The 1981 NBA Finals Game 1 (Season 1, Episode 1)
TV Episode | Sport

The 1981 NBA Finals

Game 1 (Season 1, Episode 1)

TV Episode | Sport

No one figured this series to be much of a Finals. Houston, in fact, had lost its previous dozen games to the Celtics, including a 4-0 series sweep in the previous years' playoffs. But Malone, who had averaged nearly 28 points and 15 ...See moreNo one figured this series to be much of a Finals. Houston, in fact, had lost its previous dozen games to the Celtics, including a 4-0 series sweep in the previous years' playoffs. But Malone, who had averaged nearly 28 points and 15 rebounds over the season, would have none of the "Boston Curse". He came into the series fired up, going so far as to call the Celtics "chumps". The Celtics, meanwhile, were coming off three close games in the Eastern Conference Finals in upsetting the heavily favored Philadelphia 76ers. So, the Celtics were understandably flat. Houston led 57-51 at the half and kept that intensity through the game. Late in the fourth period, with the Celtics trailing 87-84, Bird put up an 18-footer from the right side. As soon as he turned it loose, he immediately rushed in for the rebound. He caught the ball in midair as his momentum was carrying him out of bounds on the baseline just right of the lane. In an instant, he switched the ball to his left hand (a right-handed shot would have hit the side of the backboard) and flipped it in the basket. Bird would finish with 18 points, 21 rebounds, and nine assists. Moses Malone would grab 15 rebounds, but was held to 13 points. The crowd went nuts over Bird's shot, with general manager Red Auerbach leading the cheers. Bill Russell, who was broadcasting the game for CBS, looked on in disbelief. Written by NBAFinals See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
22 cast members

Name	Known for
Tiny Archibald Self - Boston Celtics Point Guard Self - Boston Celtics Point Guard See fewer	NBA Hardwood Classics (1992)
Larry Bird Self - Boston Celtics Power Forward Self - Boston Celtics Power Forward See fewer	Space Jam (1996)
M.L. Carr Self - Boston Celtics Small Forward Self - Boston Celtics Small Forward See fewer	Secrets (1986)
Boston Celtics Themselves Themselves See fewer	NBA Hardwood Classics (1992)
Mike Dunleavy Self - Houston Rockets Shooting Guard Self - Houston Rockets Shooting Guard See fewer	The 1977 NBA Finals (1977)
Bill Fitch Self - Boston Celtics Head Coach Self - Boston Celtics Head Coach See fewer	Four Square Miles to Glory
Chris Ford Self - Boston Celtics Shooting Guard Self - Boston Celtics Shooting Guard See fewer	The 1981 NBA Finals (1981)
Del Harris Self - Houston Rockets Head Coach Self - Houston Rockets Head Coach See fewer	Space Jam (1996)
Gerald Henderson Self - Boston Celtics Point Guard Self - Boston Celtics Point Guard See fewer	NBA Hardwood Classics (1992)
Tom Henderson Self - Houston Rockets Shooting Guard Self - Houston Rockets Shooting Guard See fewer	The 1978 NBA Finals (1978)
Allen Leavell Self - Houston Rockets Point Guard Self - Houston Rockets Point Guard See fewer	The 1986 NBA Finals (1986)
Moses Malone Self - Houston Rockets Center Self - Houston Rockets Center See fewer	NBA Hardwood Classics (1992)
Cedric 'Cornbread' Maxwell Self - Boston Celtics Small Forward Self - Boston Celtics Small Forward See fewer	The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979)
Kevin McHale Self - Boston Celtics Power Forward Self - Boston Celtics Power Forward See fewer	Cheers (1982)
Calvin Murphy Self - Houston Rockets Point Guar Self - Houston Rockets Point Guar See fewer	The 1981 NBA Finals (1981)
Robert Parish Self - Boston Celtics Center Self - Boston Celtics Center See fewer	Inside Moves (1980)
Billy Paultz Self - Houston Rockets Power Forward Self - Houston Rockets Power Forward See fewer	The 1981 NBA Finals (1981)
Robert Reid Self - Houston Rockets Small Forward Self - Houston Rockets Small Forward See fewer	NBA Hardwood Classics (1992)
Rick Robey Self - Boston Celtics Center Self - Boston Celtics Center See fewer	The 1981 NBA Finals (1981)
Houston Rockets Themselves Themselves See fewer	NBA Hardwood Classics (1992)
Rudy Tomjanovich Self - Houston Rockets Power Forward Self - Houston Rockets Power Forward See fewer	NBA on NBC (1990)
Bill Willoughby Self - Houston Rockets Small Forward Self - Houston Rockets Small Forward See fewer	The 1981 NBA Finals (1981)