1980 NBA playoffs
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, 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 third 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 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 and seven consecutive division titles. They did not miss the playoffs again until 1992.
Bracket
First round
Eastern Conference first round
(3) Philadelphia 76ers">1979–80 Philadelphia 76ers season">Philadelphia 76ers vs. (6) Washington Bullets">1979–80 Washington Bullets season">Washington Bullets
| Philadelphia won 5–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bullets winning the first two meetings.
| Washington leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series |
(4) Houston Rockets">1979–80 Houston Rockets season">Houston Rockets vs. (5) [1979–80 [San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio Spurs]]
The Rockets gained home-court advantage due to a better record within the Central Division. Both teams had 41-41 records and split their season series 3-3.| Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the Spurs. Additionally, this was the first NBA playoff series between teams from Texas.
Western Conference first round
(3) Seattle SuperSonics">1979–80 Seattle SuperSonics season">Seattle SuperSonics vs. (6) [1979–80 [Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland Trail Blazers]]
| Seattle won 5–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning the first meeting.
| Seattle leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
(4) [1979–80 [Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix Suns]] vs. (5) [1979–80 [Kansas City Kings season|Kansas City Kings]]
| Phoenix won 5–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning the first meeting.
| Phoenix leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference semifinals
(1) Boston Celtics">1979–80 Boston Celtics season">Boston Celtics vs. (4) Houston Rockets">1979–80 Houston Rockets season">Houston Rockets
- Rick Barry's final NBA game.
| Boston won 6–0 in the regular-season series |
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first meeting.
| Boston leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
(2) Atlanta Hawks">1979–80 Atlanta Hawks season">Atlanta Hawks vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers">1979–80 Philadelphia 76ers season">Philadelphia 76ers
| Atlanta won 4–2 in the regular-season series |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Hawks and the 76ers.
Western Conference semifinals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers">1979–80 Los Angeles Lakers season">Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Phoenix Suns">1979–80 Phoenix Suns season">Phoenix Suns
| Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series |
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting.
| Los Angeles leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
(2) Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee Bucks]] vs. (3) Seattle SuperSonics">1979–80 Seattle SuperSonics season">Seattle SuperSonics
- Dennis Johnson hits 3 pointer with 1 second left.
- Attendance of 40,172 was a previous NBA record.
| Seattle won 4–2 in the regular-season series |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Bucks and the SuperSonics.
Conference finals
Eastern Conference finals
(1) Boston Celtics">1979–80 Boston Celtics season">Boston Celtics vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers">1979–80 Philadelphia 76ers season">Philadelphia 76ers
- Pete Maravich's final NBA game; Dave Cowens' final NBA game with Celtics.
| Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series |
This was the 15th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning eight of the first 14 meetings.
| Boston leads 8–6 in all-time playoff series |
Western Conference finals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers">1979–80 Los Angeles Lakers season">Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Seattle SuperSonics">1979–80 Seattle SuperSonics season">Seattle SuperSonics
- Jack Sikma hits a game-winning free throw with 2 seconds left.
- Games 3 & 4 were not played at either the Kingdome or the Seattle Center Coliseum due to being unavailable.
| Los Angeles won 4–2 in the regular-season series |
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning the first two meetings.
| Seattle leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series |
NBA Finals: (W1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (E3) Philadelphia 76ers
- Julius Erving makes the "Up and Under" move.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dunks the clutch 3-point play with 33 seconds left.
- Magic Johnson starts at Center.
| Tied 1–1 in the regular-season series |
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 and 76ers .
| Los Angeles/ Minneapolis leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series |