could sense the upset. LA had one last run in it though, as a 9-1 run late cut it to just a two point game with 24 seconds left. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar split a pair of free throws to keep it a one score game, and the Lakers opted for the quick two, but Magic Johnson missed his jumper, and Kareem proceeded to hit both free throws off the miss. Oscar Robertson added two more to ice it, and the Bucks knock off the #3 overall seed.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('71 MIL): 29 pts, 21 reb, 4 ast, 6 blk
Oscar Robertson ('71 MIL): 20 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast, 3 stl
Lucius Allen ('71 MIL): 19 pts
(3) 2005 San Antonio Spurs vs (2) 1992 Chicago Bulls
Game 1: '05 SA 96, @ '92 CHI 88
A 10-1 Chicago run midway through the opening quarter propelled the Bulls to an early 13 point lead and put Tim Duncan in early foul trouble. A Scott Williams dunk with 36 seconds left gave Chicago a 33-21 lead that they would carry into the second. The Bulls then opened the second on a 9-0 run and did not allow a field goal until the 6:46 mark of the period. They would lead by as many as 24 in the frame and took a 19 point lead into the break. An extended 8-0 run for the Spurs got them back into the game in the third, followed later by a 9-0 run that got the margin back to single digits. After a Manu Ginobili three cut it to five with just a second left in the period, the Bulls got a quick outlet to Michael Jordan, who got off a shot but was fouled by Duncan at the buzzer, Duncan's fifth of the game. Jordan calmly hit both free throws to make it a seven point game going to the fourth. Less than a couple minutes into the period the Bulls' lead was back to double digits, but an 8-0 Spurs run got it back to a one possession game. With over eight minutes left though, the unthinkable happened: Duncan fouled out having played just 18 minutes. But the Bulls went ice cold from this point as the Spurs pulled within one with 3:46 to play. Jordan hit a couple free throws with 2:22 left to push the lead back to three, but that ended up being the last points Chicago would score. Tony Parker put the Spurs ahead with a dunk with just over a minute to go, a Nazr Mohammed floater off a Jordan turnover pushed the lead to three, and Ginobili buried a three to ice the stunning comeback for the visitors.
Manu Ginobili ('05 SA): 26 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast
Nazr Mohammed ('05 SA): 18 pts, 12 reb
Michael Jordan ('92 CHI): 33 pts, 9 reb, 5 ast, 3 stl, 3 blk
Game 2: @ '92 CHI 98, '05 SA 96
The teams swapped leads six times in the first five-plus minutes with Chicago finally taking control around the midway point with an 8-2 run. They would survive back to back threes late in the period to stay ahead by two. The Spurs would pull it off again early in the second, these by Robert Horry and Manu Ginobili, to give San Antonio a four point lead. The score stayed put for about three minutes before Chicago finally broke through with an 8-0 run. Despite a Michael Jordan turnover right at the end of the half, the Bulls still clung to a one point lead. A Bruce Bowen three to open the second half gave San Antonio its first lead since the opening minutes, then they used an 8-0 run midway through the period to open up a 13 point advantage. The Bulls responded with a 13-4 run to get back in the game, and Horace Grant scored twice in the final 20 seconds to get the Bulls back within two going to the fourth. Jordan sparked a 6-0 run early that got Chicago back in front, but that lead changed hands several times and saw multiple ties as the game went down to the wire. Tim Duncan scored twice 18 seconds apart, the latter giving San Antonio the lead with 52 seconds left. But Jordan immediately answered to put Chicago back in front, Grant blocked a Duncan try to retake the lead, and Jordan hit two free throws to push the lead back to three. Duncan would score the next trip down, and on the ensuing possession Jordan only hit one free throw to make it a two point game with 11 seconds to go. But Duncan's tying attempt from the left wing did not fall, and the Bulls survived to even up the series.
Horace Grant ('92 CHI): 20 pts, 13 reb, 4 ast, 5 blk
Michael Jordan ('92 CHI): 30 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast
Tim Duncan ('05 SA): 21 pts, 11 reb, 5 blk
Game 3: '92 CHI 110, @ '05 SA 75
A Michael Jordan dunk with 7:54 left in the opening quarter gave the Bulls an 8-7 lead and sparked an 8-2 run. It seemed like it would be fairly close after one, but Scott Williams got a late steal from Beno Udrih and found BJ Armstrong, who launched a three at the buzzer and hit it, resulting in a possible five point swing and giving Chicago a ten point lead. The Bulls then scored the first six of the second quarter and by the midway point of the period had pushed the lead up to 20. It was a dominant first half for the Bulls, especially defensively, as they had allowed just 28 points and led by 21 going to the locker room. Less than five minutes into the third, the Bulls were up by 30 and San Antonio couldn't really trim the deficit at all, with even a Manu Ginobili finger roll at the buzzer still only cutting the deficit to 31. The closest San Antonio got in the fourth was within 27 as Chicago was able to cruise to an easy Game 3 win.
Scottie Pippen ('92 CHI): 28 pts, 12 reb, 6 ast, 3 stl
Michael Jordan ('92 CHI): 26 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast, 4 stl, 3 blk
Tim Duncan ('05 SA): 25 pts, 10 reb, 4 blk
Game 4: @ '05 SA 94, '92 CHI 86
A Manu Ginobili three to open the game sparked a 7-0 starting run for the Spurs, and the hosts were off and running. The Bulls tried to keep it close, getting within two late in the period, but the Spurs closed the period on a 5-0 mini run to go up seven after 12 minutes. The game stayed around that margin for much of the second until the Bulls started to mount a comeback, with a Horace Grant floater cutting it to three with 3:49 left in the half. But Brent Barry hit a three on the ensuing possession, Horry hit one a minute later, and that helped the Spurs take a nine point lead to the locker room. It took a couple minutes for any scoring in the third, but it was Chicago that finally got going, and they were able to pull within two with 6:30 to play in the period. But the Spurs answered back and pushed the lead back out, and somehow followed a Scott Williams dunk with one second left with a Nazr Mohammed finger roll to beat the buzzer and go to the fourth up ten. A 7-0 Chicago run early in the fourth trimmed the margin to five, and the Bulls slowly crept closer, with Michael Jordan finally tying the game at 81 with 3:09 left. But San Antonio effective iced the game with an 8-0 run to immediately follow this, tying the series up at two games apiece.
Tim Duncan ('05 SA): 20 pts, 17 reb
Nazr Mohammed ('05 SA): 10 pts, 12 reb, 5 blk
Scottie Pippen ('92 CHI): 26 pts, 9 reb, 5 ast
Game 5: @ '92 CHI 106, '05 SA 96
There was a lot of back and forth early in this one, with San Antonio getting the best early run at 6-0 to take a three point lead eight minutes into the contest. But Chicago ended the period on a 6-1 mini run and led by four going into the second quarter. The Spurs were able to pull within two a couple times in the period, but a 7-0 Chicago run helped get the Bulls to a double digit lead. But the Spurs closed the half on an 11-2 run and nearly tied the game at the horn when Bill Cartwright blocked Tim Duncan's floater at the buzzer to keep Chicago up two going to halftime. The Spurs finally retook the lead three minutes into the third on a Robert Horry three, but Scottie Pippen scored the next five points. San Antonio would retake the lead again one more time, but the Bulls finished the period on an 8-1 run and led by six after three quarters. The Spurs would pull back within three early in the fourth, but that was as close as they'd get, as a Scottie Pippen layup with just under three minutes left capped a 6-0 mini run and gave Chicago an 11 point lead. Manu Ginobili hit a couple threes after this, but it wasn't enough as Chicago takes the pivotal game.
Michael Jordan ('92 CHI): 28 pts, 8 reb, 8 ast, 5 stl
Horace Grant ('92 CHI): 22 pts, 10 reb, 3 blk
Tim Duncan ('05 SA): 27 pts, 22 reb, 4 ast, 6 blk
Game 6: @ '05 SA 99, '92 CHI 94
A 9-0 Chicago run midway through the opening quarter broke a 7-all tie and got the Bulls in control early. They pushed it to double digits about eight minutes in and led 32-18 after 12 minutes. Chicago led by as many as 19 early in the second. But and extended 8-0 run for the Spurs got them back into it. Despite that, the Bulls closed the half with an 8-0 run of their own to get the margin back up to 18. The Spurs struggled to cut into it in the third as the Bulls were largely able to maintain control, though some late free throws helped San Antonio get back within 13 with 12 minutes to play. The Spurs would cut it to 10 about five minutes into the fourth, then responded to two quick Bulls baskets with seven straight to cut the margin in half. Chicago went up nine with just over four minutes left, but a Bruce Bowen three sparked a 15-0 San Antonio run where Tim Duncan tied the game and Manu Ginobili hit a go-ahead three with 52 seconds left. They would hit five of six at the line after this to seal the win and force a Game 7 back in Chicago.
Tim Duncan ('05 SA): 34 pts, 16 reb, 5 ast, 3 blk
Manu Ginobili ('05 SA): 17 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast
Scottie Pippen ('92 CHI): 23 pts, 7 reb
Chicago had an exteneded 8-0 run early in this one, but couldn't fully capitalize on it as the Spurs were able to keep it close thanks in part to a Bruce Bowen three with 2:51 left in the opening stanza. That was it for scoring for the quarter as ugly turnovers and bad shots kept the score at 16-15 Chicago. After the Bulls broke the silence to open the second and a Brent Barry three tied the game at 18, the Bulls scored the next six to take control. The Spurs were determined to stay in it though and managed to turn it back into a tight contest. After Michael Jordan gave Chicago the lead with 29 seconds left, Tony Parker quickly came down to put the Spurs back in front by one with 19 seconds left, and Jordan's answer attempt didn't fall, sending the Bulls to the break down by that one point. BJ Armstrong sparked an 8-0 Chicago run early in the third, but needed three point plays by Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant later in the period to stay in front; Grant's kick started a 9-0 run that helped the Bulls go into the fourth up seven. A couple minutes into the fourth the lead was up to ten for the first time, and Chicago survived it getting cut to six a couple times. Jordan's dunk with 2:29 left put the Bulls up by a dozen, then got another with a minute to go that made it 14, and the Bulls were able to survive to the Round of 16.
Horace Grant ('92 CHI): 20 pts, 12 reb, 4 ast
Michael Jordan ('92 CHI): 24 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast
Scottie Pippen ('92 CHI): 11 pts, 16 reb, 11 ast
(4) 1980 Los Angeles Lakers vs (1) 2025 Indiana Pacers
Game 1: @ '25 IND 117, '80 LAL 97
Pascal Siakam notched a personal 6-2 run early in this one that helped Indiana build an early five point lead. But the Lakers responded with a 14-0 run to take control, though the Pacers would fight back to only trail by one at the end of the first. The Lakers scored six straight in about a minute to retake control early in the second, though the Pacers did a great job of keeping it close. Even so, a Jamaal Wilkes jumper right before the buzzer gave the Lakers a 52-47 lead going to the break. Siakam opened the second half with a personal 7-2 run that tied the game, then after a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar fadeaway, Aaron Nesmith hit a three put Indiana back in front and started a tug of war for the lead. The Lakers, up one with under a minute left, had a great chance to extend the lead before the end of the period with three chances, but couldn't convert, and Obi Toppin got a contested drive to go right before the buzzer to put the Pacers up one with 12 minutes left. A Siakam jumper and a Myles Turner three in the opening minute of the fourth helped give the Pacers a four point lead, but the game was decided after this on a 16-0 Indiana run that pushed a two point cushion out to 18, and the Pacers cruised to the series opening victory.
Pascal Siakam ('25 IND): 24 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast, 3 blk
Aaron Nesmith ('25 IND): 12 pts, 6 reb
Magic Johnson ('80 LAL): 8 pts, 10 reb, 10 ast
Game 2: @ '25 IND 114, '80 LAL 104
Aaron Nesmith broke a 5-all tie three and a half minutes in, then got a fast break dunk off a steal to give the Pacers an early four point lead, and the momentum from that stretch carried over for much of the period as Indiana led by as many as seven and didn't face a defensive possession the rest of the period where the Lakers could take the lead. Indy led by six after one, then Obi Toppin scored the first five points of the second quarter to push the margin. The Lakers struggled to cut into it, then Tyrese Haliburton hit back to back threes to get it up to a 19 point lead. A mini 6-0 run got the Lakers back into it, but a Toppin runner late got the lead back up to 15 going to the locker room. Early in the third Siakam and Haliburton pushed the lead as high as 24, but seven straight from the Lakers got the margin back down, and even with Indy's offense clicking, the Lakers were able to cut it to a 13 point game by the end of the third. A Michael Cooper three three minutes into the fourth made it a single digit game again, but LA got no closer than six with just over a minute to play. A Spencer Haywood miss with under a minute to go down those six points missed, and the Pacers were able to secure their defense of home court at the free throw line.
Tyrese Haliburton ('25 IND): 19 pts, 10 ast, 3 stl
Pascal Siakam ('25 IND): 19 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('80 LAL): 17 pts, 16 reb, 9 ast
Game 3: '25 IND 128, @ '80 LAL 100
Despite the Pacers going bombs away from three early in this game, a 6-0 Lakers run midway through the first kept them in the game. It wasn't quite enough though as Pascal Siakam hit a layup with 48 seconds left in the period to put Indiana up 30-29, a score which held at the buzzer. LA kept it close though, and even tied the game less than three minutes into the second, but Siakam recaptured the lead and Ben Sheppard hit a three to put the Pacers up five shortly after. Andrew Nembhard went on a personal 8-2 run late in the half, followed by Myles Turner going on a personal 7-2 run over the final 50 seconds, including a three at the buzzer to give Indy a 17 point halftime lead. An 8-2 Laker run in the third helped get them back into it, but the Pacers all but iced the game late in the third with threes on four straight possessions, and an Obi Toppin dunk at the third quarter buzzer gave Indy a 25 point lead. The Lakers would get no closer than 21 in the fourth, with the Pacers keeping their starters out against LA's into the final minute.
Tyrese Haliburton ('25 IND): 19 pts, 5 ast, 5 stl
Pascal Siakam ('25 IND): 21 pts, 12 reb, 4 ast
Myles Turner ('25 IND): 19 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast, 5 blk
The Lakers scored the first four points of the game and held the lead for most of the opening quarter until late, when a Myles Turner three tied the game at 15, then after Michael Cooper retook the lead for LA, Tyrese Haliburton followed with a three of his own to give the Pacers their first lead of the game. Indy closed the period on an 8-2 run and ended it with a five point cushion. A 10-2 Pacer run early in the second ballooned the lead to a dozen, and the Pacers would get it as high as 16 before a late Laker surge capped by a Cooper 10 footer that cut it to seven going to intermission. The Lakers cut it to four just a few minutes into the third, but Turner hit another three to stem the tide, and Haliburton's with 7:33 to play in the period made it a double digit game again. That was part of an over three minute stretch that saw the Lakers not hit a field goal, and yet despite that they were back within seven with just seconds left in the period. But Thomas Bryant managed to haul in a Hail Mary pass on the ensuing inbounds and knocked home an eight footer to push the lead to nine going to the fourth. An Aaron Nesmith three two minutes into the fourth got it back to double digits. Obi Toppin, Turner, and Haliburton all hit threes over the next couple minutes that helped push the margin to 17 around the halfway point, the Lakers had one last push to trim it to 11, but Nesmith sandwiched a Haliburton three with two of his own in the span of less than a minute to get the lead to 20 and secure the sweep.
Tyrese Haliburton ('25 IND): 28 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast
Obi Toppin ('25 IND): 16 pts, 7 reb
Magic Johnson ('80 LAL): 18 pts, 13 reb, 14 ast
(4) 1986 Boston Celtics vs (1) 2020 Los Angeles Lakers
Game 1: @ '20 LAL 120, '86 BOS 107
The Lakers scored the game's first five points and scored two quick fouls on Robert Parish to force Bill Walton in early and throw Boston's rotation off for the rest of the game. Despite that, a mini 6-0 Celtic run tied the game at 10, and then again at 12 when Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a three to put the Lakers back up. LA managed to stay just ahead, settling in with a six point cushion at the first quarter buzzer. The Celtics kept it close for much of the second quarter, getting back within four numerous times, but couldn't get over the hump, and an 8-0 Laker run got the lead up to a dozen late in the half. The lead would reach 16 before Parish hit a shot at the halftime buzzer to get it back down to 14 going to the break. LA would get a trio of threes within the first two-plus minutes to get the margin up over 20, and the margin stayed around there for the entire third quarter, though Parish would again get a buzzer beater, but his this time made it a 20 point deficit going to the final period. Boston couldn't cut into it in the fourth either, with most of the ground made up to the final score accomplished by the end of the bench as the Lakers cruise to an easy victory.
Larry Bird ('86 BOS): 33 pts, 12 reb, 7 ast
Anthony Davis ('20 LAL): 25 pts, 9 reb
LeBron James ('20 LAL): 11 pts, 6 reb, 15 ast
Game 2: '86 BOS 108, @ '20 LAL 103
Larry Bird broke an early 10-all tie with four straight points, and that helped get the Celtics into control for most of the rest of the quarter. But the Lakers closed the period with seven straight, including Danny Green burying a three at the buzzer to put LA up 23-22. Scott Wedman scored off a Jerry Sichting steal to open the second, and that sparked an 8-0 run for Boston that kept the Lakers off the board for over three minutes. LA managed to keep it close until Kevin McHale and Bill Walton each converted three point plays as part of an 8-0 run, and the Celtics would lead by as many as a dozen before taking an 11 point lead at the break. After pushing it to 15 to open the third, the Lakers quickly cut it back down to seven moments later, and even got it down to four by the halfway mark. A Dwight Howard runner with 3:21 left in the period trimmed it to two, but Howard picked up his fifth foul on the ensuing possession, and Scott Wedman hit a pair of free throws to get it back to four. This sparked a 7-0 run that helped the Celtics go into the final period up six. The Lakers cut it a one score game a couple times early in the fourth, and even had chances to tie, but couldn't do it until the eight minute mark when LeBron James hit a three to even the issue at 85. Robert Parish broke an 87-all tie moments later, and still clinging to that narrow lead, Danny Ainge converted a three point play to make it a five point game with four and a half to play. A Kyle Kuzma three cut it back to two with under three minutes to go, but Larry Bird scored Boston's final 10 points to keep the Celtics just ahead and salvage a split in LA.
Larry Bird ('86 BOS): 33 pts, 15 reb, 7 ast, 3 stl
Kevin McHale ('86 BOS): 29 pts, 12 reb
LeBron James ('20 LAL): 16 pts, 8 reb, 12 ast
Game 3: '20 LAL 106, @ '86 BOS 97
The teams traded blows early in this one, with the Lakers countering a 7-0 Boston run with a 9-0 run of their own. Boston's late rally broke a 27-all tie to go up four, but Kyle Kuzma hit a three at the buzzer to cut it to a one point game after one. In the second quarter the defenses made adjustments and both teams struggled to score. Alex Caruso got the Lakers a one point lead just over five minutes into the second, and Kuzma followed shortly after with another three to put LA up four, and they held on from there, going to the break up three after a 17-13 advantage for the period. Kuzma continued his hot shooting with a go ahead three early in the third, followed by one that tied the game at 58 a little over halfway through, and Anthony Davis hit one the next trip down to give LA the lead. The Lakers took control from there, not allowing the Celtics to get a chance to retake the lead in the period, with LeBron James hitting a shot at the buzzer to make it a four point Laker cushion going to the final stanza. Dennis Johnson tied the game at 78 early in the fourth, but five straight from Anthony Davis sparked a 10-0 Laker run to give LA some breathing room. Boston would cut it to three with under four minutes to play, but Kentavious Caldwell-Pope knocked down a three that doubled the lead and the Lakers were able to close it out from there.
LeBron James ('20 LAL): 24 pts, 9 reb, 11 ast
Anthony Davis ('20 LAL): 26 pts, 9 reb, 5 blk
Kevin McHale ('86 BOS): 22 pts, 8 reb
Game 4: @ '86 BOS 95, '20 LAL 81
Despite an early 7-0 run, the Celtics found themselves even with the Lakers past the midway point of the opening quarter. Then Kevin McHale hit a layup and that seemed to get Boston in control, sparking a 12-3 run, and Bill Walton's jumper at the buzzer gave the Celtics a seven point lead after 12 minutes. Boston went on a 6-0 mini run that saw LA go scoreless for three minutes early in the second, followed by seven straight midway through that pushed the margin to 14. LA would cut it in half late in the period, but McHale scored the final five of the half to push Boston's halftime lead to a dozen. LeBron James scored seven in a row early in the third to get the Lakers back within a couple possessions, but they followed that up with a nearly four minute scoring drought that saw Boston go back up 13. An Anthony Davis three in the closing seconds got it back to 10, but all that momentum went away when Boston opened the fourth on an 8-0 run. The Lakers would get no closer than 13 the rest of the way, and we return to Southern California all square.
Kevin McHale ('86 BOS): 23 pts, 10 reb, 4 ast
Larry Bird ('86 BOS): 12 pts, 11 reb, 8 ast
LeBron James ('20 LAL): 24 pts, 14 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl
Game 5: @ '20 LAL 137, '86 BOS 127
The Celtics got the first five points of the game, but couldn't hold that early edge as the Lakers came back and forced a back and forth. Each team had a good extended run in the opening period, but it was a Kyle Kuzma three with 45 seconds left in the period that broke a 31 all tie and was the difference in a 36-33 opening quarter. A 9-1 Laker run midway through the second helped LA build a nine point cushion, but the Celtics countered with eight in a row of their own. The lead changed hands numerous times in the final couple minutes, but by the time the halftime buzzer sounded, we were all square at 70 apiece. Boston was able to build an eight point lead about five minutes into the third, and pushed it to nine by the halfway point, but the Lakers wouldn't go away. Alex Caruso and Kuzma hit back to back threes with under two minutes to play, giving the Lakers a 104-102 lead going into the final 12 minutes. The fourth quarter saw five ties in the first five minutes as the teams sought an edge, but ultimately it was the Lakers who took over thanks to an Anthony Davis three point play that broke a 115-all tie, then added another with 4:18 to go to put his team up six, followed by a tip of a missed LeBron James three that pushed it to eight. Boston would get no closer than four the rest of the way, and our #2 overall seed is a win away from the Round of 16.
Anthony Davis ('20 LAL): 43 pts, 11 reb, 5 blk
LeBron James ('20 LAL): 16 pts, 17 ast, 6 stl
Larry Bird ('86 BOS): 22 pts, 8 reb, 11 ast
Game 6: @ '86 BOS 108, '20 LAL 98
The Celtics didn't grab their first lead in Game 6 until there were less than four minutes left in the opening quarter, and even then it seemed like despite the low score the Lakers were in control. Then Kevin McHale converted a three point play with 45 seconds left, and that gave the Celtics a two point to carry into the second. An early 6-0 run helped them add to their lead, though back to back threes from Danny Green and Kyle Kuzma cut it back to that two point margin about four minutes in. Jerry Sichting responded with one of his own, and that got the Celtics back on track. Boston would close the half on a 6-0 run to take an 11 point lead to the locker room. They got it up to 16 a minute into the second half, then used a 13-4 run to open up a 23 point margin. A Bill Walton jumper at the buzzer got it back to 22 going into the final period and Boston seemed poised to force a Game 7. The Lakers hit a couple threes a little past the halfway point and a margin that had been near 20 was slipping down as both teams still emptied their benches. Boston's reserves were able to hold the line a little bit, but the starters all came in following a Jared Dudley three that brought LA back to within single digits. But by then it was too little, too late, and the Celtics survived to force a winner take all game.
Larry Bird ('86 BOS): 23 pts, 9 reb, 8 ast
Robert Parish ('86 BOS): 22 pts, 10 reb
Anthony Davis ('20 LAL): 27 pts, 8 reb, 3 stl, 3 blk
An 8-0 Celtic run early in this one got the visitors off and running. The Lakers were able to keep it close, only threatening to tie the game once, but staying within striking distance and answering Boston's tries to extend the lead. Boston led by seven with about two minutes left in the period, but Rajon Rondo hit a three at the buzzer to get LA to within two going to the second. Rondo immediately tied the game to open the period, and that would later spark a 7-0 Laker run that put LA in front. The led by five at the midway point of the quarter, but the Celtics went on a 10-0 run to flip that around, and eventually go into the half up six as the Lakers missed two threes in the final 23 seconds that could have cut the deficit in half going to the break. The Lakers got their shooting going early in the third though, with a LeBron James three cutting it to one a minute in. The Lakers would do so four more times as the period went on, but each time the Celtics had an answer. Ultimately, a couple late Jerry Sichting baskets and a Robert Parish dunk with one second left gave Boston a five point lead with just 12 minutes left in the series. That dunk ended up being part of a 10-0 Celtic run that included defense that didn't allow a field goal in the period until Kyle Kuzma's three with 8:14 to go. Boston kept the pressure up and pushed the lead to 15 a minute later, and by the halfway point a Kevin McHale layup had put the Celtics up 12. Boston couldn't quite put them away, and despite more cold shooting on the whole from the Lakers, a Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shot with 2:52 left had gotten LA back within six. Danny Ainge then hit back to back jumpers to push the lead back up, though LA would cut it to four on tip ins from Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard. Ainge added another jumper, then after LeBron cut it back to four with just over a minute to go, Larry Bird broke the Lakers' backs with a three. LA took too long to get a shot off on its next possession, missed the second chance opportunity, and Bird put the game away with a pair of free throws to knock the #2 overall seed out of the tournament.
Larry Bird ('86 BOS): 20 pts, 12 reb, 7 ast
Robert Parish ('86 BOS): 21 pts, 16 reb
LeBron James ('20 LAL): 25 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast
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