TITLE: Magic Johnson’s 21 Assists Set NBA Finals Record in 1984 Win Over Celtics
SLUG: magic-johnson-sets-nba-finals-assist-record-1984
CONTENT:
LOS ANGELES — June 3, 1984: Lakers guard Magic Johnson handed out 21 assists, establishing an NBA Finals single-game record, as Los Angeles defeated the Boston Celtics 137-104 in Game 3 at the Great Western Forum.
The performance gave the Lakers a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and put Johnson in the record book. He finished with a triple-double, adding 14 points and 11 rebounds to his historic assist total.
Los Angeles led by three after one quarter and pushed the margin to 11 at halftime. The game broke open in the third period, when the Lakers erupted for 47 points while allowing 33.
Center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar paced Los Angeles with 24 points. Forwards Michael Cooper and Kurt Rambis each contributed 17, and James Worthy scored 13, giving every Lakers starter double figures. Off the bench, Bob McAdoo added 21 points and Mike McGee chipped in 15.
Boston forward Larry Bird posted a game-high 30 points and was one of four Celtics to reach double digits, but the visitors could not keep pace with the Lakers’ offense.
Johnson’s 21-assist mark remains the NBA Finals standard. He later matched the figure in Game 1 of the 1991 Western Conference Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Source: LakersNation.com
