# 1982 NBA Finals
The 1982 [NBA Finals](https://www.edgepedia.org/nba-finals) was the championship series of the 1981-82 NBA season, in which the [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.edgepedia.org/los-angeles-lakers) defeated the [Philadelphia 76ers](https://www.edgepedia.org/philadelphia-76ers) four games to two to win the NBA title, with Lakers guard Magic Johnson named Finals MVP.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982_finals.html) It was a rematch of the 1980 Finals, which the Lakers had also won 4-2, and the middle meeting of three Lakers-76ers Finals in four years, since Philadelphia won the 1983 rematch.[2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-05-sp-6688-story.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Result | Los Angeles Lakers over Philadelphia 76ers, 4-2[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982_finals.html) |
| Finals MVP | Magic Johnson, 16.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982_finals.html) |
| Dates | May 27 to June 8, 1982[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982_finals.html) |
| Paths to the Finals | Lakers swept Phoenix and San Antonio (8-0 in the West); 76ers beat Boston 4-3, winning Game 7 in Boston 120-106[3](https://www.nba.com/news/history-season-review-1981-82) • [4](https://as.com/baloncesto/nba/pat-riley-armani-gomina-y-showtime-f202602-n/) |
| Closest game | Game 1, Lakers by seven points (124-117)[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982_finals.html) • [3](https://www.nba.com/news/history-season-review-1981-82) |
| Philadelphia's series scoring | Andrew Toney 26.0 points per game, Julius Erving 25.0[2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-05-sp-6688-story.html) |
| 1982 playoff leaders | Points: Julius Erving (461); rebounds: Caldwell Jones (189); assists: Maurice Cheeks (172)[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982_finals.html) |
## Roads to the Finals
**The Lakers rebuilt mid-season.** Frustrated by their first-round playoff exit in 1981, they dismissed coach [Paul Westhead](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-westhead) just 11 games into the 1981-82 season after a disagreement with [Magic Johnson](https://www.edgepedia.org/magic-johnson), and [Pat Riley](https://www.edgepedia.org/pat-riley), a former Laker player brought in as an assistant the year before, took the top job when Jerry West declined it.[3](https://www.nba.com/news/history-season-review-1981-82) Riley installed a freewheeling offense and an aggressive trapping defense, and the Lakers won 57 games.[3](https://www.nba.com/news/history-season-review-1981-82) In the playoffs they swept Phoenix and San Antonio, going 8-0 in the Western Conference.[3](https://www.nba.com/news/history-season-review-1981-82) • [4](https://as.com/baloncesto/nba/pat-riley-armani-gomina-y-showtime-f202602-n/)
**Philadelphia again outlasted Boston.** The 76ers took a 3-1 lead over the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight year, watched Boston win twice to force a seventh game in Boston, and then triumphed 120-106 to reach the Finals.[3](https://www.nba.com/news/history-season-review-1981-82) Boston had won a league-high 63 games that season.[3](https://www.nba.com/news/history-season-review-1981-82)
## The series
The Lakers won Game 1 by seven points, 124-117, the closest game of the Finals, and the series ran as follows:[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982_finals.html) • [3](https://www.nba.com/news/history-season-review-1981-82)
1. **Game 1, May 27 (Los Angeles):** Lakers 124, 76ers 117. [Julius Erving](https://www.edgepedia.org/julius-erving) scored 27 for Philadelphia; Magic Johnson took 14 rebounds.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982_finals.html)
2. **Game 2, May 30 (Philadelphia):** 76ers 110, Lakers 94. Erving had 24 points and 14 rebounds.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982_finals.html)
3. **Game 3, June 1 (Los Angeles):** Lakers 129, 76ers 108. Andrew Toney scored 36 for Philadelphia.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982_finals.html)
4. **Game 4, June 3 (Los Angeles):** Lakers 111, 76ers 101. Toney led Philadelphia with 28.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982_finals.html)
5. **Game 5, June 6 (Philadelphia):** 76ers 135, Lakers 102. Toney scored 31 and Erving 12 rebounds as Philadelphia staved off elimination.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982_finals.html)
6. **Game 6, June 8 (Los Angeles):** Lakers 114, 76ers 104. Erving scored 30 and Johnson took 13 rebounds as the Lakers closed out the title.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982_finals.html)
The Lakers overcame the combination of Andrew Toney, who averaged 26.0 points per game in the series, and Julius Erving, who averaged 25.0, while [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://www.edgepedia.org/kareem-abdul-jabbar) shut down [Darryl Dawkins](https://www.edgepedia.org/darryl-dawkins).[2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-05-sp-6688-story.html)
## Key contributors
**Magic Johnson won his second Finals MVP.** After becoming the first rookie to win the award in 1980, he took the 1982 trophy with series averages of 16.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982_finals.html) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-05-sp-6688-story.html)
**Bob McAdoo finally reached the top.** A three-time league scoring champion with the [Buffalo Braves](https://www.edgepedia.org/buffalo-braves) whose teams had never gotten past the East semifinals, McAdoo was traded to Los Angeles the night before Christmas 1981 in a move that received little notice. He became a key player for the Lakers, averaging 16.7 points per game in the playoffs, and said after the title, "This is the happiest moment of my life."[3](https://www.nba.com/news/history-season-review-1981-82)
**Philadelphia's depth showed in the playoff statistics.** Julius Erving led all 1982 playoff scorers with 461 points and led in win shares with 3.0, Caldwell Jones led in rebounds with 189, and [Maurice Cheeks](https://www.edgepedia.org/maurice-cheeks) in assists with 172.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982_finals.html)
## Aftermath
The two teams met again in the 1983 Finals, when Philadelphia, having added league MVP Moses Malone, swept the undermanned Lakers 4-0 to give Erving his first NBA title.[5](https://www.nba.com/news/history-season-review-1982-83) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-05-sp-6688-story.html) The 1982 title was the second of Johnson's career and part of a Lakers run in which the franchise won four championships between 1980 and 1989, beating Philadelphia in 1980 and 1982, Boston in 1984-85 and 1986-87, and Detroit in 1987-88.[6](https://as.com/us/us/2022/02/12/nfl/1644699146_775859.html)
## References
1. [1982 NBA Finals - Lakers vs. 76ers, Basketball-Reference](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982_finals.html)
2. [The History: Philadelphia vs. the Lakers in the Finals, Los Angeles Times (June 5, 2001)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-05-sp-6688-story.html)
3. [Season Review: 1981-82, NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/news/history-season-review-1981-82)
4. [Pat Riley: gomina, Armani y Showtime, AS.com](https://as.com/baloncesto/nba/pat-riley-armani-gomina-y-showtime-f202602-n/)
5. [Season Review: 1982-83, NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/news/history-season-review-1982-83)
6. [Rams, obligados a seguir el paso de Dodgers y Lakers, AS.com](https://as.com/us/us/2022/02/12/nfl/1644699146_775859.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Basketball and court team sports › NBA and WNBA (North American professional basketball) › NBA and WNBA seasons, champions, and records › NBA seasons and team seasons › NBA playoffs*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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