1972 NBA Playoffs
Encyclopedia
The 1972 NBA Playoffs
was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association
's 1971–72 season
. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference
champion Los Angeles Lakers
defeating the Eastern Conference
champion New York Knicks
, four games to one in the NBA Finals
. Wilt Chamberlain
was named NBA Finals MVP.
The Lakers finished the regular season with the best record in NBA history at 69-13, a mark that would be unequalled until the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls
finished 72-10. Led by Wilt Chamberlain
and Jerry West
, the Lakers won their first championship in Los Angeles; their previous title had been in 1954
as the Minneapolis Lakers.
The Lakers won their first NBA Finals in the last nine appearances, without superstar Elgin Baylor
, who had played in each of the preceding eight finals losses. Baylor retired nine games into the season because of ongoing knee problems.
Conference Semifinals
(P1) Los Angeles Lakers
vs. (M2) Chicago Bulls
:
Lakers win series 4-0
(M1) Milwaukee Bucks
vs. (P2) Golden State Warriors
:
Bucks win series 4-1
Conference Finals
(P1) Los Angeles Lakers
vs. (M1) Milwaukee Bucks
:
Lakers win series 4-2
Conference Semifinals
(A1) Boston Celtics
vs. (C2) Atlanta Hawks
:
Celtics win series 4-2
(C1) Baltimore Bullets
vs. (A2) New York Knicks
:
Knicks win series 4-2
Conference Finals
(A1) Boston Celtics
vs. (A2) New York Knicks
:
Knicks win series 4-1
VS. (A2) New York Knicks
:
Lakers win series 4-1
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
's 1971–72 season
1971–72 NBA season
The 1971–72 NBA season was the 26th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Los Angeles Lakers winning the NBA Championship, beating the New York Knicks 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals....
. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference
Western Conference (NBA)
Below is a list of current Western Conference NBA team rosters.-Western Conference:There are a total of 15 teams in the Western Conference. The current leading team of the Western conference are the Dallas Mavericks....
champion Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
defeating the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (NBA)
The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...
champion New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, four games to one in the NBA Finals
1972 NBA Finals
The 1972 NBA Finals was played at the conclusion of the 1971–72 NBA season. The Western Conference Champion Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Conference Champion New York Knicks in five games...
. Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
was named NBA Finals MVP.
The Lakers finished the regular season with the best record in NBA history at 69-13, a mark that would be unequalled until the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
finished 72-10. Led by Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
and Jerry West
Jerry West
Jerry Alan West is a retired American basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . His nicknames include "Mr...
, the Lakers won their first championship in Los Angeles; their previous title had been in 1954
1954 NBA Playoffs
The 1954 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1953-1954 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Minneapolis Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Syracuse Nationals, four games to three in the NBA Finals.For the...
as the Minneapolis Lakers.
The Lakers won their first NBA Finals in the last nine appearances, without superstar Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor
Elgin Gay Baylor is a retired Hall of Fame American basketball player and former NBA general manager who played 13 seasons as a forward for the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers....
, who had played in each of the preceding eight finals losses. Baylor retired nine games into the season because of ongoing knee problems.
Western Conference
Champion: Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
Conference Semifinals
(P1) Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
vs. (M2) Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
:
Lakers win series 4-0
- Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 95, Chicago 88
- Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 131, Chicago 124
- Game 3 @ Chicago: Los Angeles 108, Chicago 101
- Game 4 @ Chicago: Los Angeles 108, Chicago 97
(M1) Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
vs. (P2) Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
:
Bucks win series 4-1
- Game 1 @ Milwaukee: Golden State 117, Milwaukee 106
- Game 2 @ Milwaukee: Milwaukee 118, Golden State 93
- Game 3 @ Golden State: Milwaukee 122, Golden State 94
- Game 4 @ Golden State: Milwaukee 106, Golden State 99
- Game 5 @ Milwaukee: Milwaukee 108, Golden State 100
Conference Finals
(P1) Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
vs. (M1) Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
:
Lakers win series 4-2
- Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Milwaukee 93, Los Angeles 72
- Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 135, Milwaukee 134
- Game 3 @ Milwaukee: Los Angeles 108, Milwaukee 105
- Game 4 @ Milwaukee: Milwaukee 114, Los Angeles 88
- Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 115, Milwaukee 90
- Game 6 @ Milwaukee: Los Angeles 104, Milwaukee 100
Eastern Conference
Champion: New York KnicksNew York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
Conference Semifinals
(A1) Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
vs. (C2) Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
:
Celtics win series 4-2
- Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 126, Atlanta 108
- Game 2 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 113, Boston 104
- Game 3 @ Boston: Boston 136, Atlanta 113
- Game 4 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 112, Boston 110
- Game 5 @ Boston: Boston 124, Atlanta 114
- Game 6 @ Atlanta: Boston 127, Atlanta 118
(C1) Baltimore Bullets
Baltimore Bullets
Baltimore Bullets has been the name of three different basketball franchises:* Baltimore Bullets , an American Basketball League franchise and National Basketball Association franchise that folded in 1954....
vs. (A2) New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
:
Knicks win series 4-2
- Game 1 @ Baltimore: Baltimore 108, New York 105
- Game 2 @ New York: New York 110, Baltimore 88
- Game 3 @ Baltimore: Baltimore 104, New York 103
- Game 4 @ New York: New York 104, Baltimore 98
- Game 5 @ Baltimore: New York 106, Baltimore 82
- Game 6 @ New York: New York 107, Baltimore 101
Conference Finals
(A1) Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
vs. (A2) New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
:
Knicks win series 4-1
- Game 1 @ Boston: New York 116, Boston 94
- Game 2 @ New York: New York 106, Boston 105
- Game 3 @ Boston: Boston 115, New York 109
- Game 4 @ New York: New York 116, Boston 98
- Game 5 @ Boston: New York 111, Boston 103
NBA finals
(P1) Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
VS. (A2) New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
:
Lakers win series 4-1
- Game 1 @ Los Angeles: New York 114, Los Angeles 92
- Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 106, New York 92
- Game 3 @ New York: Los Angeles 107, New York 96
- Game 4 @ New York: Los Angeles 116, New York 111
- Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 114, New York 100 (Lakers win their first cahampionship after moving to L.A.)