The 1986 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1985–86 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Larry Bird was named NBA Finals MVP for the second time.
This was the second NBA Finals meeting between the Celtics and Rockets; they met in the 1981 NBA Finals with the same result. It was the third of four straight Eastern Conference championships for Boston, who won 67 games that year, and went 40–1 at home. The Rockets, meanwhile had won just their second conference title in franchise history.
Second-year player Michael Jordan put on a record-setting performance in Game 2 of the Bulls' first-round series against the Celtics, scoring 63 points in a 2-OT loss, which surpassed Elgin Baylor's 61-point performance from the 1962 NBA Finals and still stands as the NBA Playoff scoring record. Jordan averaged 43.7 points per game in the series, but was unable to prevent the Bulls from being swept by a more experienced, more talented Celtics team. The Bulls set a dubious mark by posting the second worst record for a playoff-qualifying team in history, going just 30–52 during the season. Game 2, where the record was set, was ranked by TV Guide as the 26th Most Memorable Moment in Television History, and is credited with boosting the NBA's popularity surge and eventual rise to near the top of the United States television sports market, trailing only football by the mid-90s.
The 1986 playoffs marked the third time in four years that the Milwaukee Bucks advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, but it would be their last appearance in the series until 2001. The Celtics avenged their 1983 sweep by sweeping the Bucks in four games.
As for the Philadelphia 76ers, this was the last time they would play in a Game 7 until 2001. After their first round loss to the Atlanta Hawks, the Detroit Pistons would advance past the first round in each of the next five seasons (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991), which include all appearances in the conference finals, three NBA Finals, and two championships.
Champion: Houston Rockets
1st Round
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) San Antonio Spurs: Lakers win series 3–0
Game 1 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (April 17): Los Angeles 135, San Antonio 88
Game 2 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (April 19): Los Angeles 122, San Antonio 94
Game 3 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio (April 23): Los Angeles 114, San Antonio 94
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first two meetings.
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Sacramento Kings:Rockets win series 3–0
Game 1 @ The Summit, Houston (April 17): Houston 107, Sacramento 87
Game 2 @ The Summit, Houston (April 19): Houston 111, Sacramento 103
Game 3 @ ARCO Arena I, Sacramento (April 22): Houston 113, Sacramento 98
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning the first meeting.
(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers: Nuggets win series 3–1
Game 1 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (April 18): Denver 133, Portland 126
Game 2 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (April 20): Portland 108, Denver 106
Game 3 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (April 22): Denver 115, Portland 104
Game 4 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (April 24): Denver 116, Portland 112
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Trail Blazers winning the first meeting.
(4) Dallas Mavericks vs. (5) Utah Jazz: Mavericks win series 3–1
Game 1 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (April 18): Dallas 101, Utah 93
Game 2 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (April 20): Dallas 113, Utah 106
Game 3 @ Salt Palace, Salt Lake City (April 23): Utah 100, Dallas 98
Game 4 @ Salt Palace, Salt Lake City (April 25): Dallas 117, Utah 113
This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the Jazz.
Conference Semifinals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Dallas Mavericks: Lakers win series 4–2
Game 1 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (April 27): Los Angeles 130, Dallas 116
Game 2 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (April 30): Los Angeles 117, Dallas 113
Game 3 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (May 2): Dallas 110, Los Angeles 108 (Derek Harper avenged his 1984 mistake by hitting the game-winning 3)
Game 4 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (May 4): Dallas 120, Los Angeles 118
Game 5 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 6): Los Angeles 116, Dallas 113
Game 6 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (May 8): Los Angeles 120, Dallas 107
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting.
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (3) Denver Nuggets: Rockets win series 4–2
Game 1 @ The Summit, Houston (April 26): Houston 126, Denver 119
Game 2 @ The Summit, Houston (April 29): Houston 119, Denver 101
Game 3 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 2): Denver 116, Houston 115
Game 4 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 4): Denver 114, Houston 111 (OT)
Game 5 @ The Summit, Houston (May 6): Houston 131, Denver 103
Game 6 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 8): Houston 126, Denver 122 (2OT)
This was the first playoff meeting between the Nuggets and the Rockets.
Conference Finals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (2) Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 4–1
Game 1 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 10): Los Angeles 119, Houston 107
Game 2 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 13): Houston 112, Los Angeles 102
Game 3 @ The Summit, Houston (May 16): Houston 117, Los Angeles 109
Game 4 @ The Summit, Houston (May 18): Houston 105, Los Angeles 95
Game 5 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 21): Houston 114, Los Angeles 112 (Ralph Sampson hits the famous off-balanced series winner at the buzzer; Hakeem Olajuwon was ejected in the fourth quarter for fighting Lakers forward Mitch Kupchak)
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning the first meeting.
Champion: Boston Celtics
1st Round
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Chicago Bulls: Celtics win series 3–0
Game 1 @ Boston Garden, Boston (April 17): Boston 123, Chicago 104
Game 2 @ Boston Garden, Boston (April 20): Boston 135, Chicago 131 (2OT; Michael Jordan scores an NBA playoff record 63 points, this was George Gervin's final NBA game)
Game 3 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (April 22): Boston 122, Chicago 104
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first meeting.
(2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (7) New Jersey Nets: Bucks win series 3–0
Game 1 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (April 18): Milwaukee 119, New Jersey 107
Game 2 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (April 20): Milwaukee 111, New Jersey 97
Game 3 @ Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford (April 22): Milwaukee 118, New Jersey 113
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bucks winning the first meeting.
(3) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (6) Washington Bullets: 76ers win series 3–2
Game 1 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (April 18): Washington 95, Philadelphia 94 (Dudley Bradley hits the game-winning 3 capping off a rally from 17 points down)
Game 2 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (April 20): Philadelphia 102, Washington 97
Game 3 @ Capital Centre, Landover (April 22): Philadelphia 91, Washington 86
Game 4 @ Capital Centre, Landover (April 24): Washington 116, Philadelphia 111
Game 5 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (April 27): Philadelphia 134, Washington 109
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bullets winning two of the first three meetings.
(4) Atlanta Hawks vs. (5) Detroit Pistons: Hawks win series 3–1
Game 1 @ The Omni, Atlanta (April 17): Atlanta 140, Detroit 122
Game 2 @ The Omni, Atlanta (April 19): Atlanta 137, Detroit 125
Game 3 @ Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac (April 22): Detroit 106, Atlanta 97
Game 4 @ Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac (April 25): Atlanta 114, Detroit 113 (2OT)
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning two of the first three meetings.
Conference Semifinals
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Atlanta Hawks: Celtics win series 4–1
Game 1 @ Boston Garden, Boston (April 27): Boston 103, Atlanta 91
Game 2 @ Boston Garden, Boston (April 29): Boston 119, Atlanta 98
Game 3 @ The Omni, Atlanta (May 2): Boston 111 , Atlanta 107
Game 4 @ The Omni, Atlanta (May 4): Atlanta 106, Boston 94
Game 5 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 6): Boston 132, Atlanta 99 (Celtics outscored Hawks 36-6 in third quarter, Hawks only scored 1 field goal.)
This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning six of the first seven meetings.
(2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers: Bucks win series 4–3
Game 1 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (April 29): Philadelphia 118, Milwaukee 112
Game 2 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (May 1): Milwaukee 119, Philadelphia 107
Game 3 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (May 3): Philadelphia 107, Milwaukee 103
Game 4 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (May 5): Milwaukee 109, Philadelphia 104
Game 5 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (May 7): Milwaukee 113, Philadelphia 108
Game 6 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (May 9): Philadelphia 126, Milwaukee 108
Game 7 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (May 11): Milwaukee 113, Philadelphia 112 (Bob McAdoo's final NBA game)
This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning four of the first five meetings.
Conference Finals
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (2) Milwaukee Bucks: Celtics win series 4–0
Game 1 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 13): Boston 128, Milwaukee 96
Game 2 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 15): Boston 122, Milwaukee 111
Game 3 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (May 17): Boston 111, Milwaukee 107
Game 4 @ The MECCA, Milwaukee (May 18): Boston 111, Milwaukee 98
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning two of the first three meetings.
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (2) Houston Rockets: Celtics win series 4–2
Game 1 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 26): Boston 112, Houston 100
Game 2 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 29): Boston 117, Houston 95
Game 3 @ The Summit, Houston (June 1): Houston 106, Boston 104
Game 4 @ The Summit, Houston (June 3): Boston 106, Houston 103
Game 5 @ The Summit, Houston (June 5): Houston 111, Boston 96
Game 6 @ Boston Garden, Boston (June 8): Boston 114, Houston 97
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first three meetings.
