Boston salvaged Game 2 at home, thanks to a late steal and bucket by reserve guard Gerald Henderson.

The Lakers won by 33 at home in Game 3, inspiring Bird to announce that the Celtics "played like a bunch of sissies."

They seemed to be a bit tougher in Game 4. The roughhouse upgrade included a clothesline on Lakers forward Kurt Rambis courtesy of Celtics forward Kevin McHale. Bird and Abdul-Jabbar later went nose to nose, and Boston prevailed, 129-125, in overtime.

Bird scored 34 points in the Celtics' Game 5 victory, but Abdul-Jabbar (30) and the Lakers responded by taking Game 6.

Game 7 in Boston became a star turn for forward Cedric Maxwell, whose 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists helped the Celtics go 8-for-8 to that point in Finals showdowns with L.A.

2. 1985 (Lakers in six)

This Lakers victory trumps the 1987 series because it represented the first time L.A. had conquered Boston in the Finals. It also registers as the first time the Celtics dropped a playoff elimination game at Boston Garden.

This series, which also was the first Finals to be contested in the 2-3-2 format, began with Celtic sub Scott Wedman leading Boston to a blowout victory that became known as the Memorial Day Massacre.

Abdul-Jabbar, who apologized to his teammates for providing just 12 points and three rebounds in Game 1, had 30 points, 17 rebounds and eight dimes during the Lakers' victory in Game 2.

Kareem went for 26 and 14 as the Lakers crushed the Celtics in Game 3, but Boston got even when Dennis Johnson bagged a jumper to win Game 4 at the Forum.

Abdul-Jabbar burned Boston for 36 in the Lakers' 120-111 triumph in Game 5.

McHale had 36 for Boston in Game 6, but Kareem had 29 more and Michael Cooper held Bird in check as the Lakers finally put away the Celtics in Beantown.

1. 1962 (Celtics in seven)

This Boston victory included three of the most celebrated efforts in Celtics-Lakers history.

The Lakers managed to win Game 3 on the strength of a steal and lay-up by West. They used 61 points and 22 rebounds from Elgin Baylor to win Game 5.

The series began with the mighty Cs winning Game 1 in Boston and the Lakers working a split by winning Game 2.

West's Game 3 heroics included a time-related controversy encouraged by Auerbach, who doubted that the Lakers' guard could make a steal, dribble 30 feet and score in three seconds. West countered that he made the steal on the run, enabling him to complete his mission before the horn sounded. For the record, West recorded an even more important steal when he swiped Kobe Bryant from the Charlotte Hornets in 1996.

The Cs rallied to take Game 4, but Baylor put the Lakers back out in front with his monster game at Boston Garden. Boston demonstrated its championship mettle, once again, by returning to L.A. and leaving with a victory in Game 6.

Game 7 was another hayride, but the Lakers failed to put away the victory when Frank Selvy missed an eight-footer — contested by Cousy — at the end of regulation. L.A. fans still swear that Cousy fouled Selvy and believe Baylor — who was in prime position to win the game on a put-back — was pushed out of rebound contention by Sam Jones.

The Celtics, with Jones scoring five of his 27 points, finished the Lakers and the series in overtime.