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New York KnicksVERSUSLos Angeles Lakers

1971-72 · 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.

Game actions

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Game lineups

Starting fives

Verified starters

Home starting five
Los Angeles Lakers
StarterFRFlynn Robinson
StarterGGGail Goodrich
StarterHHHappy Hairston
StarterJWJerry West

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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Starter
JCJim 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.