1985–86 Los Angeles Lakers season

NBA draft

The 1985 NBA draft took place on June 18, 1985. It was also the first NBA Draft of the "Lottery" era. The lottery was put into place so teams did not have to intentionally lose games to receive the number one pick.

Roster

• Pat Riley
• Bill Bertka
• Randy Pfund
• Gary Vitti (trainer)

Regular season

• On Wednesday, December 4, 1985, Maurice Lucas made a 60-foot shot at the regulation buzzer to send the game into overtime. The Lakers would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz 131–127.
• The Lakers started the season 19–2.
• On Wednesday, January 22, 1986, the Boston Celtics (31–8) defeated the defending champion Lakers (32–8) 110–95 in a matchup of the league's two best teams.
• On Friday, January 24, 1986, the Boston Celtics (32–8) overtook the Los Angeles Lakers (32–9) as the team with the best record in the NBA. The Celtics maintained the league's best record for the remainder of the season.
• On Thursday, February 6, 1986, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 46 points in a game against the Houston Rockets, his highest single-game total since a 48-point performance against the Portland Trail Blazers on November 26, 1975. The Lakers defeated the Rockets 117–95.
• On Sunday, February 16, 1986, in the season's second matchup between the Celtics and Lakers, this time in the Forum. Boston won again, 105-99 despite not having All-Star Kevin McHale in the lineup.

Season standings

Game log

Regular season

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | October 26 | @ San Antonio | W 121–116 (2OT) | James Worthy (24) | Maurice Lucas (10) | Michael Cooper (15) | HemisFair Arena 10,875 | 1–0 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 | October 29 | @ Dallas | W 133–115 | James Worthy (21) | A.C. Green (16) | Michael Cooper (11) | Reunion Arena 17,007 | 2–0 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | October 31 | @ Phoenix | W 144–107 | Byron Scott (31) | Johnson & Rambis (7) | Michael Cooper (15) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,661 | 3–0 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 | November 2 | @ Golden State | W 120–116 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31) | Kurt Rambis (9) | Magic Johnson (13) | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 14,401 | 4–0 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 5 | November 5 | Cleveland | L 111–129 | Magic Johnson (23) | Magic Johnson (8) | Cooper & Johnson (8) | The Forum 17,505 | 4–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 6 | November 7 | @ Utah | W 116–106 | James Worthy (26) | Maurice Lucas (12) | Magic Johnson (12) | Salt Palace 12,631 | 5–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 7 | November 8 | Denver | W 128–99 | Byron Scott (29) | Magic Johnson (10) | Magic Johnson (12) | The Forum 16,573 | 6–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 | November 12 | Utah | W 119–110 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) | A.C. Green (8) | Magic Johnson (10) | The Forum 14,496 | 7–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 9 | November 14 | Portland | W 114–102 | Magic Johnson (30) | 3 players tied (9) | Magic Johnson (12) | The Forum 14,713 | 8–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 10 | November 15 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 127–96 | Mike McGee (19) | Magic Johnson (9) | Magic Johnson (14) | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 11,380 | 9–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 11 | November 17 | New Jersey | W 138–119 | Mike McGee (26) | Kupchak & Lucas (8) | Magic Johnson (15) | The Forum 16,101 | 10–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 12 | November 20 | L.A. Clippers | W 122–107 | Magic Johnson (22) | Maurice Lucas (11) | Magic Johnson (20) | The Forum 15,214 | 11–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 13 | November 21 | @ Denver | L 120–121 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) | Abdul-Jabbar & Lucas (10) | Magic Johnson (18) | McNichols Sports Arena 17,022 | 11–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 14 | November 23 | @ Portland | W 130–113 | James Worthy (25) | Kurt Rambis (12) | Magic Johnson (14) | Memorial Coliseum 12,666 | 12–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 15 | November 24 | San Antonio | W 118–102 | Magic Johnson (23) | Kurt Rambis (11) | Magic Johnson (13) | The Forum 15,259 | 13–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 16 | November 29 | Seattle | W 108–107 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31) | Magic Johnson (16) | Magic Johnson (17) | The Forum 17,505 | 14–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 17 | December 1 | Chicago | W 117–113 | James Worthy (33) | Maurice Lucas (11) | Magic Johnson (17) | The Forum 17,505 | 15–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 18 | December 4 | @ Utah | W 131–127 (OT) | Magic Johnson (29) | Magic Johnson (9) | Magic Johnson (8) | Salt Palace 12,287 | 16–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 | December 6, 1985 7:30p.m. PST | Houston | W 120–112 | Abdul-Jabbar (35) | Green, Lucas (9) | Johnson (14) | The Forum 17,505 | 17–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 20 | December 8 | Dallas | W 125–119 | Byron Scott (30) | Green & Rambis (9) | Magic Johnson (15) | The Forum 15,810 | 18–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 21 | December 12 | Phoenix | W 127–102 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (35) | Green & Kupchak (7) | Magic Johnson (20) | The Forum 14,558 | 19–2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 22 | December 13 | @ Denver | L 120–124 | James Worthy (37) | Magic Johnson (11) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7) | McNichols Sports Arena 17,022 | 19–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 23 | December 15 | Detroit | W 132–119 | James Worthy (25) | Kurt Rambis (11) | Magic Johnson (15) | The Forum 17,505 | 20–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 24 | December 17 | @ New York | W 105–99 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26) | Maurice Lucas (10) | Magic Johnson (12) | Madison Square Garden 19,591 | 21–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | December 18, 1985 5:30p.m. PST | @ Milwaukee | W 107–105 | Abdul-Jabbar (31) | Rambis (13) | Cooper, Johnson (8) | MECCA Arena 11,052 | 22–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 26 | December 20 | @ Cleveland | W 128–116 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) | Magic Johnson (14) | Richfield Coliseum 20,900 | 23–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 27 | December 21 | @ Washington | W 96–84 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) | Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8) | Magic Johnson (13) | Capital Centre 19,123 | 24–3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 28 | December 26 | @ San Antonio | L 91–109 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24) | Kurt Rambis (6) | Magic Johnson (8) | HemisFair Arena 15,786 | 24–4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 29 | December 28 | @ Sacramento | W 133–111 | James Worthy (31) | Lucas & Worthy (7) | Magic Johnson (13) | ARCO Arena I 10,333 | 25–4 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 30 | December 29 | Golden State | L 122–130 | Magic Johnson (30) | James Worthy (8) | Magic Johnson (12) | The Forum 17,505 | 25–5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 31 | January 3 | Utah | W 110–101 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) | Abdul-Jabbar & Worthy (7) | Michael Cooper (9) | The Forum 17,505 | 26–5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 32 | January 5 | Washington | W 118–88 | A.C. Green (20) | A.C. Green (10) | Magic Johnson (17) | The Forum 17,505 | 27–5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 33 | January 8 | Portland | W 125–121 | James Worthy (30) | James Worthy (10) | Magic Johnson (16) | The Forum 16,481 | 28–5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 34 | January 10 | Indiana | W 124–102 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31) | Kurt Rambis (13) | Magic Johnson (11) | The Forum 17,505 | 29–5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 35 | January 11 | @ Seattle | L 99–105 | James Worthy (26) | Maurice Lucas (9) | Magic Johnson (16) | Seattle Center Coliseum 14,230 | 29–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 36 | January 14 | Phoenix | W 143–122 | James Worthy (23) | Magic Johnson (9) | Magic Johnson (19) | The Forum 14,615 | 30–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 37 | January 16 | L.A. Clippers | W 112–96 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26) | Maurice Lucas (14) | Michael Cooper (13) | The Forum 17,505 | 31–6 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 38 | January 19 | @ Detroit | L 115–118 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38) | Maurice Lucas (12) | Magic Johnson (18) | Pontiac Silverdome 28,548 | 31–7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 39 | January 20 | @ Chicago | W 133–118 | James Worthy (33) | Maurice Lucas (12) | Magic Johnson (14) | Chicago Stadium 17,284 | 32–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 40 | January 22, 1986 5:00p.m. PST | @ Boston | L 95–110 | Abdul-Jabbar (17) | Green, Lucas (10) | Johnson (6) | Boston Garden 14,890 | 32–8 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 41 | January 24 | @ L.A. Clippers | L 109–120 | James Worthy (26) | James Worthy (11) | Michael Cooper (13) | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 14,858 | 32–9 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 42 | January 25 | Denver | L 115–127 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26) | Kurt Rambis (10) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) | The Forum 17,505 | 32–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 | January 28, 1986 7:30p.m. PST | Milwaukee | W 125–115 | Abdul-Jabbar (32) | Lucas (8) | Cooper (11) | The Forum 17,505 | 33–10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 44 | January 30 | @ Portland | W 118–94 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) | Michael Cooper (12) | Memorial Coliseum 12,666 | 34–10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 45 | January 31 | Philadelphia | W 134–100 | Byron Scott (24) | Kurt Rambis (8) | Michael Cooper (13) | The Forum 17,505 | 35–10 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 46 | February 2 | New York | L 96–103 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (40) | Kurt Rambis (10) | Michael Cooper (11) | The Forum 17,505 | 35–11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 47 | February 4 | Dallas | W 110–102 | Abdul-Jabbar & McGee (21) | Maurice Lucas | Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8) | The Forum 16,275 | 36–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 | February 6, 1986 5:30p.m. PST | @ Houston | W 117–95 | Abdul-Jabbar (46) | Worthy (13) | Cooper (9) | The Summit 16,016 | 37–11 |- align="center" |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- style="background:#fcc;" | 49 | February 11 | @ Golden State | L 113–137 | James Worthy (21) | Lucas & Rambis (10) | Magic Johnson (10) | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,011 | 37–12 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 50 | February 12 | @ Phoenix | W 126–100 | Mike McGee (34) | Kurt Rambis (11) | Magic Johnson (11) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,048 | 38–12 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 51 | February 14 | Atlanta | W 141–117 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) | Kurt Rambis (12) | Magic Johnson (16) | The Forum 17,505 | 39–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 52 | February 16, 1986 12:30p.m. PST | Boston | L 99–105 | Worthy (35) | Abdul-Jabbar (9) | Johnson (12) | The Forum 17,505 | 39–13 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 53 | February 19 | @ Indiana | W 90–81 | Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (21) | Maurice Lucas (10) | Magic Johnson (10) | Market Square Arena 16,904 | 40–13 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 54 | February 21 | @ New Jersey | L 106–121 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) | Maurice Lucas (8) | Magic Johnson (10) | Brendan Byrne Arena 20,149 | 40–14 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 55 | February 23 | @ Philadelphia | W 117–111 (OT) | Magic Johnson (34) | Maurice Lucas (8) | Magic Johnson (11) | The Spectrum 17,941 | 41–14 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 56 | February 24 | @ Atlanta | L 93–102 | Johnson & Lucas (23) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) | Magic Johnson (5) | Omni Coliseum 16,522 | 41–15 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 57 | February 26 | @ Dallas | W 119–116 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) | 3 players tied (7) | Magic Johnson (9) | Reunion Arena 17,007 | 42–15 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 58 | February 28 | Phoenix | W 115–103 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) | Kurt Rambis (8) | Magic Johnson (12) | The Forum 17,505 | 43–15 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 59 | March 1 | @ Phoenix | L 106–123 | Maurice Lucas (23) | Maurice Lucas (12) | Magic Johnson (9) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,013 | 43–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 60 | March 3 | Golden State | W 127–117 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34) | Kurt Rambis (16) | Magic Johnson (16) | The Forum 16,045 | 44–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 61 | March 5 | Utah | W 130–84 | Mike McGee (20) | Kurt Rambis (11) | Magic Johnson (8) | The Forum 16,640 | 45–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 62 | March 6 | @ Golden State | W 112–111 | Magic Johnson (30) | Kurt Rambis (12) | Magic Johnson (14) | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,011 | 46–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 63 | March 8 | Sacramento | W 122–121 (2OT) | Magic Johnson (33) | Kurt Rambis (11) | Magic Johnson (17) | The Forum 17,505 | 47–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 64 | March 9 | @ Seattle | W 108–106 | Magic Johnson (32) | Byron Scott (9) | Magic Johnson (9) | Seattle Center Coliseum 10,312 | 48–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 65 | March 11 | L.A. Clippers | W 129–108 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19) | A.C. Green (11) | Magic Johnson (16) | The Forum 15,656 | 49–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 66 | March 13 | Seattle | W 105–92 | Magic Johnson (27) | Green & Rambis (8) | Magic Johnson (13) | The Forum 17,505 | 50–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 67 | March 16, 1986 7:30p.m. PST | Houston | W 116–111 | Abdul-Jabbar (43) | Johnson (12) | Johnson (12) | The Forum 17,505 | 51–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 68 | March 18 | Portland | W 128–122 | Magic Johnson (26) | Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (6) | Magic Johnson (11) | The Forum 17,505 | 52–16 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 69 | March 19 | @ L.A. Clippers | L 114–115 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34) | Maurice Lucas (7) | Magic Johnson (11) | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 12,723 | 52–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 70 | March 21 | @ San Antonio | W 117–109 | Magic Johnson (27) | Maurice Lucas (11) | Magic Johnson (10) | HemisFair Arena 13,860 | 53–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 71 | March 22 | @ Sacramento | W 115–113 | James Worthy (32) | Maurice Lucas (9) | Magic Johnson (14) | ARCO Arena I 10,333 | 54–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 72 | March 24 | San Antonio | W 124–102 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (20) | Maurice Lucas (14) | Magic Johnson (12) | The Forum 17,505 | 55–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 73 | March 25 | @ Denver | W 121–115 | James Worthy (30) | James Worthy (10) | Magic Johnson (19) | McNichols Sports Arena 17,022 | 56–17 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 74 | March 29 | @ Seattle | L 87–88 | Magic Johnson (20) | James Worthy (7) | Magic Johnson (12) | Seattle Center Coliseum 14,230 | 56–18 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 75 | March 30 | Golden State | W 124–117 | James Worthy (34) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) | Magic Johnson (19) | The Forum 17,505 | 56–19 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 76 | April 1 | Seattle | W 109–104 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) | Kurt Rambis (13) | Magic Johnson (6) | The Forum 17,505 | 57–19 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 77 | April 3 | Sacramento | W 135–105 | Byron Scott (24) | Maurice Lucas (11) | Magic Johnson (16) | The Forum 17,505 | 58–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 78 | April 6, 1986 12:30p.m. PST | @ Houston | L 103–109 | Johnson (20) | Abdul-Jabbar (7) | Johnson (20) | The Summit 16,016 | 59–19 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 79 | April 8 | @ Portland | W 120–114 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26) | James Worthy (6) | Magic Johnson (10) | Memorial Coliseum 12,666 | 60–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 80 | April 10, 1986 7:30p.m. PST | Houston | W 117–113 | Johnson (26) | Worthy (14) | Johnson (16) | The Forum 17,505 | 61–19 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 81 | April 12 | @ Sacramento | W 105–92 | Byron Scott (22) | Maurice Lucas (10) | Magic Johnson (8) | ARCO Arena I 10,333 | 62–19 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 82 | April 13 | Dallas | L 104–127 | Byron Scott (24) | A.C. Green (10) | Michael Cooper (10) | The Forum 17,505 | 62–20

Playoffs

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | April 17 | San Antonio | W 135–88 | Byron Scott (24) | Kurt Rambis (8) | Magic Johnson (18) | The Forum 17,505 | 1–0 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 | April 19 | San Antonio | W 122–94 | Magic Johnson (30) | Abdul-Jabbar & Lucas (10) | Magic Johnson (13) | The Forum 17,505 | 2–0 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | April 23 | @ San Antonio | W 114–94 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) | Kurt Rambis (14) | Magic Johnson (17) | HemisFair Arena 7,918

Player statistics

Note: GP= Games played; MPG= Minutes per Game; REB = Rebounds; AST = Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; PPG = Points per Game

Season

Playoffs

Award winners

• Michael Cooper, J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
• Magic Johnson, All-NBA First Team
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, All-NBA First Team
• Michael Cooper, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

References

• Lakers on Basketball Reference

References

1. . (December 5, 1985). "60-foot shot sets up Lakers' win, 131-127". *[[USA Today]]*.
2. . (December 13, 1985). "Lakers win 127-102 to run record to 19-2". *[[USA Today]]*.
3. DuPree, David. (January 23, 1986). "Boston break keeps Lakers reeling 110-95". [[USA Today]].
4. DuPree, David. (February 7, 1986). "Abdul-Jabbar scores 46; L.A. romps 117-95". [[USA Today]].
5. DuPree, David. (February 17, 1986). "Celtics put Lakers in pace 105-99". [[USA Today]].