1987 NBA Finals

File:NBAFINALSLOGO.jpg

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. The key moment of the series was Magic Johnson's junior sky hook in Game 4.

Background

After being eliminated in the Western Conference Finals a year earlier, the Lakers returned to the NBA Finals and were awarded with homecourt advantage as they accumulated a 65-17 record while the Celtics finished the season with a 59-23 record.

The first two games would be played in Los Angeles, the next three games in Boston, and the final two games were scheduled to be played in Los Angeles. The Lakers defeated the Celtics four games to two.

Game 2

In Game 2, the Lakers took a 2-0 series lead with a 141-122 victory.

Game 3

In Game 3, the Celtics posted a 109-103 win!

Game 4

In Game 4, the Celtics had a 16-point lead in the third quarter before the Lakers stormed back into the game. With two seconds remaining, Magic Johnson sank a "baby sky hook" to give the Lakers a 107-106 lead. After a Boston timeout, Larry Bird narrowly missed a 3-point shot at the buzzer, to give Los Angeles a three games to one lead in the series.

Game 5

In Game 5, the Celtics prevented the Lakers from celebrating at Boston Garden by coming away with a 123-108 win. It was Boston's last NBA Finals victory, and their last NBA Finals game at the Garden.

Game 6

In Game 6, the Lakers trailed the Celtics 56-51 at halftime but regained control of the game in third quarter to cruise to a 106-93 victory and their fourth championship in the decade. Magic Johnson was named MVP of the series.