The 1985 Playoff Run vs. the Lakers
Underdogs topple the giants: A seven-game thriller that shocked Los Angeles and defined a new era.
The 1985 NBA First Round series between the Buffalo Braves-turned-Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers stands as a defining chapter in franchise history, marking the team's first-ever playoff victory since relocating to the Pacific Coast. Facing the dominant, championship-contending Lakers led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Clippers delivered one of the most shocking upsets in early 80s basketball lore.
- Series Result
- Clippers defeated Lakers in 7 games
- Year
- 1985
- Key Player
- Dennis Johnson (Lakers) vs. Elmore Spencer/Danny Ainge (Clippers)
- Location
- The Forum, Inglewood, CA & The Great Western Forum
- Significance
- First playoff series win in franchise history
- Opponent Record
- Lakers were 62-20 in the regular season
Lore & Background
The emotional weight of this run cannot be overstated for early Clippers fans. For years, the team had been defined by futility and relocation fatigue. Beating the Lakers, specifically at The Forum where Magic Johnson was worshipped, provided a cathartic release that built the foundation of the modern fanbase. It was a series where every possession felt like a battle for survival, with the Clippers' resilience against the Lakers' star power creating memories that still resonate in the corridors of basketball history.
In Their Own Story
The air inside The Forum was thick with anticipation and disbelief as the final seconds ticked down on Game 7. The roar of the crowd, usually reserved for purple and gold, had turned into a deafening mix of shock and awe as the Clippers' bench erupted. On the hardwood, sweat dripped from every player's brow; the contrast between the Lakers' polished offense and the Clippers' desperate, physical defense was stark. In that moment, the underdog narrative wasn't just a story—it was reality etched into the scoreboard.
Reader's Guide
The series began with high drama as the Clippers took Game 1 on the road, immediately signaling that they would not be easy prey. The Lakers responded in Game 2, but the momentum shifted dramatically when the Clippers returned to Los Angeles for Game 3. Game 5 became the turning point of the entire postseason. With the series tied and the stakes incredibly high, the Clippers' defense suffocated the Lakers' offense, forcing turnovers and limiting Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's usual dominance. It was a masterclass in execution that silenced the home crowd at The Forum. The final games were a grueling test of endurance. Game 7 saw both teams playing with everything they had, but the Clippers' ability to make big shots when it mattered most secured their place in history. This victory remains the benchmark for what the franchise can achieve against all odds.
Did You Know?
- This was the first time the Clippers won a playoff series since their inception as the Buffalo Braves.
- The Lakers entered this series with the best record in the Western Conference, making the upset even more significant.
- Danny Ainge and Elmore Spencer were instrumental in disrupting the Lakers' flow during critical moments of the series.
- The series is often cited by historians as one of the greatest upsets in NBA playoff history prior to the 1980s.