The 1981–82 NBA season was the 76ers 33rd season in the NBA and 19th season in Philadelphia. They would finish with a record of 58–24. In the playoffs, the Sixers swept the Atlanta Hawks in two games in the First Round, and defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in six games in the Semifinals to face off against the defending NBA champion

Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of t ...

in the Conference Finals. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Sixers defeated the Celtics in seven games to earn a trip to the

NBA Finals The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern and Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven game series to determine the league champion. The team that wins the series is awa ...

for the 3rd time in 6 years. In the NBA Finals, the Sixers faced off against the

Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Lakers play their ...

in a rematch of the

1980 NBA Finals The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1979–80 season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeated the E ...

, where the Lakers won in six games. In the deciding 7th game, with under a minute and a Sixers victory well secured, the fans at the Boston Garden chanted "Beat LA" to the Sixers, one of pro basketballs most enduring moments, wanting the team to defeat the Lakers in the NBA Finals, as Celtics fans hated the Lakers. However, the Lakers would go on to win in the

, defeating the Sixers in six games to capture their second NBA championship in the 1980s. The Lakers won game one by going on an incredible 40-9 scoring spurt in the second half. The home team would win each of the remaining five contests. Philadelphia 76ers at Dallas Mavericks 1981-10-15 (ticket)

Philadelphia 76ers at Dallas Mavericks 1981-10-15 (ticket)

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Regular season

, - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 2 , October 31 , @ Atlanta
W 108–106
, , , , The Omni , 2–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 3 , November 3 , @ Washington
W 112–99
, , , ,

Capital Centre Capitol Center or Capitol Centre or Capital Center or Capital Centre may refer to: Singapore *Capitol Centre, Singapore United Arab Emirates *Capital Centre (Abu Dhabi) United Kingdom *Capitol Centre, Cardiff, a shopping mall United States * Ca ...

, 3–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 4 , November 4 , Indiana
W 107–99
, , , , The Spectrum , 4–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 5 , November 6 , Atlanta
L 99–106
, , , , The Spectrum , 4–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 6 , November 10 , @ Detroit
W 95–93
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 5–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 10 , November 18 , Milwaukee
W 102–100
, , , , The Spectrum , 9–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 12 , November 21 , Houston
W 135–106
, , , , The Spectrum , 11–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 13 , November 27 , @ Indiana
W 124–112 (OT)
, , , , Market Square Arena , 12–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 14 , November 28 , Detroit
W 116–103
, , , , The Spectrum , 13–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 15 , December 1 , @ Atlanta
W 107–98
, , , , The Omni , 14–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 16 , December 2 , San Antonio
L 101–106
, , , , The Spectrum , 14–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 17 , December 4 , @ Boston
L 103–111
, , , , Boston Garden , 14–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 18 , December 5 , @ New Jersey
W 109–102
, , , , Brendan Byrne Arena , 15–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 19 , December 9 , Denver
W 137–109
, , , , The Spectrum , 16–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 22 , December 13 , @ Milwaukee
L 108–127
, , , ,

The MECCA ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

, 18–4 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 24 , December 19 , Boston
W 123–118 (OT)
, , , , The Spectrum , 19–5 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 26 , December 27 , @ Phoenix
L 96–99
, , , , Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum , 20–6 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 27 , December 29 , @ Golden State
W 142–135
, , , , Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum , 21–6 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 28 , December 30 , @ Seattle
W 102–99
, , , ,

Kingdome The Kingdome (officially the King County Stadium) was a multi-purpose stadium located in the Industrial District, Seattle, Industrial District (later SoDo, Seattle, SoDo) neighborhood of Seattle, Washington (state), Washington, United States. O ...

, 22–6 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 29 , January 1 , @

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...

W 120–105
, , , , Memorial Coliseum , 23–6 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 31 , January 5 , @ Detroit
L 101–124
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 24–7 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 32 , January 6 , Washington
W 126–112
, , , , The Spectrum , 25–7 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 33 , January 8 , @ Boston
L 90–96
, , , , Boston Garden , 25–8 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 34 , January 9 , New Jersey
L 113–120
, , , , The Spectrum , 25–9 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 35 , January 12 , @ Washington
W 95–92
, , , ,

, 26–9 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 36 , January 13 , Milwaukee
L 107–111
, , , , The Spectrum , 26–10 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 37 , January 15 , Atlanta
L 90–96
, , , , The Spectrum , 26–11 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 38 , January 17 , @ New Jersey
L 97–105
, , , , Brendan Byrne Arena , 26–12 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 39 , January 20 ,

W 115–110
, , , , The Spectrum , 27–12 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 40 , January 22 , @ Indiana
W 112–105
, , , , Market Square Arena , 28–12 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 41 , January 23 , Seattle
W 100–87
, , , , The Spectrum , 29–12 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 42 , January 26 , @ San Antonio
L 95–103
, , , , HemisFair Arena , 29–13 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 44 , January 28 , @ Houston
L 101–109
, , , , The Summit , 30–14 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 45 , February 3 , Washington
W 122–96
, , , , The Spectrum , 31–14 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 46 , February 5 , New Jersey
W 116–112
, , , , The Spectrum , 32–14 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 48 , February 10 , Indiana
W 102–96
, , , , The Spectrum , 34–14 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 53 , February 21 , Phoenix
W 109–102
, , , , The Spectrum , 39–14 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 55 , February 26 , @ Los Angeles
L 114–116 (2OT)
, , , , The Forum , 40–15 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 56 , February 27 , @ Denver
L 125–134
, , , , McNichols Sports Arena , 40–16 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 59 , March 5 , Atlanta
W 89–80
, , , , The Spectrum , 42–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 60 , March 7 , Los Angeles
W 119–113
, , , , The Spectrum , 43–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 61 , March 10 , Golden State
W 134–114
, , , , The Spectrum , 44–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 63 , March 16 , @ Milwaukee
L 91–106
, , , ,

, 45–18 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 64 , March 17 , Washington
W 102–93
, , , , The Spectrum , 46–18 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 65 , March 19 , Indiana
W 112–95
, , , , The Spectrum , 47–18 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 66 , March 21 , Boston
L 111–123
, , , , The Spectrum , 47–19 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 67 , March 24 , New Jersey
L 106–111
, , , , The Spectrum , 47–20 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 68 , March 25 , @ Detroit
L 98–100
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 47–21 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 70 , March 28 , @ Boston
W 116–98
, , , , Boston Garden , 49–21 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 71 , March 30 , @ Milwaukee
L 114–116 (OT)
, , , ,

, 49–22 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 76 , April 7 , @ New Jersey
W 116–113
, , , , Brendan Byrne Arena , 53–23 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 77 , April 9 , @ Atlanta
L 88–103
, , , , The Omni , 54–23 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 78 , April 11 , Boston
L 109–110 (OT)
, , , , The Spectrum , 54–24 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 79 , April 13 , @ Indiana
W 93–89
, , , , Market Square Arena , 55–24 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 80 , April 14 , Detroit
W 119–111
, , , , The Spectrum , 56–24 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 81 , April 16 , @ Washington
W 100–96
, , , ,

, 57–24 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 82 , April 18 , Milwaukee
W 110–86
, , , , The Spectrum , 58–24

Playoffs

, - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 1 , April 21 , Atlanta
W 111–76
, Darryl Dawkins (27) , Darryl Dawkins (9) , Maurice Cheeks (6) , Spectrum
11,250 , 1–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 2 , April 23 , @ Atlanta
W 98–95 (OT)
, Julius Erving (28) ,

Dawkins Dawkins is an English surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Aubrey Dawkins (born 1995), American basketball player * Ben Dawkins, Australian politician * Benjamin C. Dawkins Jr. (1911–1984), US District Judge in Louisiana * B ...

, C. Jones (8) , Julius Erving (6) ,

Omni Coliseum Omni Coliseum (often called The Omni) was an indoor arena in Atlanta, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. Completed in 1972, the arena seated 16,378 for basketball and 15,278 for ice hockey, hockey. It was part of the CNN Center, Omni ...

8,703 , 2–0 , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 1 , April 25 , Milwaukee
W 125–122
, Julius Erving (34) , Caldwell Jones (16) , Maurice Cheeks (10) , Spectrum
10,086 , 1–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 2 , April 28 , Milwaukee
W 120–108
, Andrew Toney (31) , Caldwell Jones (9) , Maurice Cheeks (8) , Spectrum
14,716 , 2–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 3 , May 1 , @ Milwaukee
L 91–92
, Maurice Cheeks (19) , Caldwell Jones (6) , Maurice Cheeks (8) ,

MECCA Arena Mecca (; officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, commonly shortened to Makkah ()) is a city and administrative center of the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia, and the holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea, in a narrow vall ...

11,052 , 2–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 4 , May 2 , @ Milwaukee
W 100–93
, Julius Erving (21) , Julius Erving (11) , Julius Erving (9) ,

11,052 , 3–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 5 , May 5 , Milwaukee
L 98–110
, Julius Erving (28) , Julius Erving (10) , Maurice Cheeks (9) , Spectrum
16,668 , 3–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 6 , May 7 , @ Milwaukee
W 102–90
, Maurice Cheeks (26) , Caldwell Jones (12) , Julius Erving (7) ,

11,052 , 4–2 , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 1 , May 9 , @ Boston
L 81–121
, Andrew Toney (15) , four players tied (7) , Andrew Toney (4) , Boston Garden
15,320 , 0–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 2 , May 12 , @ Boston
W 121–113
, Andrew Toney (30) , Caldwell Jones (11) , Maurice Cheeks (14) , Boston Garden
15,320 , 1–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 3 , May 15 , Boston
W 99–97
, Julius Erving (19) , Caldwell Jones (12) , Maurice Cheeks (10) , Spectrum
18,364 , 2–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 4 , May 16 , Boston
W 119–94
, Andrew Toney (39) , Caldwell Jones (11) , Maurice Cheeks (11) , Spectrum
18,364 , 3–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 5 , May 19 , @ Boston
L 85–114
, Andrew Toney (18) , Darryl Dawkins (10) ,

Lionel Hollins Lionel Eugene Hollins (born October 19, 1953) is an American professional basketball coach and former player currently serving as an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played for the Portland ...

(7) , Boston Garden
15,320 , 3–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 6 , May 21 , Boston
L 75–88
, Julius Erving (24) , Caldwell Jones (17) , Maurice Cheeks (7) , Spectrum
18,364 , 3–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 7 , May 23 , @ Boston
W 120–106
, Andrew Toney (34) , Caldwell Jones (10) , Maurice Cheeks (11) , Boston Garden
15,320 , 4–3 , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 1 , May 27 , Los Angeles
L 117–124
, Julius Erving (27) , Caldwell Jones (11) , Cheeks, Toney (9) , Spectrum
18,364 , 0–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 2 , May 30 , Los Angeles
W 110–94
, Julius Erving (24) , Julius Erving (14) , Andrew Toney (11) , Spectrum
18,364 , 1–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 3 , June 1 , @ Los Angeles
L 108–129
, Andrew Toney (36) , Darryl Dawkins (13) , Maurice Cheeks (9) , The Forum
17,505 , 1–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 4 , June 3 , @ Los Angeles
L 101–111
, Andrew Toney (28) , Bobby Jones (9) , Andrew Toney (11) , The Forum
17,505 , 1–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 5 , June 6 , Los Angeles
W 135–102
, Andrew Toney (31) , Julius Erving (12) , Toney, Cheeks (8) , Spectrum
18,364 , 2–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 6 , June 8 , @ Los Angeles
L 104–114
, Julius Erving (30) , Caldwell Jones (9) , Maurice Cheeks (9) , The Forum
17,505 , 2–4 , -

Awards and records

* Julius Erving, All-NBA First Team * Bobby Jones, NBA All-Defensive First Team * Caldwell Jones, NBA All-Defensive First Team

References

Philadelphia 76ers on Basketball Reference
{{DEFAULTSORT:1981-82 Philadelphia 76ers season Philadelphia Philadelphia 76ers seasons Eastern Conference (NBA) championship seasons Philadelphia Philadelphia