With the NBA in an indefinite hiatus due to COVID-19, we continue our day-by-day look back at the history of the Philadelphia 76ers. We continue down our path into Sixers history every day as we look to fill the void left by the absence of basketball.
This takes us all back to the title run of 1983 with the Sixers hosting the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals. They had just finished off a sweep of the New York Knicks in Round 2 of the playoffs to complete the first part of Moses Malone’s “Fo’ Fo’ Fo'” prediction and they had now turned their attention to the Bucks. It was time to get down to business.
May 8, 1983
The Sixers welcomed in one of the most talented teams in the league in the Bucks led by Marques Johnson, Sidney Moncrief, Paul Pressey, and Bob Lanier while also having some solid bench pieces. The Sixers would have to bring their A-game if they were to get this one done and they got some help from Maurice Cheeks in this one.
The All-Star point guard dropped 26 points on 12-for-18 shooting with seven assists and six rebounds as the Sixers pulled out a 111-109 thriller over Milwaukee to take Game 1. Andrew Toney added 22 points and five assists and Julius Erving had 19 in support of a big game from their point guard.
As everybody knows, the Sixers were able to dispose of the Bucks fairly quickly, but that will come on another day. As for now, enjoy the memory of the last great title run for the Sixers. [lawrence-related id=30647,30640,30622]