1987 NBA playoffs


The 1987 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1986–87 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. The Lakers earned their 10th NBA championship, and Magic Johnson was named NBA Finals MVP for a then-record third time.
This was the last time the Celtics would appear in the NBA Finals until 2008. Boston only advanced as far as the Conference Finals twice in that stretch: losing the following year to the Detroit Pistons in six games and in 2002 to the New Jersey Nets, also in 6 games.
The Pistons appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals was the franchise's first. It would be the first of five straight Conference Finals appearances for Detroit. They would make their first NBA Finals appearance since 1956 the following season, the first of 3 straight trips to the Finals.
The Warriors & Pacers made their first playoff appearances since 1977 and 1981 respectively. The Pacers also won their first NBA playoff game, in Game 3 of their first-round series against the Hawks.
By beating Dallas 3–1, the Supersonics became the first #7 seed to defeat a #2 seed since the playoffs expanded to 16 teams in 1984. They reached the Western Conference Finals, where they were swept by the Lakers. As of 2016, they are the most recent team with a sub-.500 record to advance as far as the conference finals. The 1989 & 1991 Warriors, 1998 Knicks and 2010 Spurs were the other 7th seeds to beat the 2nd seed.
One of the most memorable moments of the playoffs occurred in the final moments of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals when, with Boston down 107-106, Isiah Thomas had his inbounds pass stolen by Larry Bird, who passed to Dennis Johnson for the game-winning layup.
The only dent in the Lakers' run to the Finals came in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Warriors, when Sleepy Floyd scored a playoff record 39 points in the second half, with a record 29 coming in the fourth quarter, to seal a 129-121 win. Both records still stand.

Bracket

Western Conference

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers

1st Round

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets: Lakers win series 3–0
Los Angeles won 5–0 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


Dallas Mavericks vs. Seattle SuperSonics: SuperSonics win series 3–1
Dallas won 5–0 in the regular-season series


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


Portland Trail Blazers vs. Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 3–1
Portland won 3–2 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the Trail Blazers.
Utah Jazz vs. Golden State Warriors: Warriors win series 3–2
Utah won 3–2 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Warriors and the Jazz.

Conference Semifinals

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors: Lakers win series 4–1
Los Angeles won 4–2 in the regular-season series


This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning four of the first five meetings.
Los Angeles leads 4–1 in all-time playoff series


Houston Rockets vs. Seattle SuperSonics: SuperSonics win series 4–2
Seattle won 4–1 in the regular-season series


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

Conference Finals

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


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

Eastern Conference

Champion: Boston Celtics

1st Round

Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls: Celtics win series 3-0
Boston won 6–0 in the regular-season series


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


Atlanta Hawks vs. Indiana Pacers: Hawks win series 3-1
Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Hawks and the Pacers.
Detroit Pistons vs. Washington Bullets: Pistons win series 3-0
Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Pistons and the Bullets.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers: Bucks win series 3-2
Philadelphia won 3–2 in the regular-season series


This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning four of the first six meetings.
Philadelphia leads 4–2 in all-time playoff series

Conference Semifinals

Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks: Celtics win series 4-3
Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series


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


Atlanta Hawks vs. Detroit Pistons: ''Pistons win series 4-1
Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series


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

Conference Finals

Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons: Celtics win series 4-3
Boston won 3–2 in the regular-season series


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

NBA Finals

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics Lakers win series 4-2
Los Angeles won 2–0 in the regular-season series


This was the tenth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning eight of the first nine meetings.
Boston leads 8–1 in all-time playoff series