1981 NBA Finals

Background

Before the season, the NBA moved the Rockets and San Antonio Spurs from the Central Division of the Eastern Conference to the Midwest Division of the Western Conference, swapping places with the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks. The expansion Dallas Mavericks also joined the Midwest Division. The Rockets were led by Moses Malone, who carried the team to the Finals. Other key contributors included Rudy Tomjanovich, Robert Reid, Mike Dunleavy Sr., Allen Leavell, Billy Paultz, Bill Willoughby, Calvin Garrett, Tom Henderson, and Major Jones.

Houston clinched the last playoff spot on the final night of the regular season after the Golden State Warriors lost to Seattle, as Golden State held the tiebreaker. In the playoffs, Houston upset the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers two games to one, winning both games in Los Angeles. They then defeated the Spurs in seven games in the Western Conference semifinals, with Murphy scoring a career playoff high of 42 points in Game 7.

Game summaries

Houston had lost its previous dozen games to Boston, including a 4–0 sweep in the prior year's playoffs, but Malone called the Celtics 'chumps' and came in fired up. The Celtics were tired and flat after three close games in the Eastern Conference finals against Philadelphia. In Game 1, Houston led 57–51 at halftime and kept the intensity.

Late in the fourth quarter, with Boston trailing 87–84, Larry Bird put up an 18-footer from the right side, rushed in for the rebound, caught it in midair as his momentum carried him out of bounds, switched the ball to his left hand, and flipped it in. Bird finished with 18 points, 21 rebounds, and nine assists; Malone had 13 points and 15 rebounds. The shot gave Boston a 98–95 win.

In Game 2, Malone scored 31 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, Bill Willoughby added 14 off the bench, and Allen Leavell hit a late basket for a 92–90 Houston victory. Bird had 19 points and 21 rebounds. In Game 3 back in Houston, Robert Reid held Bird to three baskets and eight points, but the Celtics did not need his scoring; the Rockets shot 3 for 17 in the second quarter, fell behind by 17, and never recovered.

Television coverage

These were the last Finals broadcast on tape delay, with weeknight games following local late news. To give CBS two live broadcasts, Games 3 and 4 were played on consecutive days, May 9 and 10, a scheduling approach never repeated. Game 3 was the last Saturday Finals game until 2021. Game 4 started at noon Central so CBS could air golf afterward; a potential Game 7 would have begun at 1 p.m.

Eastern. After the series, Gary Bender became CBS's lead NCAA tournament play-by-play announcer, and Rick Barry's contract was not renewed after his racially charged comments about Bill Russell. Russell stayed as lead analyst for two more years with new play-by-play man Dick Stockton. Brent Musburger narrated the expanded one-hour playoff film "The Dynasty Renewed," which included more highlights from earlier rounds.

Aftermath

At the championship parade, Bird kept up the trash talk with Malone, pointing to a sign that said 'Moses does eat s--t' and agreeing with it. Malone earned his second MVP award the next season, but Houston lost in the first round to Seattle. He was then traded to Philadelphia, who had just fallen to the Lakers in the Finals.