1985–86 Los Angeles Lakers season

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 champions, 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.

Roster

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

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Regular season

Playoffs

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

Playoffs

Award winners

Transactions

References

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

Lakers on Database Basketball
Lakers on Basketball Reference