The 1981-82 Philadelphia 76ers had a successful NBA season, finishing with a 58-24 record. Under head coach Billy Cunningham, the team showcased strong performances, led by stars Julius Erving and Maurice Cheeks. Erving averaged 24.4 points per game, maintaining his status as one of the league’s elite players. The 76ers secured the Atlantic Division title, displaying consistent dominance throughout the season.
In the postseason, the 76ers advanced to the NBA Finals after defeating the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks. Their playoff run highlighted their resilience and depth, particularly with key contributions from role players like Andrew Toney. However, they fell short in the Finals, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. Despite the loss, the 76ers’ performance during the 1981-82 season set the stage for future success, as they would capture the NBA Championship the following year.
- Regular Season Record: 58-24
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 2-0, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-2, Eastern Conference Finals: 4-3, NBA Finals: 2-4
Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats for 1981-82 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Julius Erving | 81 | 24.4 | 6.9 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 27.2 | 21 | 22.0 | 7.4 | 4.7 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 16.7 |
| Andrew Toney | 77 | 16.5 | 1.7 | 3.7 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 43.1 | 21 | 21.8 | 2.4 | 4.9 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 33.3 |
| Bobby Jones | 76 | 14.4 | 5.2 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 21 | 12.2 | 4.7 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Maurice Cheeks | 79 | 11.2 | 3.1 | 8.4 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 27.3 | 21 | 14.3 | 3.0 | 8.2 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 11.1 |
| Lionel Hollins | 81 | 11.0 | 2.3 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 12.5 | 8 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Darryl Dawkins | 48 | 11.0 | 6.4 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 21 | 11.0 | 4.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 0.0 |
| Mike Bantom | 43 | 8.8 | 5.3 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 25.1 | 21 | 4.3 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Caldwell Jones | 81 | 7.9 | 8.7 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 21 | 8.7 | 9.0 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 0.0 |
| Steve Mix | 75 | 7.2 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 25.0 | 7 | 4.3 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Earl Cureton | 66 | 5.3 | 4.1 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 12 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Clint Richardson | 77 | 4.6 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 100.0 | 21 | 5.3 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Franklin Edwards | 42 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 9 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Ollie Johnson | 26 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 33.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Philadelphia 76ers in the 1982 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Atlanta Hawks
In the first round of the 1982 NBA Playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers faced the Atlanta Hawks in a three-game series. The Sixers, led by the dynamic Julius Erving, showcased their prowess by sweeping the Hawks 2-0, thanks to their strong defensive play and Erving's scoring ability. This dominant performance set the tone for Philadelphia's deep playoff run that year.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 21, 1982 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 111-76 | |
| Apr 23, 1982 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 98-95 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Milwaukee Bucks
In the second round of the 1982 NBA Playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers faced off against the Milwaukee Bucks. Led by the dynamic duo of Julius Erving and Andrew Toney, the 76ers showcased their offensive prowess and defensive resilience, ultimately prevailing in a hard-fought six-game series. This victory propelled them to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they continued their quest for an NBA championship.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 1982 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 125-122 | |
| Apr 28, 1982 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 120-108 | |
| May 01, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 92-91 | |
| May 02, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 100-93 | |
| May 05, 1982 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 110-98 | |
| May 07, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 102-90 |
1982 Conference Championship vs. Boston Celtics
In the 1982 NBA Playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers showcased their resilience and star power in the Eastern Conference Finals by defeating the Boston Celtics in a gripping seven-game series. Led by the legendary Julius Erving, the Sixers overcame the Celtics' home-court advantage to clinch a decisive Game 7 victory at the Boston Garden. This triumph propelled Philadelphia into the NBA Finals, highlighting their determination and skill during a fiercely competitive postseason run.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 09, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | L 121-81 | |
| May 12, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | W 121-113 | |
| May 15, 1982 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 99-97 | |
| May 16, 1982 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 119-94 | |
| May 19, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | L 114-85 | |
| May 21, 1982 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 88-75 | |
| May 23, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | W 120-106 |
1982 NBA Finals vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the 1982 NBA Finals, the Philadelphia 76ers faced the Los Angeles Lakers in a rematch of their 1980 encounter, showcasing a fierce battle between Julius Erving's dynamic play and the Lakers' u0022Showtimeu0022 style led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Despite the Sixers' strong performances and Erving's leadership, they ultimately fell short, losing the series 4-2, as the Lakers' depth and fast-paced execution overwhelmed Philadelphia's efforts. This defeat marked another chapter in the Sixers' quest for a championship, which they would finally achieve the following year in 1983.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 1982 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 124-117 | |
| May 30, 1982 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 110-94 | |
| Jun 01, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 129-108 | |
| Jun 03, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 111-101 | |
| Jun 06, 1982 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 135-102 | |
| Jun 08, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-104 |
Philadelphia 76ers 1981-82 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1981-82 season for the Philadelphia 76ers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 1981 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 128-104 | |
| Oct 31, 1981 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 108-106 | |
| Nov 03, 1981 | @ Washington Bullets | W 112-99 | |
| Nov 04, 1981 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 107-99 | |
| Nov 06, 1981 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 106-99 | |
| Nov 10, 1981 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 95-93 | |
| Nov 11, 1981 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 117-90 | |
| Nov 13, 1981 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 105-85 | |
| Nov 14, 1981 | @ New York Knicks | W 109-102 | |
| Nov 18, 1981 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 102-100 | |
| Nov 20, 1981 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 99-94 | |
| Nov 21, 1981 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 135-106 | |
| Nov 27, 1981 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 124-112 | |
| Nov 28, 1981 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 116-103 | |
| Dec 01, 1981 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 107-98 | |
| Dec 02, 1981 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 106-101 | |
| Dec 04, 1981 | @ Boston Celtics | L 111-103 | |
| Dec 05, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 114-105 | |
| Dec 09, 1981 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 137-109 | |
| Dec 11, 1981 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 131-113 | |
| Dec 12, 1981 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 117-114 | |
| Dec 13, 1981 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 127-108 | |
| Dec 16, 1981 | vs. New York Knicks | L 117-115 | |
| Dec 19, 1981 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 123-118 | |
| Dec 22, 1981 | @ New York Knicks | W 112-105 | |
| Dec 27, 1981 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 99-96 | |
| Dec 29, 1981 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 142-135 | |
| Dec 30, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 102-99 | |
| Jan 01, 1982 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 120-105 | |
| Jan 02, 1982 | @ Utah Jazz | W 109-107 | |
| Jan 05, 1982 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 124-101 | |
| Jan 06, 1982 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 126-112 | |
| Jan 08, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | L 96-90 | |
| Jan 09, 1982 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 120-113 | |
| Jan 12, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | W 95-92 | |
| Jan 13, 1982 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 111-107 | |
| Jan 15, 1982 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 96-90 | |
| Jan 17, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 105-97 | |
| Jan 20, 1982 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 115-110 | |
| Jan 22, 1982 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 112-105 | |
| Jan 23, 1982 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 100-87 | |
| Jan 26, 1982 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 103-95 | |
| Jan 27, 1982 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 99-86 | |
| Jan 28, 1982 | @ Houston Rockets | L 109-101 | |
| Feb 03, 1982 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 122-96 | |
| Feb 05, 1982 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 116-112 | |
| Feb 07, 1982 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 123-107 | |
| Feb 10, 1982 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 102-96 | |
| Feb 13, 1982 | @ New York Knicks | W 114-107 | |
| Feb 14, 1982 | vs. New York Knicks | W 117-105 | |
| Feb 17, 1982 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 114-109 | |
| Feb 19, 1982 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 132-117 | |
| Feb 21, 1982 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 109-102 | |
| Feb 23, 1982 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 115-101 | |
| Feb 26, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-114 | |
| Feb 27, 1982 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 134-125 | |
| Mar 02, 1982 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 112-109 | |
| Mar 03, 1982 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 125-107 | |
| Mar 05, 1982 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 89-80 | |
| Mar 07, 1982 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 119-113 | |
| Mar 10, 1982 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 134-114 | |
| Mar 14, 1982 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 128-114 | |
| Mar 16, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 106-91 | |
| Mar 17, 1982 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 102-93 | |
| Mar 19, 1982 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 112-95 | |
| Mar 21, 1982 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 123-111 | |
| Mar 24, 1982 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 111-106 | |
| Mar 25, 1982 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 100-98 | |
| Mar 26, 1982 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 115-111 | |
| Mar 28, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | W 116-98 | |
| Mar 30, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 116-114 | |
| Mar 31, 1982 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 99-98 | |
| Apr 02, 1982 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 135-115 | |
| Apr 04, 1982 | vs. New York Knicks | W 127-106 | |
| Apr 06, 1982 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 117-104 | |
| Apr 07, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 116-113 | |
| Apr 09, 1982 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 103-88 | |
| Apr 11, 1982 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 110-109 | |
| Apr 13, 1982 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 93-89 | |
| Apr 14, 1982 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 119-111 | |
| Apr 16, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | W 100-96 | |
| Apr 18, 1982 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 110-86 |