1985 NBA playoffs


The 1985 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1984–85 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named NBA Finals MVP for the second time.
The Lakers had been unsuccessful in their previous eight attempts to defeat the Celtics in the NBA Finals, losing 7 times from 1959–1969 and 1984. The Lakers, moreover, won the title in Boston, something no other NBA team has ever accomplished.
The Cavaliers made the playoffs for the first time since 1978.
It was also the first time that all three teams from Texas made the playoffs in the same year.
The Denver Nuggets advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 1978 and would not advance that far again until 2009. The Philadelphia 76ers, on the other hand, advanced to the conference finals for the fifth time in six years, but would not reach that level again until 2001.
It was also the first time that Turner Broadcasting was covering the playoffs as TBS was the home for some playoff games.
Games 3 and 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals at the Spectrum forced a Phil Collins concert at the arena to be rescheduled to the fall of 1985, as noted by Charlie Van Dyke when he sub-hosted an episode of American Top 40 on July 6 of that year.

The Bracket

Western Conference

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers
1st Round
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns: Lakers win series 3-0
Los Angeles won 5–1 in the regular-season series


This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first four meetings.
Los Angeles leads 4–0 in all-time playoff series


Denver Nuggets vs. San Antonio Spurs: Nuggets win series 3-2
Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series


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


Houston Rockets vs. Utah Jazz: Jazz win series 3-2
Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the Jazz.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Trail Blazers win series 3-1
Dallas won 4–1 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the Trail Blazers.
Conference Semifinals
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Lakers win series 4-1
Los Angeles won 5–1 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


Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz: Nuggets win series 4-1
Denver won 4–2 in the regular-season series


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


Conference Finals
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets: Lakers win series 4-1
Los Angeles won 3–2 in the regular-season series


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

Eastern Conference

Champion: Boston Celtics
1st Round
Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Celtics win series 3-1
Boston won 6–0 in the regular-season series


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


Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls: Bucks win series 3-1
Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series


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


Philadelphia 76ers vs. Washington Bullets: 76ers win series 3-1
Philadelphia won 4–2 in the regular-season series


This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bullets winning two of the first three meetings.
Washington leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series


Detroit Pistons vs. New Jersey Nets: Pistons win series 3-0
New Jersey won 5–1 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Pistons and the Nets.
Conference Semifinals
Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons: Celtics win series 4-2
Boston won 4–2 in the regular-season series


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


Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers: 76ers win series 4-0
Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series


This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning three of the first four meetings.
Philadelphia leads 3–1 in all-time playoff series


Conference Finals
Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers: Celtics win series 4-1
Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series


This was the 18th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning nine of the first 17 meetings.
Boston leads 9–8 in all-time playoff series

NBA Finals

Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Lakers win series 4-2
Tied 1–1 in the regular-season series


This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first eight meetings.
Boston leads 8–0 in all-time playoff series