1981–82 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1981–82 NBA season saw the Lakers win their third NBA Championship in Los Angeles, and their eighth overall in franchise history.

Regular season
On November 18, 1981, at halftime while on the road at Utah, Magic Johnson and coach Paul Westhead had a verbal altercation in the locker room. It was stated by teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar that Johnson had offered input on the game, which resulted in Westhead twice telling him to "Shut up." Johnson then told reporters after this game that he would like to be traded anywhere, resulting in a barrage of media coverage. One day after these events, Lakers owner Jerry Buss held a press conference at The Forum, where he announced the firing of Westhead, with his replacement being Pat Riley as "coach" and general manager Jerry West as "offensive coach". West came to the podium and clarified to media that Riley was indeed the head coach and that West himself would simply provide him support on the bench, which lasted for a period of 12 games. Although Johnson denied responsibility for Westhead's firing, he was booed across the league, even by Lakers' fans. However, Buss was also unhappy with the Lakers offense and had intended on firing Westhead days before the Westhead–Johnson altercation, but assistant GM West and GM Bill Sharman had convinced Buss to delay his decision.

Season standings

 * c - clinched homecourt advantage
 * y - clinched division title
 * x - clinched playoff spot

Regular season

 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 1
 * October 30
 * Houston
 * L 112-113 (2OT)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)
 * Magic Johnson (14)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * The Forum 15,884
 * 0-1


 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 2
 * November 3
 * @ Portland
 * L 100-102
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * Memorial Coliseum 12,666
 * 0-2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 3
 * November 4
 * @ Seattle
 * W 106-103
 * Norm Nixon (22)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * Norm Nixon (7)
 * Kingdome 14,536
 * 1-2
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 4
 * November 6
 * Phoenix
 * L 99-101
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
 * Magic Johnson (16)
 * The Forum 13,665
 * 1-3
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 5
 * November 8
 * Dallas
 * W 121-111
 * Magic Johnson (24)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (10)
 * Magic Johnson (15)
 * The Forum 9,870
 * 2-3
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 6
 * November 10
 * @ San Antonio
 * L 102-128
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
 * Magic Johnson (7)
 * HemisFair Arena 11,365
 * 2-4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 7
 * November 11
 * @ Houston
 * W 95-93
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (21)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (9)
 * Norm Nixon (11)
 * The Summit 15,535
 * 3-4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 8
 * November 13
 * Portland
 * W 119-115
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
 * Mitch Kupchak (12)
 * Magic Johnson (15)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 4-4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 9
 * November 14
 * @ Phoenix
 * W 98-97
 * Norm Nixon (24)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (17)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,068
 * 5-4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 10
 * November 15
 * Indiana
 * W 124-123 (2OT)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (20)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Forum 14,140
 * 6-4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 11
 * November 18
 * @ Utah
 * W 113-110
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27)
 * Cooper & Johnson (8)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * Salt Palace 10,802
 * 7-4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 12
 * November 20
 * San Antonio
 * W 136-116
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
 * Mitch Kupchak (17)
 * Magic Johnson (16)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 8-4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 13
 * November 21
 * @ San Diego
 * W 119-117
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * San Diego Sports Arena 11,057
 * 9-4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 14
 * November 24
 * @ Dallas
 * W 125-110
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)
 * Mark Landsberger (10)
 * Johnson & Nixon (9)
 * Reunion Arena 14,266
 * 10-4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 15
 * November 25
 * @ San Antonio
 * W 117-96
 * Jamaal Wilkes (26)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (13)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * HemisFair Arena 13,653
 * 11-4
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 16
 * November 27
 * San Diego
 * L 129-138
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7)
 * Norm Nixon (16)
 * The Forum 14,586
 * 11-5
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 17
 * November 29
 * Houston
 * W 122-104
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Nixon (23)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * Johnson & Nixon (11)
 * The Forum 13,247
 * 12-5


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 18
 * December 1
 * Utah
 * W 117-86
 * Magic Johnson (19)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * The Forum 11,384
 * 13-5
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 19
 * December 2
 * @ Seattle
 * L 96-104
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
 * Norm Nixon (8)
 * Kingdome 20,021
 * 13-6
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 20
 * December 4
 * @ Denver
 * W 126-117
 * Norm Nixon (25)
 * Mitch Kupchak (13)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * McNichols Sports Arena 14,562
 * 14-6
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 21
 * December 6
 * Kansas City
 * W 119-106
 * Johnson & Wilkes (22)
 * Mitch Kupchak (12)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Forum 15,321
 * 15-6
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 22
 * December 8
 * Washington
 * W 102-98
 * Norm Nixon (24)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * The Forum 10,459
 * 16-6
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 23
 * December 11
 * Portland
 * W 124-116
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * Johnson & Nixon (10)
 * The Forum 15,658
 * 17-6
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 24
 * December 13
 * Golden State
 * W 122-118
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)
 * Magic Johnson (13)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Nixon (8)
 * The Forum 13,103
 * 18-6
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 25
 * December 17
 * @ Golden State
 * L 115-120
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
 * Norm Nixon (7)
 * Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,239
 * 18-7
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 26
 * December 19
 * @ San Diego
 * W 106-100
 * Jamaal Wilkes (33)
 * Magic Johnson (13)
 * Magic Johnson (7)
 * San Diego Sports Arena 6,563
 * 19-7
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 27
 * December 20
 * Atlanta
 * W 112-94
 * Jamaal Wilkes (36)
 * Jim Brewer (15)
 * Norm Nixon (12)
 * The Forum 12,460
 * 20-7
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 28
 * December 22
 * @ Portland
 * W 124-110
 * Norm Nixon (27)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * 3 players tied (6)
 * Memorial Coliseum 12,666
 * 21-7
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 29
 * December 25
 * @ Phoenix
 * W 104-101
 * Michael Cooper (30)
 * Jim Brewer (15)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,056
 * 22-7
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 30
 * December 27
 * San Diego
 * W 139-117
 * Mike McGee (27)
 * Mark Landsberger (12)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * The Forum 14,951
 * 23-7
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 31
 * December 29
 * Utah
 * W 121-114
 * Jamaal Wilkes (34)
 * Brewer & Wilkes (9)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * The Forum 14,392
 * 24-7


 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 32
 * January 3
 * Seattle
 * L 90-110
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16)
 * Magic Johnson (14)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 24-8
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 33
 * January 8
 * @ Chicago
 * L 113-119
 * Magic Johnson (32)
 * Mark Landsberger (8)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7)
 * Chicago Stadium 18,947
 * 24-9
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 34
 * January 9
 * @ Detroit
 * W 130-127
 * Magic Johnson (40)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 21,045
 * 25-9
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 35
 * January 10
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 107-118
 * Magic Johnson (28)
 * Jamaal Wilkes (9)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * MECCA Arena 11,052
 * 25-10
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 36
 * January 12
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 114-100
 * Jamaal Wilkes (33)
 * Magic Johnson (14)
 * Norm Nixon (11)
 * Richfield Coliseum 8,259
 * 26-10
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 37
 * January 15
 * @ Indiana
 * W 97-92
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
 * Magic Johnson (15)
 * Eddie Jordan (6)
 * Market Square Arena 11,029
 * 27-10
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 38
 * January 17
 * @ Kansas City
 * W 109-97
 * Magic Johnson (29)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * Kemper Arena 9,879
 * 28-10
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 39
 * January 19
 * @ Denver
 * L 139-140
 * 3 players tied (22)
 * Magic Johnson (16)
 * Magic Johnson (14)
 * McNichols Sports Arena 15,272
 * 28-11
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 40
 * January 20
 * New Jersey
 * W 132-113
 * Jamaal Wilkes (30)
 * Kurt Rambis (9)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * The Forum 11,323
 * 29-11
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 41
 * January 22
 * Detroit
 * W 123-111
 * Magic Johnson (26)
 * Johnson & Rambis (16)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * The Forum 14,955
 * 30-11
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 42
 * January 26
 * Milwaukee
 * L 94-96
 * Jamaal Wilkes (18)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)
 * Norm Nixon (13)
 * The Forum 16,042
 * 30-12
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 43
 * January 28
 * Phoenix
 * W 97-87
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
 * Magic Johnson (6)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * The Forum 14,623
 * 31-12
 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"


 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 44
 * February 2
 * @ Golden State
 * L 117-119
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
 * Magic Johnson (14)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,329
 * 31-13
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 45
 * February 3
 * New York
 * L 94-98
 * Jamaal Wilkes (26)
 * Jamaal Wilkes (10)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Forum 12,913
 * 31-14
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 46
 * February 5
 * @ Washington
 * W 90-87
 * Magic Johnson (22)
 * Kurt Rambis (10)
 * Norm Nixon (7)
 * Capital Centre 19,035
 * 32-14
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 47
 * February 7
 * @ Boston
 * W 119-113
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (35)
 * Jamaal Wilkes (8)
 * Norm Nixon (13)
 * Boston Garden 15,320
 * 33-14
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 48
 * February 9
 * @ Atlanta
 * W 130-117
 * Bob McAdoo (22)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * Omni Coliseum 12,913
 * 34-14
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 49
 * February 10
 * @ Kansas City
 * L 102-125
 * Jamaal Wilkes (24)
 * Jamaal Wilkes (7)
 * Jordan & Nixon (4)
 * Kemper Arena 9,580
 * 34-15
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 50
 * February 12
 * San Antonio
 * L 94-100
 * Jamaal Wilkes (23)
 * Magic Johnson (15)
 * Johnson & Nixon (8)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 34-16
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 51
 * February 14
 * Boston
 * L 103-108
 * Jamaal Wilkes (25)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 34-17
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 52
 * February 16
 * Seattle
 * W 108-101
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
 * Jim Brewer (12)
 * Magic Johnson (18)
 * The Forum 15,047
 * 35-17
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 53
 * February 19
 * Golden State
 * W 126-106
 * Magic Johnson (26)
 * Magic Johnson (14)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 36-17
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 54
 * February 21
 * @ Denver
 * W 132-131
 * Norm Nixon (26)
 * Mark Landsberger (9)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * McNichols Sports Arena 17,337
 * 37-17
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 55
 * February 23
 * Denver
 * W 145-129
 * Jamaal Wilkes (31)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Rambis (7)
 * Norm Nixon (16)
 * The Forum 14,072
 * 38-17
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 56
 * February 25
 * @ Seattle
 * W 104-98
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * Norm Nixon (12)
 * Kingdome 26,209
 * 39-17
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 57
 * February 26
 * Philadelphia
 * W 116-114 (2OT)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (41)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 40-17
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 58
 * February 28
 * Cleveland
 * W 102-101
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)
 * Kurt Rambis (17)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Forum 14,882
 * 41-17


 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 59
 * March 3
 * @ New Jersey
 * L 103-111
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * Norm Nixon (8)
 * Brendan Byrne Arena 15,623
 * 41-18
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 60
 * March 4
 * @ New York
 * L 119-129 (OT)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (39)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * Madison Square Garden 14,937
 * 41-19
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 61
 * March 7
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 113-119
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Nixon (26)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * The Spectrum 18,364
 * 41-20
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 62
 * March 9
 * Kansas City
 * W 105-99
 * Magic Johnson (27)
 * Kurt Rambis (12)
 * Norm Nixon (5)
 * The Forum 11,614
 * 42-20
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 63
 * March 12
 * Chicago
 * L 105-111
 * Magic Johnson (30)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 42-21
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 64
 * March 14
 * Dallas
 * W 138-116
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * Magic Johnson (13)
 * The Forum 13,809
 * 43-21
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 65
 * March 16
 * @ Portland
 * W 120-108
 * Jamaal Wilkes (27)
 * Mark Landsberger (14)
 * Johnson & Nixon (9)
 * Memorial Coliseum 12,666
 * 44-21
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 6
 * March 17
 * @ Utah
 * W 120-112
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * Salt Palace 12,076
 * 45-21
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 67
 * March 19
 * @ Dallas
 * W 112-106
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * Reunion Arena 17,134
 * 46-21
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 68
 * March 21
 * Houston
 * W 107-102
 * Magic Johnson (25)
 * Magic Johnson (16)
 * Magic Johnson (7)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 47-21
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 69
 * March 23
 * Dallas
 * L 116-118
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)
 * Magic Johnson (15)
 * Magic Johnson (14)
 * The Forum 13,516
 * 47-22
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 70
 * March 26
 * @ San Antonio
 * L 105-110
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * HemisFair Arena 14,850
 * 47-23
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 71
 * March 28
 * @ Kansas City
 * W 116-111
 * Bob McAdoo (30)
 * Bob McAdoo (10)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * Kemper Arena 9,521
 * 48-23
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 72
 * March 30
 * San Diego
 * W 143-120
 * Magic Johnson (29)
 * Bob McAdoo (9)
 * Norm Nixon (13)
 * The Forum 12,109
 * 49-23


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 73
 * April 1
 * @ San Diego
 * W 117-100
 * Jamaal Wilkes (25)
 * Kurt Rambis (9)
 * Magic Johnson (17)
 * San Diego Sports Arena 7,064
 * 50-23
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 74
 * April 2
 * Phoenix
 * L 99-109
 * Jamaal Wilkes (23)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)
 * Johnson & Nixon (14)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 50-24
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 75
 * April 4
 * Portland
 * W 129-111
 * Jamaal Wilkes (32)
 * Kurt Rambis (9)
 * Norm Nixon (13)
 * The Forum 13,230
 * 51-24
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 76
 * April 6
 * @ Houston
 * W 108-97
 * Magic Johnson (23)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * The Summit 15,676
 * 52-24
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 77
 * April 9
 * Denver
 * W 153-128
 * Jamaal Wilkes (25)
 * Mark Landsberger (14)
 * Magic Johnson (16)
 * The Forum 16,433
 * 53-24
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 78
 * April 11
 * Seattle
 * W 107-104
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * Johnson & Nixon (8)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 54-24
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 79
 * April 13
 * @ Golden State
 * L 101-106
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
 * Johnson & Nixon (9)
 * Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,239
 * 54-25
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 80
 * April 14
 * Utah
 * W 128-115
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * The Forum 11,488
 * 55-25
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 81
 * April 16
 * Golden State
 * W 125-109
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
 * Kurt Rambis (12)
 * Magic Johnson (13)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 56-25
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 82
 * April 18
 * @ Phoenix
 * W 120-115
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34)
 * Magic Johnson (15)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,660
 * 57-25

Playoffs

 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 1
 * April 27
 * Phoenix
 * W 115–96
 * Jamaal Wilkes (28)
 * Bob McAdoo (12)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * The Forum 13,623
 * 1–0
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2
 * April 28
 * Phoenix
 * W 117–98
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * The Forum 15,558
 * 2–0
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 3
 * April 30
 * @ Phoenix
 * W 114–106
 * Jamaal Wilkes (26)
 * Magic Johnson (14)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,660
 * 3–0
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 4
 * May 2
 * @ Phoenix
 * W 112–107
 * Jamaal Wilkes (24)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,932
 * 4–0


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 1
 * May 9
 * San Antonio
 * W 128–117
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)
 * Magic Johnson (16)
 * Magic Johnson (14)
 * The Forum 15,700
 * 1–0
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2
 * May 11
 * San Antonio
 * W 110–101
 * Nixon & Wilkes (22)
 * Kurt Rambis (15)
 * Johnson & Nixon (9)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 2–0
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 3
 * May 14
 * @ San Antonio
 * W 118–108
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (10)
 * Johnson & Nixon (10)
 * HemisFair Arena 15,800
 * 3–0
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 4
 * May 15
 * @ San Antonio
 * W 128–123
 * Norm Nixon (30)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (9)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * HemisFair Arena 15,800
 * 4–0


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 1
 * May 27
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 124–117
 * Nixon & Wilkes (24)
 * Magic Johnson (14)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Spectrum 18,364
 * 1–0
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 2
 * May 30
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 94–110
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Spectrum 18,364
 * 1–1
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 3
 * June 1
 * Philadelphia
 * W 129–108
 * Norm Nixon (29)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 2–1
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 4
 * June 3
 * Philadelphia
 * W 111–101
 * Johnson & Wilkes (24)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Rambis (11)
 * Norm Nixon (14)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 3–1
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 5
 * June 6
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 102–135
 * Bob McAdoo (23)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * Norm Nixon (13)
 * The Spectrum 18,364
 * 3–2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 6
 * June 8
 * Philadelphia
 * W 114–104
 * Jamaal Wilkes (27)
 * Magic Johnson (13)
 * Magic Johnson (13)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 4–2

Awards

 * Magic Johnson, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
 * Magic Johnson, All-NBA Second Team
 * Michael Cooper, NBA All-Defensive First Team