1. The Magic Hook (1987)
There have been plenty of great moments in the history of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry for the team from Los Angeles. As you’ve noticed, though, many of them have been over the course of series or over the course of a single game. There’s only one specific moment that reigns supreme in the history of the Celtics and the rivalry and that happened in the 1987 NBA Finals.
In Game 4 of that series, the Celtics ran out to a 16-point lead at halftime and looked like they would take complete control of the series. However, Magic Johnson and the Lakers began fighting back in a major way and trailed by only one point with less than a minute to play. Down 106-105 and with only a few seconds left on the clock and after Kareem had already missed two free throws that would’ve put them ahead, Magic drove towards the center of the lane and buried what he called his “junior, junior skyhook” to give the Lakers the lead and ultimately the win.
Magic’s hookshot is one of the most legendary shots in the history of the league, but one of the greatest moments in the Lakers-Celtics rivalry, hands down. The Lakers went onto win the series in the last time that Bird and Magic would meet in the Finals. It was an epic moment to remember the end of arguably the greatest chapter in the rivalry. And, of course, it was another Lakers title.