Helena Frye
The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association. The Eastern and Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league champion. The NBA Finals has seen some memorable moments, including Kobe Bryant's 28-point performance in the 2000 Finals, Michael Jordan's game-winning jumper in the 1998 Finals, and Magic Johnson's sky hook in the 1988 Finals. The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have historically dominated the NBA Finals, with the Celtics winning the most championships in the NBA thus far. More recently, the Golden State Warriors clinched the 2022 NBA Finals, with Steph Curry delivering a series-winning impact.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 2022 |
| Winner | Golden State Warriors |
| Runner-up | Boston Celtics |
| Score | Game 1: Boston Celtics 120-108 Golden State Warriors; Game 2: Golden State Warriors 107-88 Boston Celtics; Game 3: Boston Celtics 116-100 Golden State Warriors; Game 4: Golden State Warriors 107-97 Boston Celtics; Game 6: Golden State Warriors 103-90 Boston Celtics |
| Notable Performances | Game 2: Steph Curry (29 points), Jordan Poole; Game 4: Jaylen Brown (24 points), Al Horford (23 points); Game 6: Steph Curry (34 points), Jaylen Brown (18 points) |
| Number of Wins | Boston Celtics: 2; Golden State Warriors: 4 |
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What You'll Learn
Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers in 1969
The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have a storied history in the NBA Finals, meeting a record 12 times. Their first meeting was in 1959, and they went on to dominate the league in the 1960s and 1980s, facing each other in the Finals six times in the 1960s and three times in the 1980s. The two teams have won the highest numbers of championships in the NBA, with the Celtics winning 18 and the Lakers 17 (12 in Los Angeles and 5 in Minneapolis). Together, they account for 45% of all NBA championships.
In 1969, the Celtics faced the Lakers in the NBA Finals. The Lakers had acquired Wilt Chamberlain in 1968, bringing his personal rivalry with Bill Russell to the forefront. The Lakers had the best record in the West during the 1968-1969 season, while the Celtics, an ageing team with multiple injuries, struggled to enter the postseason. Despite this, the Celtics managed to qualify for the playoffs as the fourth and final seed in the East. The Lakers, with Chamberlain joining stars Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, were the favourites to become champions for the first time since relocating to Los Angeles.
The Lakers had home-court advantage for the first time and won the first two games. However, the Celtics rebounded, forcing a dramatic Game 7 at the Los Angeles Forum. With ten seconds left in Game 4 and the Lakers leading 87-86, the Celtics turned the game around. After a Lakers turnover, Sam Jones scored, giving the Celtics a narrow 88-87 win and tying the series. In Game 7, Don Nelson's jumper gave the Celtics the cushion they needed to secure the NBA title. Despite the loss, West was named Finals MVP, the only time this has happened to a player on the losing team.
The 1969 NBA Finals was a significant chapter in the Celtics-Lakers rivalry, with the Celtics denying the Lakers a championship once again. This decade proved frustrating for the Lakers, as all their Finals losses came at the hands of the Celtics.
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Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors in 2022
The 2022 NBA Finals saw the Golden State Warriors defeat the Boston Celtics in Game 6, with a final score of 103-90. This was the Warriors' fourth championship in eight years and their seventh overall. The Warriors' Stephen Curry was named Finals MVP for the first time, with 34 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Andrew Wiggins added 18 points, and Draymond Green contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Celtics' Jaylen Brown scored 34 points and seven rebounds.
The 2022 NBA Finals began on June 2 and concluded on June 16, with the Celtics winning the opening game. The series was a best-of-seven playoff series between the Eastern and Western Conference champions. The Warriors had home-court advantage due to their better regular-season record. The Celtics' win in the opening game was their 8th-2 on the road for the postseason, while the Warriors dropped to 9-1 at home.
Game 2 saw the Warriors bounce back with a 107-88 victory, led by Steph Curry's 29 points. Jordan Poole added 17 points, including a 3-pointer from just inside midcourt to cap a huge third-quarter run. The Celtics committed 19 turnovers, which the Warriors converted into 33 points.
In Game 3, the Celtics neutralized Draymond Green, and Robert Williams was an X-factor in their victory. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 53 points, and the Celtics dominated the paint, outscoring the Warriors 52-26.
The Warriors evened the series in Game 4, with Stephen Curry scoring 43 points, including a clutch 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter. Andrew Wiggins also stepped up with a double-double.
The Warriors took a 3-2 lead in Game 5, with Andrew Wiggins leading the way with 26 points and 13 rebounds. Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry added a combined 37 points. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 27 points and 10 rebounds.
In the decisive Game 6, the Warriors clinched the series and the championship. Stephen Curry added another impressive performance to his Hall of Fame career, while Jayson Tatum fell short of superstar status.
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The 1988 Finals: Isiah Thomas scored 25 points
The 1988 NBA Finals saw the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Detroit Pistons 4 games to 3, with Lakers forward James Worthy being named NBA Finals MVP. This was the first time in 19 years that a team had repeated as champions.
The 1987-88 season marked a further ascension for the Pistons franchise, as they won the Central Division title with a 54-28 record. They beat the Washington Bullets and the Chicago Bulls in five games each, before facing the Boston Celtics in the conference finals, eliminating them in six games for their first NBA Finals appearance since 1956.
The Lakers, on the other hand, had a more challenging route to the Finals. They swept the San Antonio Spurs in the first round and came back from a 2-1 deficit against the Utah Jazz in the semifinals before beating them in Game 7. They then defeated the Dallas Mavericks in seven games in the Conference Finals round.
Despite the Lakers' dominance in the regular season, the Pistons were not going down without a fight. Pistons guard Isiah Thomas put on one of his career-defining performances in Game 6. Despite badly twisting his ankle midway through, Thomas scored an NBA Finals record of 25 third-quarter points, including 14 consecutive points for his team. The Pistons fell just short, losing 103-102 to the Lakers. Thomas still managed to score 10 first-half points in Game 7, as Detroit built a 5-point lead.
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The 1998 Finals: Michael Jordan's clutch jumper
The 1998 NBA Finals was a highly anticipated championship series, pitting the two-time defending NBA champion and Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls against the Western Conference champion Utah Jazz. The Jazz held the home-court advantage for the first two games in Salt Lake City. The series marked the first time since 1989 that the same two teams met in the Finals in consecutive years.
The Jazz had won both regular-season meetings, and analysts predicted a tough seven-game series. The Bulls, however, had a challenging series against the Indiana Pacers, coached by Larry Bird, and only had two days' rest before travelling to Utah. The Jazz, on the other hand, swept the Los Angeles Lakers and had ten days to prepare for the Finals.
The Jazz took an early lead in the series, winning Game 1 in overtime, 88-85. The Bulls bounced back, and the series went back and forth, with the Jazz leading 3-2 as the series returned to Utah for Game 6.
Game 6, played on June 14, 1998, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, is remembered as one of the most intense and iconic games in NBA history. With just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Jazz led by four points after a Karl Malone mid-range jump shot. Michael Jordan, in a display of clutch performance, scored the Bulls' final eight points, including four free throws, a contested layup, and the final jumper. With the Jazz leading 86-85 and only 18.9 seconds left, Jordan stole the ball from Malone, dribbled down the court, and, with a quick crossover and a slight shove on Bryon Russell, nailed a 20-foot jumper, giving the Bulls an 87-86 lead with just 5.2 seconds to play. John Stockton's subsequent 3-pointer missed, and the Bulls clinched their sixth NBA championship in eight years and their second three-peat.
Jordan, who scored 45 points in this game, was named Finals MVP for the sixth time. His game-winning shot, immortalized worldwide, is considered one of the greatest plays in NBA history and marked the end of an era in the NBA.
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The 2000 Finals: Kobe Bryant's 28 points
The 2000 NBA Finals saw the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers 4 games to 2. The series was played under a best-of-seven format, with the Lakers holding home-court advantage. The Lakers' victory was largely attributed to the exceptional performances of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.
In Game 4, Kobe Bryant, despite nursing a sprained ankle, played 47 minutes and scored 28 points to lead the Lakers to a 120-118 overtime win against the Pacers in Indianapolis. Bryant's physical toughness, emotional determination, and skill were on full display as he willed his team to victory. This game showcased Bryant's ability to perform under pressure and cemented his reputation as a future leader of the Lakers.
Bryant's 28-point performance in Game 4 was even more remarkable considering he had missed most of Game 2 and all of Game 3 due to his ankle injury. Despite the Pacers exploiting his injury early in Game 4, Bryant persevered and made crucial plays down the stretch. With the series tied at 2-2, Bryant's heroics gave the Lakers a crucial 3-1 lead, setting them on the path to their first championship of three consecutive titles.
The 2000 NBA Finals marked a significant moment in Bryant's career, demonstrating his resilience, talent, and leadership qualities. His performance in Game 4, in particular, exemplified his ability to rise to the occasion and deliver when his team needed him the most, solidifying his status as one of the game's greats.
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Frequently asked questions
The final score of the 1947 BAA Finals was 1-4, with the Philadelphia Warriors defeating the Chicago Stags.
The Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers 4-3 in the 1969 NBA Finals.
The New York Knicks beat the Lakers 4-3 in the 1970 NBA Finals.
The Golden State Warriors beat the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals. The final score was 4-2.
The Chicago Bulls beat their opponents 4-2 in the 1998 NBA Finals, giving Michael Jordan his sixth title.
