1981 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 7 Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics, May 3, 1981

PHI 90, BOS 91 - Forty years ago, the Boston Celtics completed a remarkable comeback from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Heading into Game 7 on May 3, 1981, NBA teams with a 3-1 series lead had won 65 of 68 series, while road teams in Game 7s had a dismal 10-37 record. Despite these odds, the 76ers, bolstered by Dawkins' strong first quarter, took an early lead and held a five-point advantage at halftime. The game remained tight throughout the second half. Despite shooting 63% in the first half, the 76ers struggled with turnovers and allowed the Celtics to dominate the offensive glass. With Dr. J on the bench, Boston began the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run, but Philadelphia responded with a 12-1 spurt to regain the lead. However, after a crucial layup by Erving, the 76ers failed to score again, and Larry Bird's late jumper secured a 91-89 victory for Boston. Player of the game: Larry Bird: 23 PTS, 8-17 FGM, 1-1 3PM, 6-7 FTM, 11 REB, 5 AST, 5 STL, 2 BLK Notable performance: Julius Erving: 23 PTS, 11-21 FGM, 1-2 FTM, 8 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 4 BLK This series was notable for its tight games, with five out of seven decided by one or two points. The Celtics' win in 1981 was followed by their victory over Houston in the Finals, marking Bird’s first championship. The 76ers and Celtics faced off again in the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals, but this time, Philadelphia secured redemption with a decisive 120-106 Game 7 victory, ending Boston’s hopes of back-to-back titles. Player of the series: Larry Bird: 26.7 PTS, 49 FG%, 33 3P%, 89 FT%, 13.4 REB, 4.6 AST, 1.9 STL, 1.4 BLK