The Lakers used Jamaal Wilkes and Michael Cooper to keep Julius Erving in check and got a big offensive game from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, blowing open a close game in the third quarter and holding on for a victory. During the third quarter, the 76ers made just 3 of 20 shots from the field and Magic Johnson grabbed all nine rebounds as the Lakers outscored the 76ers 31-17. Philadelphia used a 10-0 run in the fourth to pull within four points but never got any closer.
Abdul-Jabbar finished with 33 points and 14 rebounds while Johnson fell a rebound shy of a triple-double (16 points, nine rebounds, 10 assists). Erving led the 76ers with 20 points, seven below his season average, on 8-of-17 shooting.
