1981–82 Philadelphia 76ers season

NBA professional basketball team season August 2023 March 2026 Philadelphia 76ers 1982 yes 58 24 Atlantic 2 3 Billy Cunningham Pat Williams The Spectrum WPHL-TVPRISM WIP NBA Finals(lost to Lakers 2–4) PHI The 1981–82 Philadelphia 76ers season was the 76ers thirty-third season in the NBA and 19th season in Philadelphia. They would finish with a record of 58–24. Background During the playoffs, the Sixers swept the Atlanta Hawks in two games in the First Round, and defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in six games in the Semifinals to face off against the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics in the conference finals. In the Eastern Conference finals, the Sixers defeated the Celtics in seven games to earn a trip to the NBA Finals for the third time in six years. In the NBA Finals, the Sixers faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers in a rematch of the 1980 NBA Finals, in which the Lakers won in six games. In the deciding seventh game, with under a minute and a Sixers victory well secured, the fans at the Boston Garden chanted "Beat LA" to the Sixers, one of pro basketball's most enduring moments, wanting the team to defeat the Lakers in the NBA Finals, as Celtics fans hated the Lakers. The Lakers went on to win in the NBA Finals, however, defeating the Sixers in six games to capture their second NBA championship in the 1980s. The Lakers won game one by going on an incredible 40-9 scoring spurt in the second half. The home team then won each of the remaining five contests. thumb|right|175px|A ticket for an October 1981 pre-season game between the 76ers and the Dallas Mavericks. Draft picks 1981 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 22 Franklin Edwards PG Cleveland State 2 46 Vernon Smith Texas A&M 3 68 Ernest Graham Maryland 4 92 Rynn Wright Texas A&M 5 114 Steve Craig Brigham Young 6 138 Michael Thomas North Park 7 160 John Crawford Kansas 8 183 Frank Gilroy St. John's 9 202 Ron Wister Temple 10 223 Pete Mullenberg Delaware Roster Philadelphia 76ers #B50000 #FFFFFF #243E7C #FFFFFF 42 Mike Bantom F 6 9 200 Saint Joseph's 1951-12-03 10 Maurice Cheeks G 6 1 180 West Texas A&M 1956-09-08 25 Earl Cureton F 6 9 210 Detroit 1957-09-03 53 Darryl Dawkins C 6 11 251 Maynard Evans HS (FL) 1957-01-11 14 Franklin Edwards G 6 1 170 Cleveland State 1959-02-02 6 Julius Erving F 6 6 210 UMass 1950-02-22 9 Lionel Hollins G 6 3 185 Arizona State 1953-10-19 18 Ollie Johnson basketball, born 1949 F 6 6 200 Temple 1949-05-11 24 Bobby Jones basketball, born 1951 F 6 9 210 North Carolina 1951-12-18 11 Caldwell Jones C 6 11 217 Albany State 1950-08-04 4 Clint Richardson G 6 3 195 Seattle 1956-08-07 50 Steve Mix F 6 7 215 Toledo 1947-12-30 22 Andrew Toney G 6 3 178 Louisiana-Lafayette 1957-11-23 Billy Cunningham Regular season Season standings PHI PHI Game log Regular season Philadelphia 76ers 1982 #0067B1 white Total: 58–24 (home: 32–9; road: 26–15) Philadelphia 76ers October yes #ED174C white 1 0 1 0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | October 31 | @ Atlanta | W 108–106 | | | | The Omni | 2–0 Philadelphia 76ers November #ED174C white 6 1 5 0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | November 3 | @ Washington | W 112–99 | | | | Capital Centre | 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | November 4 | Indiana | W 107–99 | | | | The Spectrum | 4–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | November 6 | Atlanta | L 99–106 | | | | The Spectrum | 4–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | November 10 | @ Detroit | W 95–93 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome | 5–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 | November 18 | Milwaukee | W 102–100 | | | | The Spectrum | 9–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 12 | November 21 | Houston | W 135–106 | | | | The Spectrum | 11–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 | November 27 | @ Indiana | W 124–112 (OT) | | | | Market Square Arena | 12–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 14 | November 28 | Detroit | W 116–103 | | | | The Spectrum | 13–1 Philadelphia 76ers December #ED174C white 3 2 6 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 | December 1 | @ Atlanta | W 107–98 | | | | The Omni | 14–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 16 | December 2 | San Antonio | L 101–106 | | | | The Spectrum | 14–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 17 | December 4 | @ Boston | L 103–111 | | | | Boston Garden | 14–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 | December 5 | @ New Jersey | W 109–102 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 15–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 | December 9 | Denver | W 137–109 | | | | The Spectrum | 16–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 22 | December 13 | @ Milwaukee | L 108–127 | | | | The MECCA | 18–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 | December 19 | Boston | W 123–118 (OT) | | | | The Spectrum | 19–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 26 | December 27 | @ Phoenix | L 96–99 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 20–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 | December 29 | @ Golden State | W 142–135 | | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 21–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | December 30 | @ Seattle | W 102–99 | | | | Kingdome | 22–6 Philadelphia 76ers January #ED174C white 3 3 5 5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 | January 1 | @ Portland | W 120–105 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 23–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 31 | January 5 | @ Detroit | L 101–124 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome | 24–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 32 | January 6 | Washington | W 126–112 | | | | The Spectrum | 25–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 33 | January 8 | @ Boston | L 90–96 | | | | Boston Garden | 25–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 | January 9 | New Jersey | L 113–120 | | | | The Spectrum | 25–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 35 | January 12 | @ Washington | W 95–92 | | | | Capital Centre | 26–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 36 | January 13 | Milwaukee | L 107–111 | | | | The Spectrum | 26–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 37 | January 15 | Atlanta | L 90–96 | | | | The Spectrum | 26–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 38 | January 17 | @ New Jersey | L 97–105 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 26–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 39 | January 20 | Portland | W 115–110 | | | | The Spectrum | 27–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | January 22 | @ Indiana | W 112–105 | | | | Market Square Arena | 28–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 41 | January 23 | Seattle | W 100–87 | | | | The Spectrum | 29–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 42 | January 26 | @ San Antonio | L 95–103 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 29–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 44 | January 28 | @ Houston | L 101–109 | | | | The Summit | 30–14 Philadelphia 76ers February #ED174C white 8 0 2 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 45 | February 3 | Washington | W 122–96 | | | | The Spectrum | 31–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 | February 5 | New Jersey | W 116–112 | | | | The Spectrum | 32–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 | February 10 | Indiana | W 102–96 | | | | The Spectrum | 34–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 53 | February 21 | Phoenix | W 109–102 | | | | The Spectrum | 39–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 55 | February 26 | @ Los Angeles | L 114–116 (2OT) | | | | The Forum | 40–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 56 | February 27 | @ Denver | L 125–134 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 40–16 Philadelphia 76ers March #ED174C white 7 2 3 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 59 | March 5 | Atlanta | W 89–80 | | | | The Spectrum | 42–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 60 | March 7 | Los Angeles | W 119–113 | | | | The Spectrum | 43–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 | March 10 | Golden State | W 134–114 | | | | The Spectrum | 44–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 63 | March 16 | @ Milwaukee | L 91–106 | | | | The MECCA | 45–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 | March 17 | Washington | W 102–93 | | | | The Spectrum | 46–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 65 | March 19 | Indiana | W 112–95 | | | | The Spectrum | 47–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 | March 21 | Boston | L 111–123 | | | | The Spectrum | 47–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 67 | March 24 | New Jersey | L 106–111 | | | | The Spectrum | 47–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 68 | March 25 | @ Detroit | L 98–100 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome | 47–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 70 | March 28 | @ Boston | W 116–98 | | | | Boston Garden | 49–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 71 | March 30 | @ Milwaukee | L 114–116 (OT) | | | | The MECCA | 49–22 Philadelphia 76ers April #ED174C white 4 1 4 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 76 | April 7 | @ New Jersey | W 116–113 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 53–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 77 | April 9 | @ Atlanta | L 88–103 | | | | The Omni | 54–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 78 | April 11 | Boston | L 109–110 (OT) | | | | The Spectrum | 54–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 79 | April 13 | @ Indiana | W 93–89 | | | | Market Square Arena | 55–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 80 | April 14 | Detroit | W 119–111 | | | | The Spectrum | 56–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 81 | April 16 | @ Washington | W 100–96 | | | | Capital Centre | 57–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 82 | April 18 | Milwaukee | W 110–86 | | | | The Spectrum | 58–24 PHI 1982 Playoffs Philadelphia 76ers 1982 #0067B1 white yes Philadelphia 76ers First Round yes #ED174C white yes no 1 0 1 0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | April 21 | Atlanta | W 111–76 | Darryl Dawkins (27) | Darryl Dawkins (9) | Maurice Cheeks (6) | Spectrum11,250 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | April 23 | @ Atlanta | W 98–95 (OT) | Julius Erving (28) | Dawkins, C. Jones (8) | Julius Erving (6) | Omni Coliseum8,703 | 2–0 |- Philadelphia 76ers Conference semifinals #ED174C white yes no 2 1 2 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | April 25 | Milwaukee | W 125–122 | Julius Erving (34) | Caldwell Jones (16) | Maurice Cheeks (10) | Spectrum10,086 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | April 28 | Milwaukee | W 120–108 | Andrew Toney (31) | Caldwell Jones (9) | Maurice Cheeks (8) | Spectrum14,716 | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | May 1 | @ Milwaukee | L 91–92 | Maurice Cheeks (19) | Caldwell Jones (6) | Maurice Cheeks (8) | MECCA Arena11,052 | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | May 2 | @ Milwaukee | W 100–93 | Julius Erving (21) | Julius Erving (11) | Julius Erving (9) | MECCA Arena11,052 | 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | May 5 | Milwaukee | L 98–110 | Julius Erving (28) | Julius Erving (10) | Maurice Cheeks (9) | Spectrum16,668 | 3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | May 7 | @ Milwaukee | W 102–90 | Maurice Cheeks (26) | Caldwell Jones (12) | Julius Erving (7) | MECCA Arena11,052 | 4–2 |- Philadelphia 76ers Conference finals #ED174C white yes no 2 1 2 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | May 9 | @ Boston | L 81–121 | Andrew Toney (15) | four players tied (7) | Andrew Toney (4) | Boston Garden15,320 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | May 12 | @ Boston | W 121–113 | Andrew Toney (30) | Caldwell Jones (11) | Maurice Cheeks (14) | Boston Garden15,320 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | May 15 | Boston | W 99–97 | Julius Erving (19) | Caldwell Jones (12) | Maurice Cheeks (10) | Spectrum18,364 | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | May 16 | Boston | W 119–94 | Andrew Toney (39) | Caldwell Jones (11) | Maurice Cheeks (11) | Spectrum18,364 | 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | May 19 | @ Boston | L 85–114 | Andrew Toney (18) | Darryl Dawkins (10) | Lionel Hollins (7) | Boston Garden15,320 | 3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | May 21 | Boston | L 75–88 | Julius Erving (24) | Caldwell Jones (17) | Maurice Cheeks (7) | Spectrum18,364 | 3–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 | May 23 | @ Boston | W 120–106 | Andrew Toney (34) | Caldwell Jones (10) | Maurice Cheeks (11) | Boston Garden15,320 | 4–3 |- Philadelphia 76ers NBA Finals #ED174C white yes no 2 1 0 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | May 27 | Los Angeles | L 117–124 | Julius Erving (27) | Caldwell Jones (11) | Cheeks, Toney (9) | Spectrum18,364 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | May 30 | Los Angeles | W 110–94 | Julius Erving (24) | Julius Erving (14) | Andrew Toney (11) | Spectrum18,364 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | June 1 | @ Los Angeles | L 108–129 | Andrew Toney (36) | Darryl Dawkins (13) | Maurice Cheeks (9) | The Forum17,505 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | June 3 | @ Los Angeles | L 101–111 | Andrew Toney (28) | Bobby Jones (9) | Andrew Toney (11) | The Forum17,505 | 1–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | June 6 | Los Angeles | W 135–102 | Andrew Toney (31) | Julius Erving (12) | Toney, Cheeks (8) | Spectrum18,364 | 2–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | June 8 | @ Los Angeles | L 104–114 | Julius Erving (30) | Caldwell Jones (9) | Maurice Cheeks (9) | The Forum17,505 | 2–4 |- PHI 1982 yes Awards and records Julius Erving, All-NBA First Team Bobby Jones, NBA All-Defensive First Team Caldwell Jones, NBA All-Defensive First Team References Philadelphia 76ers on Basketball Reference Philadelphia Category:Philadelphia 76ers seasons Category:Eastern Conference (NBA) championship seasons Philadelphia Philadelphia