jim jividen

Simulated 1970 NBA Finals

Thursday, December 18, 2025

1969

Actual Result: The Knicks win the NBA Championship, beating the Lakers in 7.

MVP: Willis Reed

East Semis: Milwaukee Bucks d. Philadelphia 76ers (4-1)

New York Knicks d. Baltimore Bullets (4-3)

West Semis: Atlanta Hawks d. Chicago Bulls (4-1)

Los Angeles Lakers d. Phoenix Suns (4-3)

Simulation: The Lakers won 4 titles in the 40s and 50s, moved to LA and won 4 more in the 60s, they are the unquestioned most dominant franchise in NBA history. They enter the 70s as back to back champions looking to become the first ever team to win 3 straight. They'll face the Hawks in a rematch of last year's West Finals - and in the East it is Sixers v. Knicks as the Celtics did not make the postseason.

East Finals (April) New York Knicks (60-22) v. Milwaukee Bucks (56-26)

West Finals (April) Atlanta Hawks (48-34) v. Los Angeles Lakers (46-36)

East Finals Game 1 (New York) Knicks 143 Bucks 116

The Knicks look to return to the NBA Finals and roll through the Bucks in game 1. 29 for Bill Bradley to lead the way. 26 for Walt Frazier. 20 pts and 15 assists from Dave DeBusschere. A double/double for Willis Reed. Milwaukee's rookie center is Kareem Abdul Jabbar and he scores 27.

East Finals Game 2 (New York) Knicks 117 Bucks 106

Big effort for Willis Reed, 33 pts, 14 boards. DeBusschere double/double. 20-17 for Kareem in the loss, 20-18 for Greg Smith.

East Finals Game 3 (Milwaukee) Knicks 123 Bucks 101

The Knicks are a game away from heading right back to the NBA Finals. 22 points and 11 rebounds for Frazier, an assist away from a triple double. 20 pts and 18 rebounds for Reed. Bill Bradley scored 21. Double/double for Kareem and Jon McGlocklin.

East Finals Game 4 (Milwaukee) Bucks 125 Knicks 102

No sweep in this series, Milwaukee forces game 5. Kareem has the big game, 39 points, 22 boards. Greg Smith double/double. Double/double for DeBusschere in the loss.

East Finals Game 5 (New York) Knicks 116 Bucks 88

Easy game 5 - the Knicks win the East and go back to the NBA Finals in consecutive seasons. 20 and 10 for Willis Reed, he's the series MVP. Bill Bradley scores 20. Double/double for Dave DeBusschere and Nate Bowman. Double/double for Kareem in the loss.

West Finals Game 1 (Atlanta) Lakers 126 Hawks 120

The only team to play in 3 consecutive Finals is the Celtics ('60-'62) and no team has ever had a chance to threepeat, the back to back champion Lakers are a game from heading back to the Finals. Wilt Chamberlain blows through the Hawks, 48 pts, 23 boards. 22 and 11 for Elgin Baylor. 22 and 10 assists for Jerry West. Lou Hudson had a great West Finals against the Lakers last year, he opens with 31 in a loss. 21 pts and 10 assists for former Laker Walt Hazzard. 22 for Joe Caldwell. 25 rebounds for Walt Bellamy. Double/double for Bill Bridges.

West Finals Game 2 (Atlanta) Hawks 127 Lakers 117

The Hawks even the series. 37 more for Lou Hudson, Joe Caldwell scores 23. Double/double for Bellamy, Bridges, Hazzard. Wilt goes 32-22 in the loss. 25 for West. Baylor double/double.

West Finals Game 3 (LA) Hawks 120 Lakers 109

The Hawks take game 3 in LA and now lead 2-1. 32 more for Lou Hudson, is Lou Hudson about to lead the Atlanta Hawks to the 1970 NBA Finals? Butch Beard gets a start and scores 25. 23 rebounds for Walt Bellamy, a double/double for Joe Caldwell. Jerry West scores 26 in the loss. 21 and 10 for Wilt. Double/double for Baylor.

West Finals Game 4 (LA) Lakers 108 Hawks 99

The Lakers even the series as we head back to Atlanta for game 5. Wilt goes 28 and 12. Happy Hairston gets a start and he double/doubles. Joe Caldwell scores 22. Double/double for Walt Bellamy.

West Finals Game 5 (Atlanta) Lakers 125 Hawks 118 (OT)

Down 4 with 90 seconds left in regulation the Hawks were unable to score and Jerry West hit two long jumpers to force OT, the Lakers pull away and now we go back to LA, the Lakers one game from their third straight West Title. The big 3 won this for the Lakers: 37 pts and 10 assists for West. Wilt has a triple double, 25 pts, 21 boards, 10 blocks. Baylor has a triple double. 27 pts, 18 boards, 15 assists. Double/double for Hairston. 35 for Lou Hudson in the loss, 20 and 25 for Bill Bridges. 23 for Caldwell - the Hawks had their own triple double, 15 pts, 18 boards, 10 assists.

West Finals Game 6 (LA) Lakers 128 Hawks 109

The Lakers win the West and head to the NBA Finals with the first opportunity any team has ever had to threepeat, to do that, they will need to again beat the New York Knicks. Wilt is the series MVP, 34 pts, 21 boards. West scores 32. Baylor scores 20, all 3 men were on the All-Decade playoff team for the 60s, all start the 70s with a big playoff run. Another double/double for Hairston who has been a big success since moving into the lineup during the series. Bridges goes 21-10 in the loss.

NBA FINALS (April/May) NEW YORK KNICKS v. LOS ANGELES LAKERS

8 Championships for the Lakers, none for the Knicks. This is the Lakers 13th Finals appearance, it is the third for the Knicks. Can the Lakers invent the threepeat?

KNICKS

HC-Red Holzman

C Willis Reed (27) MVP, 1st Team All NBA

PF Dave DeBusschere (29) All Star

SF Bill Bradley (26)

PG Walt Frazier (24) 4th MVP, 1st Team All NBA

SG Dick Barnett (33)

LAKERS

HC-Joe Mullaney

C Wilt Chamberlain (33)

PF Happy Hairston (27)

SF Elgin Baylor (35) All Star

PG Jerry West (31) 2nd MVP, 1st Team All NBA

SG Dick Garrett (23)

NBA Finals Game 1 (NY) Knicks 127 Lakers 114

The Knicks are looking to avenge their lost last year to LA and win their first ever NBA Championship. They're off to a good start. 25 points and 10 rebounds for Willis Reed. The Lakers dealt Dick Barnett to the Knicks for Bob Boozer in '65, now he's in the Knicks backcourt and he scores 22. Double/double for Dave DeBusschere and Walt Frazier. Jerry West scores 28 in the loss. Double/double for Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain

NBA Finals Game 2 (NY) Knicks 130 Lakers 126

The Lakers trailed by as many as a dozen in the 4th quarter, but with a minute left Wilt was fouled on a dunk, cutting the deficit to 1 -- he missed the FT and the Lakers couldn't get any closer, losing by 4. All 5 Knicks starters score 20+. 26 with 13 rebounds for DeBusschere, 24 for Barnett, 22 for Frazier, 21 for Bill Bradley and 20 points/18 rebounds for Willis Reed. Wilt goes 33-16 in the defeat. 26 pts, 13 assists for West. 29 for Baylor.

NBA Finals Game 3 (LA) Lakers 126 Knicks 124

Bill Bradley hit a 16 footer with 12 seconds left to tie the game at 124, the Knicks fouled Wilt - he hit both FT and the Lakers had their first win in the series. 35 points and 21 rebounds for Chamberlain. Wilt's 33 and will play just 3 more seasons. Another big game for West, 38 pts, 11 assists. Double/double for Baylor. 28-19 for Reed in the loss. 26-20 for DeBusschere. Bradley scored 23. Double/double for Clyde.

NBA Finals Game 4 (LA) Lakers 120 Knicks 112

Huge game for the Dipper, 35 pts, 25 boards and the Lakers take both on their home floor. 33 for West. Double/double for Baylor. Reed goes 37-18 in the defeat. Double/double for DeBusschere.

NBA Finals Game 5 (NY) Knicks 126 Lakers 119

With just 13 minutes from Willis Reed the Knicks take game 5 and are 1 game away from their first NBA Championship. Dick Barnett again leads the Knicks in scoring with 32 points. 29 and 11 for Walt Frazier. 21 rebounds for Debusschere. 27 points and 10 assists for Jerry West, 28 for Baylor, 22-20 for Wilt.

NBA Finals Game 6 (LA) Lakers 130 Knicks 114

No Willie Reed and the Knicks get blown out meaning we get a game 7. Wilt with the huge triple double. 27 pts, 16 boards, and a Finals record 13 blocks. West leads in scoring with 32. 20 and 11 for Baylor. Double/double for Keith Erickson. Cazzie Russell leads the Knicks with 20 pts. Double/double for DeBusschere.

The two greatest words in sports - Game Seven, we head to Madison Square Garden.

NBA Finals Game 7 (NY) Lakers 121 Knicks 118

Knicks by 12 as the 4th quarter started. The lead was still 10 with 10 minutes left. Down to 7 with 8 to play. Elgin Baylor hit a runner in the lane with just under 6 left to cut the deficit to 3. At 4:30, West hit a pull up from 25 and the Lakers had their first lead of the quarter. with 2 left, back to back Wilt dunks gave the Lakers a 4 point lead. Bradley scored twice from the wing, surrounding a Wilt FT and the Lakers led by a point with a minute left. Wilt finger roll, Lakers by 3. Frazier went bank, Lakers by 1 with 30 seconds to play. Wilt missed from the paint - but Dick Garrett - Dick Garrett - in his only season with the Lakers - was there with the follow, LA led by 3 with 12 seconds to go. Bradley scored, West hit foul shots and it was done. A Game 7 Triple double for Wilt, who wins his 4th NBA Finals MVP, 37 pts, 33 rebounds, 10 blocks. West scores 22. 26 for Barnett in the loss.

The Los Angeles Lakers win their 3rd straight NBA Championship, the 9th in franchise history.

NBA Finals History

1947 (BAA): Philadelphia Warriors d. Chicago Stags (4-1)

1948 (BAA): Baltimore Bullets d. Philadelphia Warriors (4-2)

1949 (BAA): Minneapolis Lakers d. Washington Capitols (4-2)

1950: Minneapolis Lakers d. Syracuse Nationals (4-2)

1951: Rochester Royals d. New York Knicks (4-3)

1952: Rochester Royals d. Syracuse Nationals (4-3) - MVP: Jack Coleman (PF 27 yrs)

1953: Boston Celtics d. Minneapolis Lakers (4-3) - MVP: Bob Cousy (PG, 24)Back

1954: Minneapolis Lakers d. Syracuse Nationals (4-2) - MVP: George Mikan (C, 29)

1955: Minneapolis Lakers d. Boston Celtics (4-3) - MVP: Clyde Lovellette (C, 25)

1956: Philadelphia Warriors d. St Louis Hawks (4-0) - MVP: Neil Johnston (C, 26)

1957: Boston Celtics d. St Louis Hawks (4-2) - MVP Bob Pettit (C, 24)

1958: Boston Celtics d. St Louis Hawks (4-1) - MVP Bob Cousy (PG, 29)

1959: Syracuse Nationals d. Minneapolis Lakers (4-1) - MVP Dolph Schayes (PF, 30)

1950s Playoffs All NBA

1st Team

C George Mikan (Lakers)

F Bob Pettit (Hawks) - Playoff Player of the Decade

F Dolph Schayes (Nationals)

G Bob Cousy (Celtics)

G Bill Sharman (Celtics)

2nd Team

C Bill Russell (Celtics)

F Neil Johnston (Warriors)

F Clyde Lovellette (Lakers)

G Slater Martin (Lakers/Hawks)

G Paul Seymour (Nationals)

1960: St Louis Hawks d. Boston Celtics (4-2) - MVP Bob Pettit (PF, 27)

1961: Boston Celtics d. St Louis Hawks (4-0) - MVP Bill Russell (C, 26)

1962: Los Angeles Lakers d. Boston Celtics (4-2) MVP Elgin Baylor (SF, 27)

1963: Cincinnati Royals d. Los Angeles Lakers (4-1) MVP Oscar Robertson (PG, 24)

1964: San Francisco Warriors d. Cincinnati Royals (4-3) MVP Wilt Chamberlain (C, 27)

1965 Philadelphia 76ers d. Los Angeles Lakers (4-3) MVP Wilt Chamberlain (C, 28)

1966 Los Angeles Lakers d. Boston Celtics (4-3) MVP Elgin Baylor (SF, 31)

1967 Philadelphia 76ers d. San Francisco Warriors (4-2) MVP Wilt Chamberlain (C, 30)

1968 Los Angeles Lakers d. Boston Celtics (4-2) MVP Elgin Baylor (SF, 33)

1969 Los Angeles Lakers d. New York Knicks (4-1) MVP Jerry West (SG, 30)

1960s Playoffs All NBA

1st Team

C Wilt Chamberlain (Warriors/Sixers/Lakers) Playoff Player of the Decade

F Elgin Baylor (Lakers)

F John Havlicek (Celtics)

G Jerry West (Lakers)

G Sam Jones (Celtics)

2nd Team

C Bill Russell (Celtics)

F Bob Pettit (Hawks)

F Chet Walker (Sixers)

G Oscar Robertson (Royals)

G Hal Greer (Sixers)

1970 Los Angeles Lakers d. New York Knicks (4-3) MVP Wilt Chamberlain (C, 33)

2025 Athlete of the Year

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

December

Shohei Ohtani. Runners-up: Shai Gilgeous Alexander, A'ja Wilson

All 3 had dominant regular seasons concluding with a championship; Ohtani becomes the first baseball player to win this award in 11 years.

Here were all the monthly winners in 2025:

January-Patrick Mahomes

February-Jalen Hurts

March-Alysa Liu

April-Alex Ovechkin

May-Aaron Judge

June-Shai Gilgeous Alexander

July-Scottie Scheffler

August-A'ja Wilson

September-Cal Raleigh

October-Shohei Ohtani

November-Myles Garrett

December - Fernando Mendoza

And here are all the winners of this award from 1990 forward.

1990: Joe Montana

1991: Michael Jordan

1992: Mario Lemieux

1993: Michael Jordan

1994: George Foreman

1995: Hakeem Olajuwon

1996: Michael Jordan

1997: Tiger Woods

1998: Mark McGwire

1999: Tiger Woods

2000: Tiger Woods

2001: Barry Bonds

2002: Barry Bonds

2003: Lance Armstrong

2004: Peyton Manning

2005: Reggie Bush

2006: Roger Federer

2007: Tom Brady

2008: Usain Bolt

2009: Manny Pacquiao

2010: Maya Moore

2011: Aaron Rodgers

2012: LeBron James

2013: LeBron James

2014: Madison Bumgarner

2015: Serena Williams

2016: Michael Phelps

2017: Tom Brady

2018: Breanna Stewart

2019: Megan Rapinoe

2020: Patrick Mahomes

2021: Giannis Antetokounmpo

2022: Lionel Messi/Steph Curry

2023: Nikola Jokic

2024: Simone Biles

2025: Shohei Ohtani

December, 2025 Athlete of the Month

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

November

Fernando Mendoza. Runners-up: Matthew Stafford, Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Cooper Flagg

And that's the year. Tomorrow - the 2025 Athlete of the Year. Here are the 12 nominees:

January-Patrick Mahomes

February-Jalen Hurts

March-Alysa Liu

April-Alex Ovechkin

May-Aaron Judge

June-Shai Gilgeous Alexander

July-Scottie Scheffler

August-A'ja Wilson

September-Cal Raleigh

October-Shohei Ohtani

November-Myles Garrett

December-Fernando Mendoza

Simulated 1969 NBA Finals

Monday, December 15, 2025

1969

Actual Result: Aside from the '67 Sixers win, Boston won every NBA Title during the 60s. Yet again, they beat the Lakers.

MVP: Wes Unseld

East Semis: Boston Celtics d. Philadelphia 76ers (4-1)

New York Knicks d. Baltimore Bullets (4-0)

West Semis: Atlanta Hawks d. San Diego Rockets (4-2)

Los Angeles Lakers d. San Francisco Warriors (4-2)

Simulation: Boston's last title was '61, it's the Lakers with the most titles in the decade with 3 and they are the defending champs. Oh yeah, they added Wilt in the offseason. Both Lakers and Celtics reach the final four; LA faces the Hawks, who now play in Atlanta - the Celtics take on the Knicks, this is the furthest they've advanced in the playoffs since the early 50s.

East Finals (April) New York Knicks (54-28) v. Boston Celtics (48-34)

West Finals (April) Los Angeles Lakers (55-27) v. Atlanta Hawks (48-34)

East Finals Game 1 (NY) Knicks 111 Celtics 98

The Knicks had the top record in the East and they get game 1. Willie Reed scores 26 with 16 rebounds. 25 for Dick Barnett. Double/double for Walt Frazier. Double/double for Bailey Howell in the loss. Bill Russell held to just 4 points.

East Finals Game 2 (Boston) Knicks 130 Celtics 121 (OT)

The Knicks go up 2-0. All five starters coming through. 24 points/13 rebounds for Walt Frazier. 23-15 for Dave DeBuschere. Dick Barnett had 24. 23 rebounds for Willis Reed. 20 pts for Bill Bradley. 30 for John Havlicek in the loss. 23-12 for Howell, 26 rebounds for Russell. 22 pts for Sam Jones

East Finals Game 3 (NY) Celtics 106 Knicks 105

With 4 minutes to play the Knicks led by 5, with 1 to play, that lead was 2. Havlicek scored from the block, drawing a foul and the Celtics had their first lead of the quarter, up 1 with 30 seconds left. DeBusschere drove the lane as the clock neared zero - but he was blocked by Russell and the Celtics had their first win of the series. 27 and 11 for Havl(LA)icek. 22 and 14 for Howell. 21 rebounds for Russell. Dick Barnett scored 25 for the Knicks. 21-12 for Willis Reed. Double/double for DeBusschere.

East Finals Game 4 (Boston) Celtics 109 Knicks 103

Boston evens the series at 2. Hondo again leads the Celts in scoring; 23 pts, 10 boards. 22 for Sam Jones. 29 Russell rebounds. Willie Reed scores 25 with 21 rebounds. Double/double for Frazier and DeBusschere.

East Finals Game 5 (NY) Knicks 115 Celtics 113

Bill Bradley scores from the left wing with 11 seconds left and the Knicks take game 5. Huge game for Reed, 34 pts and 23 rebounds. 22 and 10 for Frazier. Double/double for DeBusschere. Hondo scores 30 in the loss. Howell goes 20-10. Russell with 20 boards. The Knicks are a game from their first NBA Finals appearance since 1951.

East Finals Game 6 (Boston) Knicks 128 Celtics 119

The New York Knicks win the East and head to their first NBA Finals. Willis Reed is the series MVP, he scores 20 with 25 rebounds. 21 and 16 for DeBusschere. 20 for Dick Barnett. Havlicek scores 31 with 10 assists in the loss.

West Finals Game 1 (LA) Lakers 123 Hawks 102

30 for Jerry West in an easy game 1 for LA. Mel Counts with a big 25 and 10 off the bench in relief of Wilt, who scored just 6 points in 28 minutes in his least impactful postseason game ever. Double/double for Elgin Baylor and Bill Hewitt. Lou Hudson went 24-10 in the defeat. Double/double for Zelmo Beaty and Paul Silas.

West Finals Game 2 (LA) Hawks 126 Lakers 117

The Hawks take game 2 in LA and we will head to Atlanta. Lou Hudson scores 32. 28-16 for Zelmo Beaty. Bill Bridges double/double. Wilt bounces back with 22-23 in the loss. 32 for West.

West Finals Game 3 (Atlanta) Lakers 114 Hawks 98

LA returns favor, beating the Hawks in Atlanta. Wilt goes 26 and 21, Baylor goes 22 and 12, Jerry West plays just 16 minutes. 23 for Hudson in the defeat. Bridges double/double.

West Finals Game 4 (Atlanta) Hawks 135 Lakers 125

The series is all tied up headed back to LA for pivotal game 5. Lou Hudson again leads the Hawks with 26 points. Bill Bridges scores 20 with 18 boards. Double/double for Paul Silas. Jerry West goes for 44 in the defeat. 23 for Baylor, Wilt has a triple double, 17 pts, 25 rebounds, 10 blocks.

West Finals Game 5 (LA) Lakers 123 Hawks 101

Easy game 5 home win for the Lakers, they move a game away from their 6th Finals appearance of the decade. 27 for West, Another Wilt triple double, 21 pts, 17 boards, 11 blocks. Elgin Baylor triple double, its the first time in playoff history teammates have triple doubled in the same game, 14 pts, 18 boards, 10 assists. Double/doubles for Bill Bridges and Paul Silas in the loss.

West Finals Game 6 (Atlanta) Hawks 135 Lakers 125

We are going to Game 7 in the West Finals. Zelmo Beaty dominates, 34 points, 10 rebounds. 23-17 for Bill Bridges. 22 for Joe Caldwell. Lou Hudson double/double. Wilt scores 27 with 23 boards. 25 for West. Double/double for Baylor.

We head back to LA - Game Seven.

West Finals Game 7 (LA) Lakers 114 Hawks 110

Lakers by a point entering the 4th, that remained the margin with 8 minutes to play. Tied with 6 minutes left. Tied with 4 minutes left. Back to back Wilt dunks gave the Lakers a 2 pt lead with 2 to play. The bank is open for Joe Caldwell from the foul line to tie the score at 1:40. Bill Hewitt and Caldwell exchange jumpers and with 1 minute to play in game 7 the score was still tied. Elgin Baylor soared for a driving dunk that was immediately matched by a Lou Hudson dunk and with 30 seconds left - the game was once again tied. The Lakers gave the ball to Jerry West - he hit a 24 footer with 19 seconds left, former Laker Walt Hazzard missed the tying shot, West hit 2 FT and the clock expired. 37 pts and 12 assists for West in the closeout game and he's the series MVP; Wilt gets his third triple double of the series, 26 pts, 21 boards, 10 blocks. 20 pts for Baylor and a double/double for Counts. Lou Hudson scored 24 in the loss.

NBA FINALS (April/May) LOS ANGELES LAKERS v. NEW YORK KNICKS

The Lakers are attempting to go back to back and win the franchise's 8th Championship, it would be the 4th since the move to LA for the team of the Decade, the Lakers. They face the New York Knicks, who have not appeared in the NBA Finals in 18 years.

LAKERS

HC- Butch van Breda Kolff

C Wilt Chamberlain (32) All Star

PF Bill Hewitt (24)

SG Elgin Baylor (34) 5th MVP, 1st Team All NBA

PG Johnny Egan (30)

SG Jerry West (30) 2nd Team All NBA

KNICKS

HC-Red Holzman

C Willis Reed (26) 2nd MVP, 2nd Team All NBA

PF Dave DeBusschere (28) 2nd Team All NBA

SF Bill Bradley (25)

PG Walt Frazier (23)

SG Dick Barnett (32)

NBA Finals Game 1 (LA) Lakers 127 Knicks 110

The Lakers open defense of their title with a home win. Mr. Clutch Jerry West was the series MVP in the West Finals and scores 35 with 13 assists. 28 points and 29 rebounds for Wilt Chamberlain. 27 points and 14 rebound for Elgin Baylor. The Lakers Big 3 hunting for the 4th title in the decade for LA. 30 for Walt Frazier in the loss. Double/double for Willis Reed.

NBA Finals Game 2 (LA) Lakers 133 Knicks 104

Overwhelming performance in game 2. West scores 34. 26-21 for Wilt. John Egan scores 21. Double/double for Baylor. Between '62 and '73 the only season where Jerry West wasn't 1st Team All NBA was this one, but he is 2 games from his first Finals MVP. Bill Bradley scores 22. 21 with 13 boards for Dave DeBusschere. Double/double for Willis Reed.

NBA Finals Game 3 (NY) Knicks 123 Lakers 95

Big home win for the Knicks; 24 points and 21 rebounds for Willis Reed. This is the 5th year of what will be a 10 year career for Reed, all with the Knicks. Dave DeBusschere scores 27. Bill Bradley scores 20. 26 points and 10 assists for West in the loss. Wilt had 23 rebounds but was held to 10 points. Double/double for Baylor.

NBA Finals Game 4 (NY) Lakers 116 Knicks 106

The Lakers take game 4 on the road and are now one win away from the 8th World Championship in franchise history. Mel Counts gets a start and leads the Lakers with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Counts was a Celtic in his second season when Boston lost the NBA Finals to these Lakers in '66. LA acquired him from the Bullets in a 3 team trade that sent out Rudy LaRusso in the middle of last season; he'll have a 12 year NBA career. 25 points and 10 rebounds for Baylor. 23 and 10 assists for West. 19 points and 20 rebounds for Wilt. Hell of a game for Willis Reed in the defeat, 35 points and 26 rebounds. 21 for Frazier. Double/double for DeBusschere.

NBA Finals Game 5 (LA) Lakers 119 Knicks 115

Willis Reed scored with under 10 seconds left to cut the Lakers lead to 2 - but Jerry West sunk two foul shots to end the game and clinch the series for the Lakers. 32 points and 8 assists for West as he wins the Finals MVP. Mel Counts again starts and again has a really strong performance, 28 points and 11 boards. Double/doubles for both Wilt and Baylor. It's the third different team with which Wilt has an NBA Championship. 34-12 for Reed in the loss.