1985 NBA Finals

Los Angeles Lakers

After losing to the Celtics in the previous year's finals, the Lakers entered the 1984–85 NBA season with a mission. Once again using the effective Showtime offense, they ran away with the Western Conference-leading 62 wins. The team as a whole underwent a slight evolution, as James Worthy supplanted Jamaal Wilkes as the starting small forward, while Byron Scott began to earn more minutes as the backup to both Magic Johnson and Michael Cooper.

In the playoffs, the Lakers eliminated the Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets, going 11–2 in the three playoff rounds.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics repeated with the NBA's best record by winning 63 games. For the second straight season, Larry Bird won the MVP award, while Kevin McHale won Sixth Man Award for the second year running, despite making the transition from bench cog to starter late in the season with Cedric Maxwell nursing a knee injury. Danny Ainge also emerged as the team's starting shooting guard, after the Celtics traded Gerald Henderson to the Seattle SuperSonics in the offseason.

The Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers, finishing with an 11–4 record heading into the finals. By that point, Boston's classic starting five under head coach K. C. Jones was solidified, featuring Bird, McHale and Robert Parish in the frontcourt, and Ainge and Dennis Johnson in the backcourt.

Road to the Finals

Regular season series

Both teams split the two meetings, each won by the home team:

Game 1

The Celtics beat the Lakers 148-114 in a game that came to be known as the "Memorial Day Massacre." The game was a profound embarrassment for the Lakers. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had only 12 points and 3 rebounds in his matchup with Robert Parish, and Magic Johnson pulled down only one rebound. Danny Ainge of the Celtics started hot, scoring 15 points in the first quarter. Scott Wedman made all 11 shots he took from the field. Afterwards, Abdul-Jabbar apologized to his teammates for his terrible performance.

Before Boston's 131-92 victory over the Lakers in Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals, this was the most lopsided finals game in the history of the Lakers–Celtics rivalry.

Game 2

The Lakers recovered from their Game 1 embarrassment behind Abdul-Jabbar's 30 points, 17 rebounds, 3 blocked shots, and 8 assists. Laker swingman Michael Cooper helped in the cause by finishing with 22 points on an 8 for 9 shooting performance, including several clutch outside jumpers down the stretch. The series was evened at 1-1.

Game 3

The Celtics held a 48-38 lead in the second quarter before the Lakers, led by James Worthy, took a 65-59 lead at halftime. The Lakers pulled away in the second half and won the game 136-111. During the game, Abdul-Jabbar became the league's all-time leading playoff scorer. Meanwhile, Larry Bird's shooting slump from game 2 continued. He shot a combined 17 of 42 from the field in games two and three.

Game 4

The Celtics tied the series in the fourth game with a 107-105 win, as Dennis Johnson hit a jumper as time expired.

Game 5

In this game, the Lakers stomped out the Celtics by jumping out to a 64-51 lead and stretched it to 89-72 before the Celtics cut the deficit to 4 points, late in the 4th quarter. The Celtics would cut the lead to 4 points several times, but the Lakers answered each time. Magic Johnson made three shots, Kareem added four more shots, and Cooper hit 2 outside jumpers, and the Lakers came away with a 120-111 victory to take a 3-2 series lead. It was the first Game 5 to be played in the 2-3-2 Finals format in which the team without home court advantage hosted.

Game 6

In the series clincher the Lakers held the Celtics to just 18 third quarter points to blow open a game tied at halftime. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 29 points and James Worthy 28 as Los Angeles became the first opposing team clinch a title in the Boston Garden. Magic Johnson dished out a game-high 14 assists. Celtics' forward Kevin McHale scored 32 points and grabbed 16 rebounds--both game-highs--before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Larry Bird's dismal shooting continued as he hit just 12 of 29 shots.

The 37-year-old Abdul-Jabbar was named MVP of the series, his second Finals MVP award and first since 1971, averaging 25.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.5 blocks in the six games. Worthy averaged 23.7 points for the Lakers, while Magic Johnson scored 18.3 points per game to go along with 14.0 assists and 6.8 rebounds. Los Angeles shot 51.2% as a team for the series.

McHale led Boston in scoring (26.0) and rebounding (10.7) while shooting 59.8% from the floor. Bird averaged 23.8 points and 8.8 rebounds on just 44.9% shooting. Celtics' guard Dennis Johnson led both teams in minutes played (247). Boston shot 47.6% from the floor while out-rebounding Los Angeles 259-256.

Los Angeles Lakers

1985 Los Angeles Lakers Finals roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. DOB From C 7001330000000000000♠33 Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem 7000218440000000000♠7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1947–04–16 UCLA SG 7001210000000000000♠21 Cooper, Michael 7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1956–04–15 New Mexico State PG 7001320000000000000♠32 Johnson, Magic 7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1959–08–14 Michigan State C 7000100000000000000♠1 Jones, Earl 7000213360000000000♠7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1961–01–13 Columbia PF 7001250000000000000♠25 Kupchak, Mitch 7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1954–05–24 North Carolina PG 7001120000000000000♠12 Lester, Ronnie 7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1959–01–01 Iowa C 7001110000000000000♠11 McAdoo, Bob 7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1951–09–25 North Carolina SF 7001400000000000000♠40 McGee, Mike 7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1959–07–29 Michigan C 7001430000000000000♠43 Nevitt, Chuck 7000226059999999999♠7 ft 5 in (2.26 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 1959–06–13 North Carolina State PF 7001310000000000000♠31 Rambis, Kurt 7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 213 lb (97 kg) 1958–02–25 Santa Clara SG 7000400000000000000♠4 Scott, Byron 7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1961–03–28 Arizona State PF 7001350000000000000♠35 Spriggs, Larry 7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1959–09–08 Howard SF 7001520000000000000♠52 Wilkes, Jamaal 7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1953–05–02 UCLA SF 7001420000000000000♠42 Worthy, James 7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1961–02–27 North Carolina	Head coach Pat Riley (Kentucky) Assistant coach(es) Bill Bertka (Kent State) Dave Wohl (Pennsylvania) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Boston Celtics

1985 Boston Celtics Finals roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. DOB From G/F 7001440000000000000♠44 Ainge, Danny 7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1959–03–17 BYU F 7001330000000000000♠33 Bird, Larry (C) 7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1956–12–07 Indiana State G 7001280000000000000♠28 Buckner, Quinn 7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1954–08–20 Indiana G 7001340000000000000♠34 Carlisle, Rick 7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1959–10–27 Virginia G/F 7001300000000000000♠30 Carr, M.L. 7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1951–01–09 Guilford G 7001400000000000000♠40 Clark, Carlos 7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1960–08–10 Mississippi G 7000300000000000000♠3 Johnson, Dennis 7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1954–09–18 Pepperdine C 7001500000000000000♠50 Kite, Greg 7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1961–08–05 BYU F 7001310000000000000♠31 Maxwell, Cedric 7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1955–11–21 Charlotte F/C 7001320000000000000♠32 McHale, Kevin 7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1957–12–19 Minnesota C 5000000000000000000♠00 Parish, Robert 7000213360000000000♠7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1953–08–30 Centenary G/F 7000800000000000000♠8 Wedman, Scott 7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1952–07–29 Colorado G 7001200000000000000♠20 Williams, Ray 7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 188 lb (85 kg) 1954–10–14 Minnesota	Head coach K.C. Jones (San Francisco) Assistant coach(es) Jimmy Rodgers (Ohio State) Chris Ford (Villanova) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured