The 1980 NBA playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1979–80 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. The Lakers earned their seventh NBA title, their second since moving from Minneapolis.
Magic Johnson became the first and (as of 2019), only rookie to be named NBA Finals MVP, leading L.A. to a clinching Game 6 victory with 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists. With center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar out with a severely sprained ankle, Johnson started at center instead, and ultimately played all five positions on the court in the game.
Philadelphia earned their third Eastern Conference championship, but were unsuccessful in capturing their second NBA title.
The Milwaukee Bucks appeared in the playoffs for the last time as a member of the West; the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs likewise appeared for the last time playing for the East. They switched conferences (along with the Chicago Bulls) in the 1980–81 season with the addition of the Dallas Mavericks. The Bucks made the playoffs for the first time since 1978, starting a string of twelve consecutive appearances that included three Conference Finals appearances (1983, 1984, and 1986) and seven consecutive division titles (1980-1986). They did not miss the playoffs again until 1992.
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Seattle SuperSonics
Game 1 @ Los Angeles (April 22): Seattle 108, Los Angeles 107 (Jack Sikma hits a game-winning free throw with 2 seconds left)
Game 2 @ Los Angeles (April 23): Los Angeles 108, Seattle 99
Game 3 @ Seattle (April 25): Los Angeles 104, Seattle 100
Game 4 @ Seattle (April 27): Los Angeles 98, Seattle 93
Game 5 @ Los Angeles (April 30): Los Angeles 111, Seattle 105
Lakers win series 4–1
Both of Seattle's home games in the series were played at the Hec Edmunson Pavilion on the University of Washington campus due to the unavailability of the Kingdome and the Seattle Center Coliseum.
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first two meetings. These series took place prior to the relocation of the Lakers (1960) and 76ers (formerly Nationals) (1963).
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