1972 NBA playoffs
The 1972 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1971-72 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. Wilt Chamberlain was named NBA Finals MVP.
The Lakers finished the regular season with the best record in NBA history at 69–13, a mark that was unequalled until the 1996 Bulls finished 72-10. Led by Chamberlain and Jerry West, the Lakers won their first title in Los Angeles; their last title was in 1954 as the Minneapolis Lakers.
The Lakers won their first NBA Finals in their last nine appearances without superstar Elgin Baylor, who had played in each of the preceding eight losses. He retired nine games into the season because of ongoing knee problems.
| Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | NBA Finals | |||||||||||
| P1 | L.A. Lakers | 4 | |||||||||||
| M2 | Chicago | 0 | |||||||||||
| P1 | L.A. Lakers | 4 | |||||||||||
| Western Conference | |||||||||||||
| M1 | Milwaukee | 2 | |||||||||||
| P2 | Golden State | 1 | |||||||||||
| M1 | Milwaukee | 4 | |||||||||||
| P1 | L.A. Lakers | 4 | |||||||||||
| A2 | New York | 1 | |||||||||||
| A1 | Boston | 4 | |||||||||||
| C2 | Atlanta | 2 | |||||||||||
| A1 | Boston | 1 | |||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||
| A2 | New York | 4 | |||||||||||
| C1 | Baltimore | 2 | |||||||||||
| A2 | New York | 4 | |||||||||||
Western Conference
Champion: Los Angeles Lakers
Conference Semifinals
(P1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (M2) Chicago Bulls: Lakers win series 4-0
- Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 95, Chicago 88
- Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 131, Chicago 124
- Game 3 @ Chicago: Los Angeles 108, Chicago 101
- Game 4 @ Chicago: Los Angeles 108, Chicago 97
Last playoff meeting: 1971 Western Conference Semifinals (Los Angeles won 4-3)
(M1) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (P2) Golden State Warriors: Bucks win series 4-1
- Game 1 @ Milwaukee: Golden State 117, Milwaukee 106
- Game 2 @ Milwaukee: Milwaukee 118, Golden State 93
- Game 3 @ Golden State: Milwaukee 122, Golden State 94
- Game 4 @ Golden State: Milwaukee 106, Golden State 99
- Game 5 @ Milwaukee: Milwaukee 108, Golden State 100
Last playoff meeting: 1971 Western Conference Semifinals (Milwaukee won 4-1)
Conference Finals
(P1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (M1) Milwaukee Bucks: Lakers win series 4-2
- Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Milwaukee 93, Los Angeles 72
- Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 135, Milwaukee 134
- Game 3 @ Milwaukee: Los Angeles 108, Milwaukee 105
- Game 4 @ Milwaukee: Milwaukee 114, Los Angeles 88
- Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 115, Milwaukee 90
- Game 6 @ Milwaukee: Los Angeles 104, Milwaukee 100
Last playoff meeting: 1971 Western Conference Finals (Milwaukee won 4-1)
Eastern Conference
Champion: New York Knicks
Conference Semifinals
(A1) Boston Celtics vs. (C2) Atlanta Hawks: Celtics win series 4-2
- Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 126, Atlanta 108
- Game 2 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 113, Boston 104
- Game 3 @ Boston: Boston 136, Atlanta 113
- Game 4 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 112, Boston 110
- Game 5 @ Boston: Boston 124, Atlanta 114
- Game 6 @ Atlanta: Boston 127, Atlanta 118
(C1) Baltimore Bullets vs. (A2) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 4-2
- Game 1 @ Baltimore: Baltimore 108, New York 105 (OT)
- Game 2 @ New York: New York 110, Baltimore 88
- Game 3 @ Baltimore: Baltimore 104, New York 103
- Game 4 @ New York: New York 104, Baltimore 98
- Game 5 @ Baltimore: New York 106, Baltimore 82
- Game 6 @ New York: New York 107, Baltimore 101
Conference Finals
(A1) Boston Celtics vs. (A2) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 4-1
- Game 1 @ Boston: New York 116, Boston 94
- Game 2 @ New York: New York 106, Boston 105
- Game 3 @ Boston: Boston 115, New York 109
- Game 4 @ New York: New York 116, Boston 98
- Game 5 @ Boston: New York 111, Boston 103
NBA Finals
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(P1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (A2) New York Knicks: Lakers win series 4-1
- Game 1 @ Los Angeles: New York 114, Los Angeles 92
- Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 106, New York 92
- Game 3 @ New York: Los Angeles 107, New York 96
- Game 4 @ New York: Los Angeles 116, New York 111 (OT)
- Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 114, New York 100 (The Lakers win their first title after moving to L.A.)
