1981 NBA Finals Game 6 vs Houston Rockets

Lore & Background

The Celtics never trailed in the series. They won Game 1 on a famous left-handed shot by Larry Bird, then lost Game 2 before winning Games 3 and 4. After losing Game 5, they closed out the series in Game 6 on the road. The Celtics' balanced attack was led by Cedric Maxwell, Larry Bird, and contributions from the bench. The series was the last time as of 2026 that the Celtics won the championship on the road.

In Their Own Story

The air inside The Summit was thick with Houston humidity and the roar of a home crowd that refused to believe their moment had slipped away. To Robert Parish, the noise faded into a dull hum as he carved through the paint, absorbing contact from Moses Malone before banking in a tough shot. Near the baseline, Kevin McHale danced on his toes, his footwork creating just enough space to draw a double-team before kicking out to an open shooter. On the other end, Malone fought for every inch of rebounding territory, but the Celtics' collective will was unbreakable. As the clock ticked down, the roar from the Boston bench erupted into a deafening chant. The final shot hit the rim, bounced high, and fell through the net. The referee's whistle didn't just end a game; it signaled the return of a dynasty.

Reader's Guide

The Celtics' playoff path: after a first-round bye, they swept the Chicago Bulls in the conference semifinals, then came back from a 3–1 deficit to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers in the conference finals. In the Finals, they faced the 40–42 Houston Rockets, who had upset the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.

Did You Know?

• The 1981 Finals featured a team with a losing record (Houston Rockets, 40–42) for the third time in NBA history and the last to date.
• This was one of only two NBA Finals in the 1980s not to feature the Lakers (the other was 1986, also Celtics vs. Rockets).
• The Celtics won their 14th NBA championship with this victory.