2003: Tim Duncan
Duncan scored a game-high 29 points (10-18 FGA, 9-10 FTA) with 17 rebounds, four assists and four blocks in 46 minutes in the Spurs’ 93-83 win at New Jersey. The Spurs claimed the series in six games and Duncan was named Finals MVP.
1997: Michael Jordan
Flu-ridden Jordan poured in a game-high 38 points (13-27 FGA, 10-12 FTA, 2-4 from downtown) with seven boards and five assists in 44 minutes to lead the Bulls to a 90-88 win at Utah. The Bulls won series in six games and Jordan was named Finals MVP.
1992: Michael Jordan
Jordan scored 46 points – his second-highest scoring performance in a Finals game – on 14-23 FGA, 16-19 FTA and 2-4 from downtown, adding five rebounds and four assists in 42 minutes in the Bulls’ decisive 119-106 win at Portland. The Bulls won the series with a come-from-behind triumph in Game 6. Jordan was named Finals MVP.
1985: Kareem, Magic and Big Game James
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored a game-high 36 points, James Worthy added 33 and Magic Johnson had 26 points and 17 assists in the Lakers’ 120-111 win over the Celtics at the Forum. The Lakers won the title in Game 6 at Boston. Abdul-Jabbar was named Finals MVP.
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Walton hauled in 24 boards in 1977's Game 5.
NBA Photos |
Larry Bird scored 34 points on 15-of-20 shooting and grabbed 17 rebounds as the Celtics won in Boston, 121-103. The Celtics won the series in a 111-102 Game 7 win at Boston and Larry Bird was named Finals MVP.
1981: Cedric Maxwell
Maxwell notched game highs in points (28 on 10-13 FGA, 8-10 FTA) and rebounds (15, including seven offensive) in the Celtics’ 109-80 rout of the Rockets at Boston. The Celtics won the series in six games and Maxwell was named Finals MVP.
1977: Walton, Mo and Bobby
Bill Walton hauled in 24 rebounds to go along with 14 points; Maurice Lucas scored 20 points with 13 boards; and unheralded Bobby Gross scored a team-high 25 points (10-13 FGA, 5-5 FTA) in only 25 minutes as the Trail Blazers stunned the Sixers 110-104 at the Spectrum. The Trail Blazers took a 3-2 series lead after losing the first two games, and its the first win for a road team in the series. Portland clinched the title with a wild Game 6 win at Portland. Bill Walton was named Finals MVP.
1976: Glenn McDonald!! Glenn McDonald!!
Literally the last man on the Celtics bench, McDonald scored eight points (3-5 FGA, 2-2 FTA) in the third overtime to lift Boston to a 128-126 win over the Suns in a classic at the Boston Garden. The Celtics won series in Game 6 at Phoenix and Jo Jo White – who scored a game-high 33 points in Game Five – was named Finals MVP.
1970: That Old Knicks Magic
With the Knicks trailing L.A. 25-15 late in the first quarter, Willis Reed crumbled to the floor with a thigh injury. The Knicks regrouped and used a 1-3-1 lineup to throw a defensive blanket over the Lakers the rest of the way. New York forced 30 turnovers and held Wilt Chamberlain to four points in the second half, and Jerry West to no field goals made in the second half. Walt Frazier scored 21 points with 12 assists, while Cazzie Russell (20 pts) and Dave Stallworth (12) came off the bench to play huge roles in the Knicks’ 107-100 win at Madison Square Garden. Reed returned for the Knicks’ title clincher in Game 7, and was named Finals MVP.
1962: Elgin Goes for 61
The Los Angeles Lakers were making their first Finals appearance and it looked as if they were going to make it a success thanks to Elgin Baylor. The forward poured in a still-Finals record (and then-playoffs record) 61 points and added 22 rebounds against the Celtics in the Boston Garden, giving the Lakers a 3-2 series lead. The Lakers would eventually succumb to the Celtics in seven games.