Notable National Basketball Association games televised by CBS
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During its seventeen year tenure of airing National Basketball Association games, CBS Sports televised three NBA Finals between Larry Bird's Boston Celtics and Earvin "Magic" Johnson's Los Angeles Lakers, and both NBA titles won by the "Bad Boy" era Detroit Pistons. CBS aired every NBA Final occurring during the 1980s, an era considered by some to be the "golden age" of the NBA.[1]
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[edit] NBA Finals
- 1976: Game 5 of this series was a classic that is often referred to as the greatest game ever.[2][3] With the series between the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns tied at two games apiece, Boston took a large lead against the Suns at Boston Garden. Phoenix mounted a comeback in a game that eventually went to three overtimes, and featured a shot by John Havlicek that seemed like a game winner, an assault by fans on referee Richie Powers and a game tying shot by Gar Heard at the buzzer — all in the second overtime. Boston won 128-126, and a few days later secured their thirteenth NBA title in Phoenix with a Game 7 win.
- 1977: The Portland Trail Blazers were leading the series against the Philadelphia 76ers three games to two heading into Game 6 in Portland. The city of Portland was in the midst of "Blazermania"[4], which included 5,000 fans waiting for team at the airport. Philadelphia kept the game close throughout the first quarter, but was down by fifteen at halftime. Julius Erving tried in vain to force a Game 7 for his team, scoring 40 points, but Bill Walton's 23 rebounds and 8 blocks kept the game in Portland's hands. Philadelphia's George McGinnis missed the game-tying shot and Portland won the series.
- 1980: The Los Angeles Lakers had a three games to two lead on the Philadelphia 76ers, led by center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. After Abdul-Jabbar was injured in Game 5, left unable to play Game 6 in Philadelphia, Magic Johnson shifted to center and scored 42 points while netting 15 rebounds. Johnson's performance led the Lakers to a title-clinching 123-107 victory.
- 1984: For the first time since 1969, the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics met in the NBA Finals. It was the first meeting between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. The series went seven games, and included some of the highest television ratings in league history.
- 1985: The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics met for the second consecutive season. In Game 1, the Celtics blew out the Lakers, 148-114, in a game that became known as the Memorial Day Massacre. Despite the blowout loss, the Lakers recovered to win the series in six games. In the Lakers' four victories, then 38-year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averaged 30.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2 blocks. Abdul-Jabbar was named Finals MVP.
- 1987: The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics met for the third and final time in the 1980s. Game 4 was the most memorable game, as Magic Johnson helped the Lakers defeat Boston in the Boston Garden on a buzzer-beating hook shot in Game 4. The Lakers took a three games to one series lead and won the series in six.
- 1988: The Detroit Pistons led the Los Angeles Lakers three games to two entering Game 6 at the Great Western Forum. Isiah Thomas played despite badly twisting his ankle during the game. While hobbling and in obvious pain, Thomas still scored 26 points in the third quarter, an NBA Finals record. Despite his efforts, the Lakers won Game 6 and eventually Game 7.
- 1990: With the Detroit Pistons leading the Portland Trailblazers three games to one and on the verge of their second straight NBA championship, Pistons guard Vinnie Johnson hit a jumpshot in the final seconds. Detroit would defeat Portland 92 to 90, securing their second straight title. This was the final NBA telecast on CBS to date.
[edit] Memorial Day games
| Year | Time | Teams | Series | Net. | Play-by-play | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3:30 p.m. | Chicago Bulls 108, Detroit Pistons 101 |
Game 4 East Finals |
CBS | Dick Stockton | Hubie Brown |
| 1989 | 3:00 p.m. | Detroit Pistons 86, Chicago Bulls 80 |
Game 4 East Finals |
CBS | Dick Stockton | Hubie Brown |
| 1988 | 3:00 p.m. | Boston Celtics 79, Detroit Pistons 78 |
Game 4 East Finals |
CBS | Dick Stockton | Billy Cunningham |
| 1987 | 3:00 p.m. | Los Angeles Lakers 133, Seattle Supersonics 102 |
Game 4 West Finals |
CBS | Brent Musburger | Billy Cunningham |
| 1986 | 3:00 p.m. | Houston Rockets 100, Boston Celtics 112 |
Game 1 NBA Finals |
CBS | Dick Stockton | Tom Heinsohn |
| 1985 | 3:00 p.m. | Los Angeles Lakers 114, Boston Celtics 148 |
Game 1 NBA Finals |
CBS | Dick Stockton | Tom Heinsohn |
| Notable: This game is remembered as the Memorial Day Massacre; though the Celtics won by an NBA Finals record 34 points, the Lakers came back to win the series in six. | ||||||
[edit] Christmas Day games
[edit] 1971 - 1980
| Year | Teams | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Phoenix Suns 135, Los Angeles Lakers 100 | |
| Capital Bullets 102, New York Knicks 100 | ||
| 1974 | Washington Bullets 110, Atlanta Hawks 92 | |
| Phoenix Suns 110, Boston Celtics 96 | ||
| Philadelphia 76ers 104, New York Knicks 97 | ||
| 1975 | Washington Bullets 99, Atlanta Hawks 94 | |
| New Orleans Jazz 101, Houston Rockets 99 | ||
| Phoenix Suns 122, Kansas City Kings 111 | ||
| New York Knicks 111, Philadelphia 76ers 103 | ||
| 1976 | Washington Bullets 117, Cleveland Cavaliers 99 | |
| Buffalo Braves 115, Detroit Pistons 106 | ||
| Chicago Bulls 96, Kansas City Kings 91 | ||
| Phoenix Suns 113, Los Angeles Lakers 96 | ||
| Philadelphia 76ers 105, New York Knicks 104 | ||
| Portland Trail Blazers 110, Seattle Supersonics 95 | ||
| 1977 | Washington Bullets 100, Atlanta Hawks 93 | |
| Cleveland Cavaliers 111, Buffalo Braves 105 | ||
| Portland Trail Blazers 109, Golden State Warriors 97 | ||
| Milwaukee Bucks 131, Kansas City Kings 122 | ||
| San Antonio Spurs 115, New Orleans Jazz 105 | ||
| New York Knicks 113, Philadelphia 76ers 110 | ||
| Los Angeles Lakers 111, Seattle Supersonics 96 | ||
| 1978 | Portland Trail Blazers 115, Golden State Warriors 102 | |
| Philadelphia 76ers 109, New York Knicks 94 | ||
| San Diego Clippers 123, Seattle Supersonics 118 | ||
| 1979 | Utah Jazz 122, Denver Nuggets 111 | |
| Cleveland Cavaliers 111, Detroit Pistons 101 | ||
| Portland Trail Blazers 113, Golden State Warriors 91 | ||
| New York Knicks 131, New Jersey Nets 102 | ||
| Philadelphia 76ers 95, Washington Bullets 92 | ||
| 1980 | Portland Trail Blazers 115, Golden State Warriors 114 | |
| Washington Bullets 109, New Jersey Nets 94 | ||
| Boston Celtics 117, New York Knicks 108 | ||
| Phoenix Suns 131, San Antonio Spurs 111 |
[edit] 1981 - 1990
| Year | Teams | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Washington Bullets 115, Indiana Pacers 98 | |
| New Jersey Nets 96, New York Knicks 95 | ||
| Los Angeles Lakers 104, Phoenix Suns 101 | ||
| Portland Trail Blazers 99, Seattle Supersonics 94 | ||
| 1982 | New Jersey Nets 112, New York Knicks 110 | |
| Portland Trail Blazers 95, Seattle Supersonics 88 | ||
| Phoenix Suns 111, Utah Jazz 101 | ||
| Atlanta Hawks 97, Washington Bullets 91 | ||
| 1983 | Portland Trail Blazers 141, Los Angeles Lakers 121 | |
| New York Knicks 112, New Jersey Nets 110 | ||
| 1984 | Cleveland Cavaliers 109, Atlanta Hawks 106 | |
| Philadelphia 76ers 109, Detroit Pistons 108 | ||
| Portland Trail Blazers 106, Golden State Warriors 97 | ||
| New Jersey Nets 120, New York Knicks 114 | New York Knick Bernard King scores 60 points in a loss. | |
| 1985 | New York Knicks 113, Boston Celtics 104 | |
| Portland Trail Blazers 121, Los Angeles Clippers 107 | ||
| 1986 | New York Knicks 86, Chicago Bulls 85 | |
| Washington Bullets 102, Philadelphia 76ers 97 | ||
| 1987 | Detroit Pistons 91, New York Knicks 87 | |
| Atlanta Hawks 106, Philadelphia 76ers 100 | Atlanta Hawks forward Dominique Wilkins scores 45 points. | |
| 1988 | Utah Jazz 101, Los Angeles Lakers 87 | |
| Philadelphia 76ers 125, Washington Bullets 110 | ||
| 1989 | Atlanta Hawks 115, Cleveland Cavaliers 104 |
[edit] Other games
- In 1983, a year before his death, musician Marvin Gaye gave a memorable rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner at the NBA All-Star Game.[5] Gaye's performance remains a staple in popular culture to this day. For CBS' final NBA telecast (which coincided with the conclusion of the 1990 NBA Finals), the network used Gaye's rendition of the anthem as the soundtrack for its montage at the end of the game.
| “ | CBS, once their NBA contract was moved to NBC (in 1990), did a montage at the end to thank everybody over the years, and it was done to the national anthem by Marvin Gaye. They felt that that was the most significant moment in their basketball programming. | ” |
- In Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference Finals, Ralph Sampson's last second tip-in at the buzzer beat the Los Angeles Lakers and sent the Houston Rockets to only their second NBA Finals in their franchise history.
- In a game televised on CBS in 1989, Isiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons instigated a fight with Chicago Bulls center Bill Cartwright. Retaliating to an elbow, Thomas punched Cartwright in the head, breaking his left hand in the process; he also received a cut over one of his eyes.[7]
- On May 7, 1989, the Chicago Bulls got out of the first round for the second time in the Michael Jordan era, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games (with Jordan averaging 45.2 points per game during the series). Jordan established himself as one of the great clutch performers in the NBA with his famous last second jumpshot over Craig Ehlo in the deciding game of the series.
[edit] Memorable calls
| “ | Gar Heard turnaround shot in the air, it is... good! It's tied again! I don't believe it! Garfield Heard at the buzzer, threw one in outside, and we've got a third overtime here in the Boston Garden! | ” |
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—- Brent Musburger reacting to the Phoenix Suns' Gar Heard's turnaround jumpshot at the buzzer to ensure a tie and force a third overtime in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on June 4, 1976, Boston Celtics versus Phoenix Suns |
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| “ | 5-4-3, let the championship begin in Seattle! 2-1! It is over the Seattle SuperSonics are the NBA champions! The opera is over! The fat lady is done singing! | ” |
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—- Musburger calling the game as the Seattle SuperSonics won the NBA Championship against the Washington Bullets on June 1, 1979. |
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| “ | Ladies and gentlemen, I want you to know this man has a smile that lights up a television screen from here to Bangor, Maine, his name is Magic Johnson and Magic, it's a delight to have you aboard in the NBA. | ” |
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—- Musburger introducing Magic Johnson, prior to the latter's debut in the NBA in late 1979. |
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| “ | It's 89-84 ... Sixers and take it inside, oh, unbelievable! Julius Erving underneath, he was trapped, and he still gets the field goal! Watch this fantastic move by the doctor! | ” |
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—- Musburger describing the reverse, behind the backboard lay-up by the Philadelphia 76ers Julius Erving during Game 4 of the 1980 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. |
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| “ | Five seconds left, Magic with the hook shot, scores it with two! | ” |
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—- Dick Stockton describing Magic Johnson's (junior) hook shot in Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals involving the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. |
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| “ | You are watching what greatness is all about. | ” |
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—- Musburger referring to the performance of Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins during Game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals, in which the Boston Celtics played the Atlanta Hawks. |
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