1984 NBA Finals: Jabbar Starts Surge Past Suns and into the Finals

1984 NBA Finals

Larry v. Magic: Game 8

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Summary
Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Media Coverage

There was a great sense of drama about e the final period. First, both teams were hot, and the score was tied six times before Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hit his second consecutive sky hook and started a 6-2 spurt to put the Lakers ahead by 95-91 with 5 minutes 42 seconds to play.

James Worthy, who was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time in the playoffs to give the Lakers more bulk in the front line, scored the final 4 points of the surge and finished with a team-high 22.

For the next 1:27 neither team could score. The Suns missed six shots and committed a turnover, and the Lakers went 0for3.

Magic Johnson scored on a fast break to put the Lakers ahead, 97-91, with 4:15 left. But they then missed five consecutive shots t and committed another turnover to allow the Suns to tie the score at 97-97 when Walter Davis, who re-established himself in this series as perhaps the league's smoothest-shooting guard, swished a 16-footer from the right corner with 1:19 left.

With the Lakers ahead, 99-97, on Johnson's layup from Abdul-Jabbar at 1:05, and the Suns' season slipping away, his teammates failed to find Davis open on the baseline. James Edwards missed a desperation shot with two seconds remaining.