1980 NBA Playoffs

The 1980 NBA Playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1979-80 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. The Lakers earned their 7th NBA title, their 2nd since moving from Minneapolis.

Magic Johnson became the first and (as of 2012), only rookie to be named NBA Finals MVP, leading L.A. to a clinching Game 6 victory with 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists. With center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar out with a severely sprained ankle, Johnson started at center instead, and ultimately played all 5 positions on the court during the game.

Philadelphia earned their third Eastern Conference championship, but were unsuccessful in capturing their second NBA title.

The Milwaukee Bucks appeared in the playoffs for the last time as a member of the West; the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs likewise appeared for the last time playing for the East. They switched conferences (along with the Chicago Bulls) in the 1980-81 season with the addition of the Dallas Mavericks.

Bracket

Western Conference

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers

1st Round

(1) Los Angeles Lakers and (2) Milwaukee Bucks have first-round byes.

(3) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers: Sonics win series 2-1

• Game 1 @ Seattle: Seattle 120, Portland 110
• Game 2 @ Portland: Portland 105, Seattle 95
• Game 3 @ Seattle: Seattle 103, Portland 86

(4) Phoenix Suns vs. (5) Kansas City Kings: Suns win series 2-1

• Game 1 @ Phoenix: Phoenix 96, Kansas City 93
• Game 2 @ Kansas City: Kansas City 106, Phoenix 96
• Game 3 @ Phoenix: Phoenix 114, Kansas City 99

Conference Semifinals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Phoenix Suns: Lakers win series 4-1

• Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 119, Phoenix 110
• Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 131, Phoenix 128
• Game 3 @ Phoenix: Los Angeles 108, Phoenix 105
• Game 4 @ Phoenix: Phoenix 127, Los Angeles 101
• Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 126, Phoenix 101

(2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (3) Seattle SuperSonics:Sonics win series 4-3

• Game 1 @ Seattle: Seattle 114, Milwaukee 113
• Game 2 @ Seattle: Milwaukee 114, Seattle 112
• Game 3 @ Milwaukee: Milwaukee 95, Seattle 91
• Game 4 @ Milwaukee: Seattle 112, Milwaukee 107
• Game 5 @ Seattle: Milwaukee 108, Seattle 97
• Game 6 @ Milwaukee: Seattle 86, Milwaukee 85
• Game 7 @ Seattle: Seattle 98, Milwaukee 94

Conference Finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Seattle SuperSonics: Lakers win series 4-1

• Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Seattle 108, Los Angeles 107
• Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 108, Seattle 99
• Game 3 @ Seattle: Los Angeles 104, Seattle 100
• Game 4 @ Seattle: Los Angeles 98, Seattle 93
• Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 111, Seattle 105

Eastern Conference

Champion: Philadelphia 76ers

(1) Boston Celtics and (2) Atlanta Hawks have first round byes.

(3) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (6) Washington Bullets: 76ers win series 2-0

• Game 1 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 111, Washington 96
• Game 2 @ Washington: Philadelphia 112, Washington 104

(4) Houston Rockets vs. (5) San Antonio Spurs: Rockets win series 2-1

• Game 1 @ Houston: Houston 95, San Antonio 85
• Game 2 @ San Antonio: San Antonio 106, Houston 101
• Game 3 @ Houston: Houston 141, San Antonio 120

Conference Semifinals

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Houston Rockets: Celtics win series 4-0

• Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 119, Houston 101
• Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 95, Houston 75
• Game 3 @ Houston: Boston 100, Houston 81
• Game 4 @ Houston: Boston 138, Houston 121

(2) Atlanta Hawks vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers: 76ers win series 4-1

• Game 1 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 107, Atlanta 104
• Game 2 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 99, Atlanta 92
• Game 3 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 105, Philadelphia 93
• Game 4 @ Atlanta: Philadelphia 107, Atlanta 83
• Game 5 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 105, Atlanta 100

Conference Finals

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers: 76ers win series 4-1

• Game 1 @ Boston: Philadelphia 96, Boston 93
• Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 96, Philadelphia 90
• Game 3 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 99, Boston 97
• Game 4 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 102, Boston 90
• Game 5 @ Boston: Philadelphia 105, Boston 94

NBA Finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers: Lakers win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 109, Philadelphia 102
• Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Philadelphia 107, Los Angeles 104
• Game 3 @ Philadelphia: Los Angeles 111, Philadelphia 101
• Game 4 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 105, Los Angeles 102 (Julius Erving makes the "Up and Under" move)
• Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 108, Philadelphia 103 (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dunks the game-winning 3-point play with 33 seconds left)
• Game 6 @ Philadelphia: Los Angeles 123, Philadelphia 107

External links

• Basketball-Reference.com's 1980 NBA Playoffs page