Tournament details | |
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Dates | April 13–June 6, 1976 |
Season | 1975–76 |
Teams | 10 |
Final positions | |
Champions | Boston Celtics (13th title) |
Runner-up | Phoenix Suns |
Semifinalists |
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← 1975
1977 →
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The 1976 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1975–76 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. The series was highlighted by Game 5, a 3-OT victory by Boston. The Celtics won their 13th NBA title, second in the Dave Cowens era. Jo Jo White was named NBA Finals MVP.
This is the last postseason that had a 10 team format before the 1977 playoffs expanded to 12 teams.
The Suns earned their first two playoff series victories in franchise history to advance to the NBA Finals; they won their second Western Conference title in 1993, and their third title in 2021.
The sixth-year Cleveland Cavaliers made their first playoff appearance and won their first playoff series. They wouldn't win another playoff series until 1992.
This was the final playoff appearance for the Buffalo Braves franchise in Buffalo until 1992, when they returned as the Los Angeles Clippers.
This would prove the last Conference Finals appearance for the Golden State Warriors until 2015 under the leadership of Steph Curry.
The Philadelphia 76ers made the playoffs for the first time since 1971, starting a 12-season run that included four NBA Finals appearances (1977, 1980, 1982, and 1983 (winning in the latter year)). The Sixers did not miss the playoffs again until 1988.
Despite winning their division with a losing record of 38–44, the Milwaukee Bucks were forced to play in the best of three first round against the Detroit Pistons.
This is also noted to be the most recent NBA Playoffs that did not include a sweep and the last time a team from Texas did not appear in the playoffs (until 2023).
First Round | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | NBA Finals | ||||||||||||||||
E1 | Boston* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
E4 | Philadelphia | 1 | E5 | Buffalo | 2 | ||||||||||||||
E5 | Buffalo | 2 | Eastern Conference | E1 | Boston* | 4 | |||||||||||||
E2 | Cleveland* | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
E3 | Washington | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
E2 | Cleveland* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
E1 | Boston* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W3 | Phoenix | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
W1 | Golden State* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W4 | Milwaukee* | 1 | W5 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||||
W5 | Detroit | 2 | Western Conference | W1 | Golden State* | 3 | |||||||||||||
W3 | Phoenix | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W3 | Phoenix | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W2 | Seattle | 2 |
April 15 |
Buffalo Braves 95, Philadelphia 76ers89 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 28–22, 23–25, 22–25, 22–17 | ||
Pts: Bob McAdoo36 Rebs: Bob McAdoo21 Asts: Randy Smith13 |
Pts: Fred Carter30 Rebs: George McGinnis15 Asts: George McGinnis4 | |
Buffalo leads series, 1–0 |
Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
April 16 |
Philadelphia 76ers 131, Buffalo Braves 106 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 29–24, 34–24, 32–37, 36–21 | ||
Pts: George McGinnis34 Rebs: George McGinnis11 Asts: Fred Carter6 |
Pts: Randy Smith27 Rebs: Bob McAdoo13 Asts: Randy Smith7 | |
Series tied, 1–1 |
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York |
April 18 |
Buffalo Braves 124, Philadelphia 76ers 123 (OT) | ||
Scoring by quarter: 32–32, 23–32, 32–25, 24–22, Overtime: 13–12 | ||
Pts: Bob McAdoo34 Rebs: Bob McAdoo22 Asts: Randy Smith11 |
Pts: Fred Carter32 Rebs: George McGinnis15 Asts: Fred Carter6 | |
Buffalo wins series, 2–1 |
Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.[1]
April 13 |
Detroit Pistons 107, Milwaukee Bucks 110 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 25–23, 31–30, 23–28, 28–29 | ||
Pts: Bob Lanier25 Rebs: Bob Lanier15 Asts: Lanier, Clark 6 each |
Pts: Gary Brokaw36 Rebs: Elmore Smith13 Asts: Brian Winters7 | |
Milwaukee leads series, 1–0 |
MECCA Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
April 15 |
Milwaukee Bucks 123, Detroit Pistons 126 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 27–34, 31–26, 30–32, 35–34 | ||
Pts: Winters, Dandridge 31 each Rebs: Bob Dandridge9 Asts: Gary Brokaw12 |
Pts: Bob Lanier35 Rebs: Curtis Rowe10 Asts: Money, Clark 5 each | |
Series tied, 1–1 |
Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan |
April 18 |
Detroit Pistons 107, Milwaukee Bucks 104 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 36–29, 20–26, 24–27, 27–22 | ||
Pts: Bob Lanier28 Rebs: Bob Lanier12 Asts: Eric Money8 |
Pts: Brian Winters33 Rebs: Dave Meyers10 Asts: Gary Brokaw7 | |
Detroit wins series, 2–1 |
MECCA Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.[2]
April 21 |
Buffalo Braves 98, Boston Celtics 107 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 31–29, 20–26, 25–29, 22–23 | ||
Pts: Randy Smith27 Rebs: Randy Smith10 Asts: Randy Smith12 |
Pts: Dave Cowens30 Rebs: Dave Cowens17 Asts: Jo Jo White8 | |
Boston leads series, 1–0 |
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
April 23 |
Buffalo Braves 96, Boston Celtics 101 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 24–28, 24–27, 25–24, 23–22 | ||
Pts: Bob McAdoo40 Rebs: John Shumate11 Asts: Randy Smith7 |
Pts: Dave Cowens27 Rebs: Dave Cowens18 Asts: Charlie Scott6 | |
Boston leads series, 2–0 |
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
April 25 |
Boston Celtics 93, Buffalo Braves 98 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 24–12, 23–36, 25–24, 21–26 | ||
Pts: Jo Jo White26 Rebs: Dave Cowens14 Asts: Charlie Scott7 |
Pts: Randy Smith29 Rebs: Randy Smith14 Asts: Ernie DiGregorio10 | |
Boston leads series, 2–1 |
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York |
April 28 |
Boston Celtics 122, Buffalo Braves 124 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 34–39, 34–28, 20–27, 34–30 | ||
Pts: Dave Cowens29 Rebs: Dave Cowens26 Asts: Jo Jo White11 |
Pts: Bob McAdoo30 Rebs: Bob McAdoo17 Asts: Randy Smith10 | |
Series tied, 2–2 |
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York |
April 30 |
Buffalo Braves 88, Boston Celtics 99 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 17–20, 19–26, 29–30, 23–23 | ||
Pts: Bob McAdoo23 Rebs: Bob McAdoo14 Asts: Ernie DiGregorio6 |
Pts: Dave Cowens30 Rebs: Paul Silas22 Asts: Jo Jo White6 | |
Boston leads series, 3–2 |
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
May 2 |
Boston Celtics 104, Buffalo Braves 100 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 30–27, 20–28, 27–23, 27–22 | ||
Pts: Jo Jo White23 Rebs: Paul Silas18 Asts: Charlie Scott8 |
Pts: Bob McAdoo28 Rebs: John Shumate16 Asts: Ernie DiGregorio8 | |
Boston wins series, 4–2 |
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York |
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first meeting.
Boston leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series | ||||||
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|
April 13 |
Washington Bullets 100, Cleveland Cavaliers95 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 37–19, 19–16, 22–25, 22–35 | ||
Pts: Elvin Hayes28 Rebs: Elvin Hayes18 Asts: Dave Bing5 |
Pts: Jim Chones23 Rebs: Campy Russell11 Asts: Jim Cleamons8 | |
Washington leads series, 1–0 |
Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio |
April 15 |
Cleveland Cavaliers 80, Washington Bullets79 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 24–24, 12–22, 27–17, 17–16 | ||
Pts: Bingo Smith17 Rebs: Nate Thurmond10 Asts: Bingo Smith4 |
Pts: Phil Chenier19 Rebs: Unseld, Robinson 13 each Asts: Dave Bing7 | |
Series tied, 1–1 |
Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland |
April 17 |
Washington Bullets 76, Cleveland Cavaliers 88 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 15–21, 22–24, 17–22, 22–21 | ||
Pts: Elvin Hayes17 Rebs: Wes Unseld13 Asts: four players 3 each |
Pts: Smith, Carr 17 each Rebs: Jim Brewer12 Asts: Jim Brewer6 | |
Cleveland leads series, 2–1 |
Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio |
April 21 |
Cleveland Cavaliers 98, Washington Bullets 109 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 29–26, 22–25, 19–27, 28–31 | ||
Pts: Campy Russell22 Rebs: Jim Brewer10 Asts: Foots Walker6 |
Pts: Clem Haskins22 Rebs: Unseld, Hayes 14 each Asts: Wes Unseld7 | |
Series tied, 2–2 |
Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland |
April 22 |
Washington Bullets 91, Cleveland Cavaliers 92 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 23–23, 26–25, 22–28, 20–16 | ||
Pts: Elvin Hayes25 Rebs: Elvin Hayes13 Asts: Dave Bing6 |
Pts: Dick Snyder26 Rebs: Jim Brewer12 Asts: Cleamons, Snyder 4 each | |
Cleveland leads series, 3–2 |
Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio |
April 26 |
Cleveland Cavaliers 98, Washington Bullets 102 (OT) | ||
Scoring by quarter: 19–30, 25–19, 21–22, 23–17, Overtime: 10–14 | ||
Pts: Austin Carr27 Rebs: Jim Brewer12 Asts: Cleamons, Carr 5 each |
Pts: Elvin Hayes28 Rebs: Wes Unseld18 Asts: Wes Unseld8 | |
Series tied, 3–3 |
Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland |
April 29 |
Washington Bullets 85, Cleveland Cavaliers 87 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 26–29, 21–19, 24–21, 14–18 | ||
Pts: Phil Chenier31 Rebs: Elvin Hayes11 Asts: Wes Unseld4 |
Pts: Dick Snyder23 Rebs: Jim Brewer16 Asts: Jim Cleamons6 | |
Cleveland wins series, 4–3 |
Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio |
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.[4]
April 20 |
Detroit Pistons 103, Golden State Warriors 127 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 31–34, 20–31, 24–27, 28–35 | ||
Pts: Bob Lanier18 Rebs: Bob Lanier16 Asts: Chris Ford7 |
Pts: Phil Smith26 Rebs: Clifford Ray12 Asts: Rick Barry14 | |
Golden State leads series, 1–0 |
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California |
April 22 |
Detroit Pistons 123, Golden State Warriors 111 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 39–37, 31–29, 29–18, 24–27 | ||
Pts: Curtis Rowe33 Rebs: Curtis Rowe10 Asts: Chris Ford9 |
Pts: Rick Barry27 Rebs: Clifford Ray12 Asts: Rick Barry8 | |
Series tied, 1–1 |
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California |
April 24 |
Golden State Warriors 113, Detroit Pistons96 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 25–26, 28–22, 31–27, 29–21 | ||
Pts: Phil Smith34 Rebs: Jamaal Wilkes18 Asts: Rick Barry10 |
Pts: Bob Lanier23 Rebs: Bob Lanier16 Asts: Eric Money8 | |
Golden State leads series, 2–1 |
Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan |
April 26 |
Golden State Warriors 102, Detroit Pistons 106 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 31–28, 17–25, 21–32, 33–21 | ||
Pts: Phil Smith31 Rebs: Clifford Ray8 Asts: Rick Barry6 |
Pts: Bob Lanier30 Rebs: Bob Lanier11 Asts: Eric Money7 | |
Series tied, 2–2 |
Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan |
April 28 |
Detroit Pistons 109, Golden State Warriors 128 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 22–28, 26–32, 32–33, 29–35 | ||
Pts: Howard Porter20 Rebs: Bob Lanier12 Asts: Archie Clark5 |
Pts: Phil Smith28 Rebs: Clifford Ray14 Asts: Rick Barry11 | |
Golden State leads series, 3–2 |
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California |
April 30 |
Golden State Warriors 118, Detroit Pistons 116 (OT) | ||
Scoring by quarter: 30–31, 25–32, 27–22, 28–25, Overtime: 8–6 | ||
Pts: Phil Smith37 Rebs: three players 8 each Asts: Phil Smith7 |
Pts: Bob Lanier30 Rebs: Bob Lanier16 Asts: Eric Money9 | |
Golden State wins series, 4–2 |
Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan |
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Warriors winning the only meeting when both teams were based in Philadelphia and Fort Wayne respectively.
Golden State/ Philadelphia leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
April 13 |
Phoenix Suns 99, Seattle SuperSonics 102 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 21–29, 26–22, 26–28, 26–23 | ||
Pts: Paul Westphal24 Rebs: Gar Heard10 Asts: Paul Westphal10 |
Pts: Fred Brown34 Rebs: Fred Brown7 Asts: Slick Watts8 | |
Seattle leads series, 1–0 |
Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington |
April 15 |
Phoenix Suns 116, Seattle SuperSonics 111 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 30–29, 35–28, 22–29, 29–25 | ||
Pts: Alvan Adams23 Rebs: Curtis Perry12 Asts: Alvan Adams7 |
Pts: Fred Brown45 Rebs: Tommy Burleson12 Asts: Slick Watts6 | |
Series tied, 1–1 |
Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington |
April 18 |
Seattle SuperSonics 91, Phoenix Suns 103 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 16–27, 31–24, 14–27, 30–25 | ||
Pts: Slick Watts18 Rebs: three players 8 each Asts: Slick Watts7 |
Pts: Heard, Westphal 16 each Rebs: Gar Heard14 Asts: Westphal, Adams 6 each | |
Phoenix leads series, 2–1 |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona |
April 20 |
Seattle SuperSonics 114, Phoenix Suns 130 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 26–31, 21–29, 25–30, 42–40 | ||
Pts: Fred Brown33 Rebs: Tommy Burleson20 Asts: Herm Gilliam7 |
Pts: Paul Westphal39 Rebs: Gar Heard11 Asts: Ricky Sobers8 | |
Phoenix leads series, 3–1 |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona |
April 25 |
Phoenix Suns 108, Seattle SuperSonics 114 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 23–28, 27–28, 30–30, 28–28 | ||
Pts: Paul Westphal27 Rebs: Dennis Awtrey12 Asts: three players 4 each |
Pts: Bruce Seals28 Rebs: Willie Norwood13 Asts: Slick Watts12 | |
Phoenix leads series, 3–2 |
Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington |
April 27 |
Seattle SuperSonics 112, Phoenix Suns 123 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 23–25, 27–35, 24–34, 38–29 | ||
Pts: Seals, Watts 24 each Rebs: Bruce Seals7 Asts: Slick Watts11 |
Pts: Keith Erickson20 Rebs: Heard, Adams 9 each Asts: Alvan Adams10 | |
Phoenix wins series, 4–2 |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona |
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.[6]
May 6 |
Cleveland Cavaliers 99, Boston Celtics 111 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 20–32, 28–25, 29–20, 22–34 | ||
Pts: Snyder, Russell 21 each Rebs: Nate Thurmond16 Asts: Jim Cleamons6 |
Pts: John Havlicek26 Rebs: Dave Cowens12 Asts: Dave Cowens7 | |
Boston leads series, 1–0 |
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
May 9 |
Cleveland Cavaliers 89, Boston Celtics 94 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 19–24, 29–20, 23–24, 18–26 | ||
Pts: Snyder, Smith 16 each Rebs: Jim Brewer9 Asts: Foots Walker6 |
Pts: Jo Jo White24 Rebs: Paul Silas19 Asts: three players 4 each | |
Boston leads series, 2–0 |
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
May 11 |
Boston Celtics 78, Cleveland Cavaliers 83 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 16–16, 22–27, 16–15, 24–25 | ||
Pts: Jo Jo White22 Rebs: Paul Silas21 Asts: Jo Jo White7 |
Pts: Jim Cleamons18 Rebs: Jim Brewer15 Asts: Nate Thurmond6 | |
Boston leads series, 2–1 |
Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio |
May 14 |
Boston Celtics 87, Cleveland Cavaliers 106 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 23–27, 28–22, 19–24, 17–33 | ||
Pts: Jo Jo White23 Rebs: Dave Cowens18 Asts: Dave Cowens4 |
Pts: Bingo Smith27 Rebs: Jim Brewer11 Asts: Jim Cleamons8 | |
Series tied, 2–2 |
Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio |
May 16 |
Cleveland Cavaliers 94, Boston Celtics 99 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 23–22, 19–20, 22–26, 30–31 | ||
Pts: Jim Cleamons18 Rebs: Nate Thurmond10 Asts: Cleamons, Smith 4 each |
Pts: Dave Cowens26 Rebs: Paul Silas13 Asts: Dave Cowens6 | |
Boston leads series, 3–2 |
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
May 18 |
Boston Celtics 94, Cleveland Cavaliers87 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 22–19, 21–27, 24–23, 27–18 | ||
Pts: Jo Jo White29 Rebs: Dave Cowens18 Asts: White, Cowens 5 each |
Pts: Austin Carr26 Rebs: Nate Thurmond14 Asts: Thurmond, Cleamons 5 each | |
Boston wins series, 4–2 |
Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio |
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.[7]
May 2 |
Phoenix Suns 103, Golden State Warriors 128 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 28–30, 20–28, 24–31, 31–39 | ||
Pts: Curtis Perry22 Rebs: Alvan Adams14 Asts: Alvan Adams6 |
Pts: Rick Barry38 Rebs: Clifford Ray11 Asts: Gus Williams6 | |
Golden State leads series, 1–0 |
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California |
May 5 |
Phoenix Suns 108, Golden State Warriors 101 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 28–26, 18–18, 35–29, 27–28 | ||
Pts: Paul Westphal31 Rebs: Gar Heard12 Asts: Alvan Adams9 |
Pts: Rick Barry44 Rebs: George Johnson11 Asts: Rick Barry4 | |
Series tied, 1–1 |
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California |
May 7 |
Golden State Warriors 99, Phoenix Suns91 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 24–22, 24–31, 26–18, 25–20 | ||
Pts: Jamaal Wilkes22 Rebs: Rick Barry7 Asts: Barry, Smith 6 each |
Pts: Paul Westphal24 Rebs: Alvan Adams14 Asts: Ricky Sobers6 | |
Golden State leads series, 2–1 |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona |
May 9 |
Golden State Warriors 129, Phoenix Suns 133 (2OT) | ||
Scoring by quarter: 30–36, 33–29, 24–26, 25–21, Overtime: 7–7, 10–14 | ||
Pts: Phil Smith30 Rebs: Jamaal Wilkes14 Asts: Phil Smith8 |
Pts: Keith Erickson28 Rebs: Gar Heard18 Asts: Paul Westphal8 | |
Series tied, 2–2 |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona |
May 12 |
Phoenix Suns 95, Golden State Warriors 111 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 24–40, 26–29, 22–15, 23–27 | ||
Pts: Curtis Perry23 Rebs: Curtis Perry18 Asts: Westphal, Sobers 4 each |
Pts: Phil Smith25 Rebs: Clifford Ray16 Asts: Phil Smith6 | |
Golden State leads series, 3–2 |
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California |
May 14 |
Golden State Warriors 104, Phoenix Suns 105 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 26–28, 31–26, 21–31, 26–20 | ||
Pts: Rick Barry30 Rebs: Clifford Ray12 Asts: Barry, Smith 6 each |
Pts: Ricky Sobers21 Rebs: Gar Heard15 Asts: three players 6 each | |
Series tied, 3–3 |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona |
May 16 |
Phoenix Suns 94, Golden State Warriors86 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 22–26, 20–22, 25–17, 27–21 | ||
Pts: Gar Heard21 Rebs: Alvan Adams20 Asts: Westphal, Perry 4 each |
Pts: Rick Barry20 Rebs: Wilkes, Ray 13 each Asts: Phil Smith6 | |
Phoenix wins series, 4–3 |
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California |
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.[8]
May 23 |
Phoenix Suns 87, Boston Celtics 98 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 20–22, 19–22, 27–27, 21–27 | ||
Pts: Alvan Adams26 Rebs: Curtis Perry10 Asts: Ricky Sobers7 |
Pts: Dave Cowens25 Rebs: Dave Cowens21 Asts: Dave Cowens10 | |
Boston leads series, 1–0 |
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
May 27 |
Phoenix Suns 90, Boston Celtics 105 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 25–24, 16–22, 16–34, 33–25 | ||
Pts: Paul Westphal28 Rebs: Alvan Adams15 Asts: Westphal, Adams 5 each |
Pts: John Havlicek23 Rebs: Paul Silas17 Asts: Jo Jo White9 | |
Boston leads series, 2–0 |
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
May 30 |
Boston Celtics 98, Phoenix Suns 105 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 17–26, 22–26, 26–26, 33–27 | ||
Pts: Jo Jo White24 Rebs: Dave Cowens17 Asts: Charlie Scott5 |
Pts: Alvan Adams33 Rebs: Alvan Adams14 Asts: Paul Westphal6 | |
Boston leads series, 2–1 |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona |
June 2 |
Boston Celtics 107, Phoenix Suns 109 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 30–35, 27–25, 23–27, 27–22 | ||
Pts: Jo Jo White25 Rebs: Paul Silas14 Asts: Jo Jo White5 |
Pts: Paul Westphal28 Rebs: Gar Heard15 Asts: Paul Westphal9 | |
Series tied, 2–2 |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona |
June 4 |
Phoenix Suns 126, Boston Celtics 128 (3OT) | ||
Scoring by quarter: 18–36, 27–25, 27–16, 23–18, Overtime: 6–6, 11–11, 14–16 | ||
Pts: Westphal, Sobers 25 each Rebs: Curtis Perry15 Asts: Perry, Sobers 6 each |
Pts: Jo Jo White33 Rebs: Dave Cowens19 Asts: Jo Jo White9 | |
Boston leads series, 3–2 |
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
June 6 |
Boston Celtics 87, Phoenix Suns80 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 20–20, 18–13, 19–23, 30–24 | ||
Pts: Charlie Scott25 Rebs: Dave Cowens17 Asts: Jo Jo White6 |
Pts: Alvan Adams20 Rebs: Gar Heard10 Asts: Alvan Adams6 | |
Boston wins series, 4–2 |
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona |
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.[9]