1985–86 Los Angeles Lakers season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1985–86 Los Angeles Lakers season
Division champions
Head coachPat Riley
OwnersJerry Buss
ArenaThe Forum
Results
Record62–20 (.756)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Pacific)
Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finishConference Finals
(Lost to Rockets 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKHJ-TV
Prime Ticket
RadioKLAC
< 1984–85 1986–87 >

The 1985–86 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 40th season of the franchise, 38th in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 26th in Los Angeles. The Lakers entered the season as the defending NBA champion, having defeated the previous NBA champion and rival Boston Celtics in the 1985 NBA Finals in six games, having finally defeated the Celtics in the NBA Finals after having lost to them 8 consecutive times in the championship series. The Lakers looked to repeat as NBA Champions, after sweeping the San Antonio Spurs in three games in the First Round, and then defeating the Dallas Mavericks in six games in the Semi-finals in the playoffs, but were unable to defend their title, as they lost to the Houston Rockets in the Conference Finals in five games after winning the first game, but proceeded to lose the following four. The Rockets would go on to lose to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals in six games.

NBA Draft[]

The 1985 NBA Draft took place on June 18, 1985. It was also the first NBA Draft of the "Lottery" era. The lottery was put into place so teams did not have to intentionally lose games to receive the number one pick.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 23 A. C. Green Forward  United States Oregon State

Regular season[]

  • On Wednesday, December 4, 1985, Maurice Lucas made a 60-foot shot at the regulation buzzer to send the game into overtime. The Lakers would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz 131-127.[1]
  • The Lakers started the season 19-2.[2]
  • On Wednesday, January 22, 1986, the Boston Celtics (31-8) defeated the defending champion Lakers (32-8) 110-95 in a matchup of the league's two best teams.[3]
  • On Friday, January 24, 1986, the Boston Celtics (32-8) overtook the Los Angeles Lakers (32-9) as the team with the best record in the NBA. The Celtics maintained the league's best record for the remainder of the season.
  • On Thursday, February 6, 1986, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 46 points in a game against the Houston Rockets, his highest single-game total since a 48-point performance against the Portland Trail Blazers on November 26, 1975. The Lakers defeated the Rockets 117-95.[4]
  • On Sunday, February 16, 1986, in the season's second matchup between the Celtics and Lakers, this time in the Forum. Boston won again, 105-99 despite not having All-Star Kevin McHale in the lineup.[5]

Season standings[]

Pacific Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 62 20 .756 – 35–6 27–14 23–7
x-Portland Trail Blazers 40 42 .488 22 27–14 13–28 18–12
Phoenix Suns 32 50 .390 30 23–18 9–32 16–14
Los Angeles Clippers 32 50 .390 30 22–19 10–31 10–20
Seattle SuperSonics 31 51 .378 31 24–17 7–34 11–19
Golden State Warriors 30 52 .366 32 24–17 6–35 12–18
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Los Angeles Lakers 62 20 .756 –
2 y-Houston Rockets 51 31 .622 11
3 x-Denver Nuggets 47 35 .573 15
4 x-Dallas Mavericks 44 38 .537 18
5 x-Utah Jazz 42 40 .512 20
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers 40 42 .488 22
7 x-Sacramento Kings 37 45 .451 25
8 x-San Antonio Spurs 35 47 .427 27
9 Phoenix Suns 32 50 .390 30
10 Los Angeles Clippers 32 50 .390 30
11 Seattle SuperSonics 31 51 .378 31
12 Golden State Warriors 30 52 .366 32


Record vs. opponents[]

1985-86 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta – 0–6 5–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 3–3 4–2 5–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–4
Boston 6–0 – 5–1 5–1 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 5–1 2–0 2–0 5–0 4–2 5–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–1
Chicago 1–5 1–5 – 3–3 0–2 2–0 2–4 2–0 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 1–5 2–3 4–2 1–5 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4
Cleveland 2–4 1–5 3–3 – 1–1 1–1 1–5 0–2 0–2 3–2 1–1 1–1 1–5 3–3 4–1 0–6 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–5
Dallas 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 – 3–3 0–2 4–1 1–5 2–0 2–3 1–4 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 5–0 2–3 3–3 4–2 3–2 5–1 1–1
Denver 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–3 – 1–1 3–2 3–3 2–0 4–1 3–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1 3–2 3–3 3–3 2–3 3–3 2–0
Detroit 2–4 1–4 4–2 5–1 2–0 1–1 – 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 4–2 4–1 2–4 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–2
Golden State 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–4 2–3 1–1 – 0–5 1–1 5–1 2–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–4 1–5 2–3 2–3 2–4 2–3 1–1
Houston 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 5–1 3–3 1–1 5–0 – 2–0 3–2 1–4 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–2 3–2 4–2 5–1 3–2 3–3 2–0
Indiana 1–5 1–5 3–3 2–3 0–2 0–2 1–5 1–1 0–2 – 2–0 0–2 2–4 2–3 2–4 0–6 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 5–1
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–4 0–2 1–5 2–3 0–2 – 2–4 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–4 2–4 5–0 1–4 3–3 3–2 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–3 1–1 4–2 4–1 2–0 4–2 – 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 5–1 6–0 5–0 4–1 4–2 5–0 2–0
Milwaukee 3–3 0–5 5–1 5–1 2–0 0–2 4–2 2–0 2–0 4–2 1–1 0–2 – 4–2 6–0 4–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–2
New Jersey 2–4 2–4 3–2 3–3 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–1 1–1 3–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 – 5–1 2–4 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–4
New York 1–5 1–5 2–4 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–4 1–1 0–2 4–2 0–2 1–1 0–6 1–5 – 0–6 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–3
Philadelphia 1–4 2–4 5–1 6–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 6–0 2–0 0–2 1–4 4–2 6–0 – 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–3
Phoenix 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–5 1–4 2–0 4–2 2–3 1–1 4–2 1–5 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 – 2–4 2–3 3–2 5–1 1–4 1–1
Portland 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–2 2–3 1–1 5–1 2–3 2–0 4–2 0–6 0–2 0–2 2–0 0–2 4–2 – 3–2 1–4 5–1 2–3 0–2
Sacramento 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 3–3 3–3 2–0 3–2 2–4 2–0 0–5 0–5 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–2 2–3 – 5–1 5–0 2–4 1–1
San Antonio 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 3–3 1–1 3–2 1–5 1–1 4–1 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 4–1 1–5 – 2–3 2–4 2–0
Seattle 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–2 0–2 4–2 2–3 0–2 3–3 2–4 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–5 1–5 0–5 3–2 – 2–3 1–1
Utah 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–5 3–3 1–1 3–2 3–3 2–0 2–3 0–5 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 3–2 4–2 4–2 3–2 – 1–1
Washington 4–1 1–5 4–1 5–1 1–1 0–2 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–5 2–0 0–2 2–4 4–2 3–3 3–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 —

Game log[]

Regular season[]

1985–86 game log
Total: 62–20 (Home: 35–6; Road: 27–14)
October: 3–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 3–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
November: 11–2 (Home: 7–1; Road: 4–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
December: 11–3 (Home: 5–1; Road: 6–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
January: 10–5 (Home: 8–1; Road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
February: 8–5 (Home: 3–2; Road: 5–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
March: 14–3 (Home: 9–0; Road: 5–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
April: 5–2 (Home: 3–1; Road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1985–86 schedule

Playoffs[]

1986 playoff game log
First round: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 17 San Antonio W 135–88 Byron Scott (24) Kurt Rambis (8) Magic Johnson (18) The Forum
17,505 		1–0
2 April 19 San Antonio W 122–94 Magic Johnson (30) Abdul-Jabbar, Lucas (10) Magic Johnson (13) The Forum
17,505 		2–0
3 April 23 @ San Antonio W 114–94 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) Kurt Rambis (14) Magic Johnson (17) HemisFair Arena
7,918 		3–0
Conference Semi-finals: 4–2 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 27 Dallas W 120–116 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) Maurice Lucas (8) Magic Johnson (14) The Forum
17,505 		1–0
2 April 30 Dallas W 117–113 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26) Maurice Lucas (11) Magic Johnson (9) The Forum
17,505 		2–0
3 May 2 @ Dallas L 108–110 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) Magic Johnson (14) Reunion Arena
17,007 		2–1
4 May 4 @ Dallas L 118–120 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) Magic Johnson (15) Magic Johnson (14) Reunion Arena
17,007 		2–2
5 May 6 Dallas W 116–113 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34) Kurt Rambis (10) Magic Johnson (14) The Forum
17,505 		3–2
6 May 8 @ Dallas W 120–107 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27) Maurice Lucas (8) Magic Johnson (17) Reunion Arena
17,007 		4–2
Conference Finals: 1–4 (Home: 1–2; Road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 10 Houston W 119–107 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31) Johnson, Lucas (7) Magic Johnson (18) The Forum
17,505 		1–0
2 May 13 Houston L 102–112 Magic Johnson (24) Kurt Rambis (9) Magic Johnson (19) The Forum
17,505 		1–1
3 May 16 @ Houston L 109–117 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) Johnson, Lucas (8) Magic Johnson (20) The Summit
16,016 		1–2
4 May 18 @ Houston L 95–105 James Worthy (26) Magic Johnson (12) Magic Johnson (11) The Summit
16,016 		1–3
5 May 21 Houston L 112–114 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) Magic Johnson (13) The Forum
17,505 		1–4
1986 schedule

Player statistics[]

Note: GP= Games played; MPG= Minutes per Game; REB = Rebounds; AST = Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; PPG = Points per Game

Season[]

Player GP MPG REB AST STL BLK PTS PPG
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 79 33.3 478 280 67 130 1846 23.4
James Worthy 75 32.7 387 201 82 77 1500 20.0
Magic Johnson 72 35.8 426 907 113 16 1354 18.8
Byron Scott 76 28.8 189 164 85 15 1174 15.4
Maurice Lucas 77 22.7 566 84 45 24 785 10.2
Michael Cooper 82 27.7 244 466 89 43 758 9.2
Mike McGee 71 17.1 140 83 53 7 587 8.3
A. C. Green 82 18.8 381 54 49 49 521 6.4
Kurt Rambis 74 21.3 517 69 66 33 408 5.5
Mitch Kupchak 55 14.2 191 17 12 7 332 6.0
Larry Spriggs 43 11.0 81 49 18 9 214 5.0
Ronnie Lester 27 8.2 10 54 9 3 67 2.5
Pétur Guðmundsson 8 16.0 38 3 3 4 58 7.3
Chuck Nevitt 4 6.3 7 2 2 2 10 2.5
Jerome Henderson 1 3.0 1 0 0 0 4 4.0

Playoffs[]

Award winners[]

Transactions[]

References[]

  1. ^ "60-foot shot sets up Lakers' win, 131-127". USA Today. December 5, 1985. p. 8C.
  2. ^ "Lakers win 127-102 to run record to 19-2". USA Today. December 13, 1985. p. 6C.
  3. ^ DuPree, David (January 23, 1986). "Boston break keeps Lakers reeling 110-95". USA Today. p. 1C.
  4. ^ DuPree, David (February 7, 1986). "Abdul-Jabbar scores 46; L.A. romps 117-95". USA Today. p. 4C.
  5. ^ DuPree, David (February 17, 1986). "Celtics put Lakers in pace 105-99". USA Today. p. 1C.
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