1982 NBA playoffs

The 1982 NBA playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1981–82 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. Magic Johnson was named NBA Finals MVP for the second time.

It was the second NBA Finals meeting in three years between the Lakers and Sixers, and ended with the same result—a 4–2 Lakers victory—as the previous confrontation. They met again in 1983, with Philadelphia getting revenge in a sweep. The Sixers beat the Celtics again in the Eastern Conference Finals, the second of their three series wins in a four-year stretch.

The Bullets' 2-0 sweep of the Nets was their last playoff series victory until 2005.

This was the third straight year the Bucks failed to advance to the third round with the #2 seed despite a first-round bye, although they did not have the better record in each of those matchups, and thus not having home-court advantage.

Bracket

 * Division winner

Bold Series winner

Italic Team with home-court advantage

(3) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning the first meeting.

(4) New Jersey Nets vs. (5) Washington Bullets
This was the first playoff meeting between the Nets and the Bullets.

(3) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (6) Houston Rockets
This was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the SuperSonics.

(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Phoenix Suns
This was the first playoff meeting between the Nuggets and the Suns.

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (5) Washington Bullets

 * Frank Johnson hits the game-winning 3 pointer with 3 seconds left.


 * Jeff Ruland hits the game-tying free throws with 24 seconds left to force OT.

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bullets winning the first meeting.

(2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers

 * Sidney Moncrief hits the game-winning buzzer beater.

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Phoenix Suns
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first two meetings.

(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (3) Seattle SuperSonics
This was the first playoff meeting between the Spurs and the SuperSonics.

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers

 * Mother's Day Massacre


 * The Celtics were not able to overcome a 3–1 series deficit like they had in last season's Eastern Conference finals, losing Game 7 at home. The Sixers became the 2nd team to ever beat the Celtics in a Game 7 in the Garden (after the New York Knicks did in 1973) and the 3rd NBA road team to win Game 7 after leading series 3–1. The Boston Garden crowd in Game 7 chanted "Beat LA! Beat LA!" to the victorious Sixers.

This was the 17th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning nine of the first 16 meetings.

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (2) San Antonio Spurs
This was the first playoff meeting between the Lakers and the Spurs.

NBA Finals: (E3) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (W1) Los Angeles Lakers
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first three meetings.