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NBA1972 NBA Finals Game 5

LakersVERSUSKnicks

1972 NBA Finals Game 5 · May 7, 1972

After years of championship heartbreak, a 69-win Los Angeles team had the opportunity to finish its historic season at home.

★4.61Fan rating
YouTube highlightsWatch the game’s best moments▶
Season1971–72→Series matchupLakers vs Knicks→

Game lineups

Starting fives

Verified starters

Home starting five
Los Angeles Lakers
StarterFRFlynn Robinson
StarterGGGail Goodrich
StarterHHHappy Hairston
StarterJWJerry West
StarterJCJim Cleamons
Away starting five
New York Knicks
StarterBBBill Bradley
StarterCPCharlie Paulk
StarterDDDave DeBusschere
StarterDMDean Meminger
StarterDBDick Barnett

The five starters come from each team’s saved NBA box-score order. Exact positions are omitted because this archive does not reliably provide them.

Before the game

Spoiler-free context

The Lakers had produced a record 33-game winning streak and 69 regular-season victories, but the franchise's repeated Finals losses still hung over the season. With Wilt Chamberlain playing through a broken hand, Los Angeles had a chance to finish New York at the Forum.

  • Los Angeles led 3–1 and stood one win from its first championship since moving from Minneapolis.
  • Jerry West and Chamberlain were both trying to secure their first Lakers title after years of Finals disappointment.

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