Bulls vs Celtics, 1986 First Round Game 2
A rivalry defined by Jordan, the Celtics, and a legendary 63-point playoff performance.
The Bulls–Celtics rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics. The teams have played each other since the Bulls joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1966, but the rivalry reached new heights during the 1986 NBA Playoffs, particularly in Game 2 of the First Round.
Quick Facts
- Opponent
- Boston Celtics
- Series context
- 1986 NBA Playoffs, First Round Game 2
- Location
- Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
- Michael jordan points
- 63
- Result
- Celtics Win (in overtime)
- Significance
- NBA Playoff Single-Game Scoring Record
Lore & Background
The rivalry intensified after Michael Jordan's arrival in 1984, but the defining moment of this matchup came on April 20, 1986, when Jordan scored an NBA playoff-record 63 points against the Celtics at Boston Garden. Despite the loss, the performance is widely regarded as one of the greatest in NBA history.
Reader's Guide
The Bulls and Cavaliers have met in the playoffs multiple times. The Bulls won series in 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, and 1994. The Cavaliers won their first playoff series against Chicago in 2010, and again in 2015.
Did You Know?
- The Celtics went on to win the 1986 NBA Championship that season.
- Larry Bird famously said after the game, 'I think it's just God disguised as Michael Jordan.'
More in Iconic Matches
Elsewhere in Chicago Bulls
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced