1970 NBA playoffs

The 1970 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1969–70 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion New York Knicks defeating the Western Division champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals. Willis Reed was named NBA Finals MVP.

1970 NBA playoffs
DatesMarch 25–May 8, 1970
Season1969–70
Teams8
ChampionsNew York Knicks (1st title)
Runners-upLos Angeles Lakers (13th finals appearance)
Semifinalists
← 1969 1971 →

It was the first NBA title for the Knicks in franchise history, and was their first appearance in the finals since losing their third straight finals in 1953 to the Lakers while they were still in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

For the Lakers, it was their third straight Western Division title and second straight year they lost in Game 7 of the NBA finals. The Lakers dropped their eighth straight NBA finals series (the previous 7 to the Boston Celtics) and were denied their first NBA title since 1954.

It was also the playoff debut of both the second-year Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, with the former managing a first-round defeat of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Boston missed the playoffs for the first time since 1951, despite being the defending champions.

Bracket
  Division Semifinals Division Finals NBA Finals
                           
  1 Atlanta 4  
3 Chicago 1  
  1 Atlanta 0  
Western Division
    2 L.A. Lakers 4  
4 Phoenix 3
  2 L.A. Lakers 4  
    W2 L.A. Lakers 3
  E1 New York 4
  1 New York 4  
3 Baltimore 3  
1 New York 4
Eastern Division
    2 Milwaukee 1  
4 Philadelphia 1
  2 Milwaukee 4  

Western Division

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers

Division Semifinals

(1) Atlanta Hawks vs. (3) Chicago Bulls: Hawks win series 4-1

  • Game 1 @ Atlanta (March 25): Atlanta 129, Chicago 111
  • Game 2 @ Atlanta (March 28): Atlanta 124, Chicago 104
  • Game 3 @ Chicago (March 31): Atlanta 106, Chicago 101
  • Game 4 @ Chicago (April 3): Chicago 131, Atlanta 120
  • Game 5 @ Atlanta (April 5): Atlanta 113, Chicago 107

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Phoenix Suns: Lakers win series 4-3

  • Game 1 @ Los Angeles (March 25): Los Angeles 128, Phoenix 112
  • Game 2 @ Los Angeles (March 29): Phoenix 114, Los Angeles 101
  • Game 3 @ Phoenix (April 2): Phoenix 112, Los Angeles 98
  • Game 4 @ Phoenix (April 4): Phoenix 112, Los Angeles 102
  • Game 5 @ Los Angeles (April 5): Los Angeles 138, Phoenix 121
  • Game 6 @ Phoenix (April 7): Los Angeles 104, Phoenix 93
  • Game 7 @ Los Angeles (April 9): Los Angeles 129, Phoenix 94 (The Lakers become the second team to come back from a 3-1 series deficit)

Division Finals

(1) Atlanta Hawks vs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers: Lakers win series 4-0

  • Game 1 @ Atlanta (April 12): Los Angeles 119, Atlanta 115
  • Game 2 @ Atlanta (April 14): Los Angeles 105, Atlanta 94
  • Game 3 @ Los Angeles (April 17): Los Angeles 115, Atlanta 114 (OT)
  • Game 4 @ Los Angeles (April 19): Los Angeles 133, Atlanta 114

Eastern Division

Champion: New York Knicks

Division Semifinals

(1) New York Knicks vs. (3) Baltimore Bullets: Knicks win series 4-3

  • Game 1 @ New York (March 26): New York 120, Baltimore 117 (2OT)
  • Game 2 @ Baltimore (March 27): New York 106, Baltimore 99
  • Game 3 @ New York (March 29): Baltimore 127, New York 113
  • Game 4 @ Baltimore (March 31): Baltimore 102, New York 92
  • Game 5 @ New York (April 2): New York 101, Baltimore 80
  • Game 6 @ Baltimore (April 5): Baltimore 96, New York 87
  • Game 7 @ New York (April 6): New York 127, Baltimore 114

(2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (4) Philadelphia 76ers: Bucks win series 4-1

  • Game 1 @ Milwaukee (March 25): Milwaukee 125, Philadelphia 118
  • Game 2 @ Milwaukee (March 27): Philadelphia 112, Milwaukee 105
  • Game 3 @ Philadelphia (March 30): Milwaukee 156, Philadelphia 120
  • Game 4 @ Philadelphia (April 1): Milwaukee 118, Philadelphia 111
  • Game 5 @ Milwaukee (April 3): Milwaukee 115, Philadelphia 106

Last playoff meeting: This is the first meeting between the Bucks and the 76ers.

Division Finals

(1) New York Knicks vs. (2) Milwaukee Bucks: Knicks win series 4-1

  • Game 1 @ New York (April 11): New York 110, Milwaukee 102
  • Game 2 @ New York (April 13): New York 112, Milwaukee 111
  • Game 3 @ Milwaukee (April 17): Milwaukee 101, New York 96
  • Game 4 @ Milwaukee (April 19): New York 117, Milwaukee 105
  • Game 5 @ New York (April 20): New York 132, Milwaukee 96 (Guy Rodgers' final NBA game)

Last playoff meeting: This is the first meeting between the Bucks and the Knicks.

Broadcasters

Division Semifinals

Local Television

Teams Channel Play-by-play announcer
New York–Baltimore Manhattan Cable Television (New York) (Games 1, 5 and 7)
WOR-TV (New York) (Games 2 and 4)		 Bob Wolff and Marty Glickman
Bob Wolff

National Television

Teams Network Play-by-play announcer Color analyst(s)
New York–Baltimore ABC (Games 3, 6)

Local Radio

Teams Flagship station Play-by-play announcer
New York–Baltimore WHN (New York) (Games 1–5, 7) Marv Albert

Division Finals

Local Television

Teams Channel Play-by-play announcer
New York–Milwaukee Manhattan Cable Television (New York) (Games 2 and 5)
WOR-TV (New York) (Game 3)		 Bob Wolff and Marty Glickman
Bob Wolff

National Television

Teams Network Play-by-play announcer Color analyst(s)
New York–Milwaukee ABC (Games 1, 4)

Local Radio

Teams Flagship station Play-by-play announcer
New York–Milwaukee WHN (New York) Marv Albert

NBA Finals
Main article: 1970 NBA Finals

(1) New York Knicks vs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers: Knicks win series 4-3

  • Game 1 @ New York (April 24): New York 124, Los Angeles 112
  • Game 2 @ New York (April 27): Los Angeles 105, New York 103
  • Game 3 @ Los Angeles (April 29): New York 111, Los Angeles 108 (OT; Jerry West hit a desperation buzzer-beating 60-foot shot to tie it at 102 and force OT)
  • Game 4 @ Los Angeles (May 1): Los Angeles 121, New York 115 (OT)
  • Game 5 @ New York (May 4): New York 107, Los Angeles 100
  • Game 6 @ Los Angeles (May 6): Los Angeles 135, New York 113
  • Game 7 @ New York (May 8): New York 113, Los Angeles 99

In Game 7, Willis Reed surprised the fans by walking onto the court during warmups, prompting widespread applause and inspiring the Knicks to win the title.

Broadcasters

National TV

Teams Network Play-by-play announcer Color analyst(s)
New York–Los Angeles ABC Chris Schenkel Jack Twyman

Local Radio

Teams Flagship station Play-by-play announcer Color analyst(s)
New York–Los Angeles WHN (New York) Marv Albert

National Radio

Teams Network Play-by-play announcer Color analyst(s)
New York–Los Angeles
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