The 1977 NBA Playoffs

NBA Playoffs

The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...

was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association

National Basketball Association

The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...

's 1976-1977 season

1976-77 NBA season

The 1976–77 NBA season was the 31st season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Portland Trail Blazers winning the NBA Championship, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...

. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference

Western Conference (NBA)

Below is a list of current Western Conference NBA team rosters.-Western Conference:There are a total of 15 teams in the Western Conference. The current leading team of the Western conference are the Dallas Mavericks....

 champion Portland Trail Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...

 defeating the Eastern Conference

Eastern Conference (NBA)

The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...

 champion Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...

 four games to two in the Finals

1977 NBA Finals

The 1977 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1976-77 NBA season. The Portland Trail Blazers of the Western Conference played against the Philadelphia 76ers of the Eastern Conference, with the 76ers holding home-court advantage. Their 4 regular season meetings had been...

. It was Portland's first (and as of 2011, only) NBA championship. Bill Walton

Bill Walton

William Theodore "Bill" Walton III is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while...

 of the Blazers was awarded the NBA Finals MVP award.

Portland won the NBA championship in its very first playoff appearance, something that had not occurred since the very early days of the BAA (and has not been accomplished since, as of 2011).

This was the first NBA playoff tournament to take place after the ABA-NBA merger

ABA-NBA merger

The ABA–NBA merger was the merger of the American Basketball Association with the National Basketball Association, which after multiple attempts over several years finally occurred in 1976.- Origins of ABA-NBA competition :...

; two of the former ABA teams (the San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....

 and Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...

) made their NBA playoff debuts in this, their first season in the league. The New Jersey Nets

New Jersey Nets

The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...

 made their first playoff appearance in 1979

1979 NBA Playoffs

The 1979 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1978-1979 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Seattle SuperSonics defeating the Eastern Conference champion Washington Bullets four games to one in the Finals. The Sonics...

, and the Indiana Pacers

Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...

 in 1981

1981 NBA Playoffs

The 1981 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament which followed National Basketball Association's 1980–81 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics winning their 14th overall championship by defeating the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets in...

.

For the first time since 1956 (when the Philadelphia Warriors defeated the Syracuse Nationals three games to two), the Eastern Conference/Division championship series had neither the Boston Celtics nor the New York Knicks participating.

Bracket

Western Conference

1st Round

Champion: Portland Trail Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...

(1) Los Angeles Lakers & (2) Denver Nuggets have first round byes.

(3) Portland Trail Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...

vs. (6) Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...

:
Blazers win series 2-1

• Game 1 @ Portland: Portland 96, Chicago 83
• Game 2 @ Chicago: Chicago 107, Portland 104
• Game 3 @ Portland: Portland 106, Chicago 98

(4) Golden State Warriors

Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

vs. (5) Detroit Pistons

Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...

:
Warriors win series 2-1

• Game 1 @ Golden State: Detroit 95, Golden State 90
• Game 2 @ Detroit: Golden State 138, Detroit 108
• Game 3 @ Golden State: Golden State 109, Detroit 101

Conference Semifinals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

vs. (4) Golden State Warriors

Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

:
Lakers win series 4-3

• Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 115, Golden State 106
• Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 95, Golden State 86
• Game 3 @ Golden State: Golden State 109, Los Angeles 105
• Game 4 @ Golden State: Golden State 114, Los Angeles 103
• Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 112, Golden State 105
• Game 6 @ Golden State: Golden State 115, Los Angeles 106
• Game 7 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 97, Golden State 84

(2) Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...

 vs. (3) Portland Trail Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...

:
Blazers win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Denver: Portland 101, Denver 100
• Game 2 @ Denver: Denver 121, Portland 110
• Game 3 @ Portland: Portland 110, Denver 106
• Game 4 @ Portland: Portland 105, Denver 96
• Game 5 @ Denver: Denver 114, Portland 105
• Game 6 @ Portland: Portland 108, Denver 92

Conference Finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

 vs. (3) Portland Trail Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...

:
Blazers win series 4-0

• Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Portland 121, Los Angeles 109
• Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Portland 99, Los Angeles 97
• Game 3 @ Portland: Portland 102, Los Angeles 97
• Game 4 @ Portland: Portland 105, Los Angeles 101

Eastern Conference

Champion: Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...

1st Round

(1) Philadelphia 76ers & (2) Houston Rockets have first round byes

(3) Washington Bullets vs. (6) Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...

:
Bullets win series 2-1

• Game 1 @ Washington: Washington 109, Cleveland 100
• Game 2 @ Cleveland: Cleveland 91, Washington 83
• Game 3 @ Washington: Washington 104, Cleveland 98 (Nate Thurmond
  Nate Thurmond
  Nathaniel "Nate" Thurmond is a retired American basketball player. Dominant at both center and power forward, he was a seven-time All-Star and the first player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double....
  
  ’s final NBA game)

(4) Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...

vs. (5) San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....

:
Celtics win series 2-0

• Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 104, San Antonio 94
• Game 2 @ San Antonio: Boston 113, San Antonio 109

Conference Semifinals

(1) Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...

vs. (4) Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...

:
76ers win series 4-3

• Game 1 @ Philadelphia: Boston 113, Philadelphia 111 (Jo Jo White
  Jo Jo White
  Joseph Henry "Jo Jo" White is an American former professional basketball player.-Life and career:White was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of a minister...
  
  's buzzer-beater)
• Game 2 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 113, Boston 101
• Game 3 @ Boston: Philadelphia 109, Boston 100
• Game 4 @ Boston: Boston 124, Philadelphia 119
• Game 5 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 110, Boston 91
• Game 6 @ Boston: Boston 113, Philadelphia 108
• Game 7 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 83, Boston 77

(2) Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...

vs. (3) Washington Bullets:
Rockets win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Houston: Washington 111, Houston 101
• Game 2 @ Houston: Houston 124, Washington 118
• Game 3 @ Washington: Washington 93, Houston 90
• Game 4 @ Washington: Houston 107, Washington 103
• Game 5 @ Houston: Houston 123, Washington 115
• Game 6 @ Washington: Houston 108, Washington 103

Conference Finals

(1) Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...

vs. (2) Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...

:
76ers win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 128, Houston 117
• Game 2 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 106, Houston 97
• Game 3 @ Houston: Houston 118, Philadelphia 94
• Game 4 @ Houston: Philadelphia 107, Houston 95
• Game 5 @ Philadelphia: Houston 118, Philadelphia 115
• Game 6 @ Houston: Philadelphia 112, Houston 109

NBA finals

(1) Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...

 VS. (3) Portland Trail Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...

:
Blazers win series 4-2

• Game 1 (Sun. May 22) @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 107, Portland 101
• Game 2 (Thu. May 26) @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 107, Portland 89
• Game 3 (Sun. May 29) @ Portland: Portland 129, Philadelphia 107
• Game 4 (Tue. May 31) @ Portland: Portland 130, Philadelphia 98
• Game 5 (Fri. June 3) @ Philadelphia: Portland 110, Philadelphia 104
• Game 6 (Sun. June 5) @ Portland: Portland 109, Philadelphia 107

External links

• Basketball-Reference.com's 1977 NBA Playoffs page