1982 NBA playoffs


The 1982 NBA playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1981–82 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Magic Johnson was named NBA Finals MVP for the second time.
It was the second NBA Finals meeting in three years between the Lakers and Sixers, and ended with the same result—a 4–2 Lakers victory—as the previous confrontation. They met again in 1983, with Philadelphia getting revenge in a sweep. The Sixers beat the Celtics again in the Eastern Conference Finals, the second of their three series wins in a four-year stretch.
The Bullets' 2-0 sweep of the Nets was their last playoff series victory until 2005.
This was the third straight year the Bucks failed to advance to the third round with the #2 seed despite a first-round bye.

Bracket

Western Conference

First Round

Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs have 1st-round byes.
Seattle SuperSonics vs. Houston Rockets: SuperSonics win series 2-1
Seattle won 3–2 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the SuperSonics.
Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns: Suns win series 2-1
Phoenix won 3–2 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Nuggets and the Suns.

Conference Semifinals

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns: Lakers win series 4-0
Los Angeles won 4–2 in the regular-season series


This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first two meetings.
Los Angeles leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series


San Antonio Spurs vs. Seattle SuperSonics: Spurs win series 4-1
San Antonio won 4–1 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Spurs and the SuperSonics.

Conference Finals

Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs: Lakers win series 4-0
San Antonio won 3–2 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Lakers and the Spurs.

Eastern Conference

First Round

Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks have first-round byes.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Atlanta Hawks: 76ers win series 2-0
Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series


This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning the first meeting.
Philadelphia leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series


New Jersey Nets vs. Washington Bullets: Bullets win series 2-0
New Jersey won 4–2 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Nets and the Bullets.

Conference Semifinals

Boston Celtics vs. Washington Bullets: Celtics win series 4-1
Boston won 6–0 in the regular-season series


This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bullets winning the first meeting.
Washington leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series


Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers: 76ers win series 4-2
Milwaukee won 4–2 in the regular-season series


This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.
Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series

Conference Finals

Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers: 76ers win series 4-3
The Celtics were not able to overcome a 3–1 series deficit twice in a row, losing Game 7 at home. The Sixers became the 2nd team to ever beat the Celtics in a Game 7 in the Garden and the 3rd NBA road team to win Game 7 after leading series 3–1. The Boston Garden crowd in Game 7 chanted "Beat LA! Beat LA!" to the victorious Sixers.
Boston won 4–2 in the regular-season series


This was the 17th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning nine of the first 16 meetings.
Boston leads 9–7 in all-time playoff series

NBA Finals

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Lakers win series 4-2
Tied 1–1 in the regular-season series


This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first three meetings.
Los Angeles leads 3–0 in all-time playoff series