He also poured in 28 points in a must-win Game 6 and earned MVP honors during that series. His 36-point triple-double in Game 7 of the Finals against the Detroit Pistons is one of the best individual performances in Finals history. Worthy scored at least 23 points in all three contests. The Lakers faced three do-or-dies during the 1988 playoffs. This was especially true during the 1988 playoffs.
Worthy eventually became known as “Big Game James” because he performed when the stakes were the highest. The Henderson steal might make it seem as though Worthy shriveled in big moments. In fact, he earned one of the best nicknames in NBA history because of how he came to excel in big games. However, Worthy’s career became defined by more than just a turnover. Instead, Worthy’s error gave the Celtics a chance, and they eventually capitalized. That’s as good as a stranglehold, especially when considering the Lakers went on to win Game 3.
Worthy later admitted he still gets night sweats thinking about the moment, and rightly so.Ī Lakers win would have meant LA took a 2-0 series lead back to the old Forum. Boston ultimately won in overtime to even the series. That ill-fated choice altered the course of the series.Ĭeltics guard Gerald Henderson intercepted the ball and laid it in to tie the game. Rather than use his dribble, the Lakers forward lofted a pass to the opposite sideline. Magic returned the ball to Worthy, who inbounded the rock from the sideline. Perhaps that statement wouldn’t be necessary had Worthy not committed a crucial mistake in Game 2.Īfter winning the series opener, the Lakers led late in Game 2 and had the ball close to their basket. Probably should have beaten the Celtics three times.” James Worthy, via The Athletic The former North Carolina standout remains frustrated he cannot say the Lakers - who beat the Celtics in 19 - went 3-0 against Boston in the Finals. Worthy told The Athletic that he still thinks about the series.
More than 37 years after the Lakers’ devastating defeat at the hands of Larry Bird and the Celtics, James Worthy remains convinced LA was the better team. James Worthy is still upset about the outcome of the ’84 Finals, though his mistake in Game 2 played a huge role Worthy desperately wishes the Lakers could get that one back. The Celtics fired the opening salvo in the rivalry of the 1980s, and Bird and Co. Worthy scored 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting, but the Lakers came up short.
Larry Legend had 29 points and 21 rebounds in a crucial overtime victory in Game 4, and the Celtics took a 3-2 series lead with a blowout victory of their own in Game 5.Īlthough LA held home court in Game 6, it had to head back to the Boston Garden for Game 7. Only, Bird and the Celtics refused to lose an edge.īoston promptly won each of the next two games. Boston rallied to win Game 2, but LA blew the Celtics out in Game 3, as Worthy and six other Lakers scored in double figures. Magic and the Lakers took the opener behind 32 points from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The 1984 NBA Finals offered basketball fans the first chance to see Larry Bird’s Celtics against Magic Johnson’s Lakers. Larry Bird is guarded by the James Worthy and Michael Cooper during Game 6 of the 1984 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers | Jim Wilson/The Boston Globe via Getty Images