1985 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 7 vs Philadelphia 76ers

Lore & Background

The Celtics entered the 1985 Eastern Conference Finals after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons. They then faced the Philadelphia 76ers and won the series 4–1, finishing with an 11–4 record heading into the Finals.

In Their Own Story

The air inside The Spectrum hung heavy with the acrid smell of stale popcorn and the deafening roar of a Philadelphia crowd desperate to watch their 'Fo', Fo', Fo' dream die on home soil. On the court, Larry Bird wiped sweat from his brow, his white jersey soaked through and stained with the grime of seven brutal games. He locked eyes with Moses Malone, the giant who had predicted a sweep, feeling not fear, but a cold, predatory focus. With seconds evaporating in the fourth quarter, the score remained knotted. The ball found Bird's hands near the elbow. A Sixers defender lunged, but Bird rose with that signature, almost languid grace, releasing a jumper that seemed to defy gravity before swishing through the net. The buzzer screamed moments later, and the silence that plummeted over Philadelphia was heavier than any cheer they had offered all night. In Boston, the celebration began not with a shout, but with a collective, trembling exhale of relief.

Reader's Guide

The series did not go to a Game 7. The Celtics won the series in five games.

Did You Know?

• The Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 4–1 in the 1985 Eastern Conference Finals.
• Moses Malone's 'Fo', Fo', Fo' prediction was made in 1983, not 1985.