The 1981–82 NBA season was the 76ers 33rd season in the NBA and 19th season in Philadelphia. They would finish with a record of 58–24. In the playoffs, the Sixers swept the Atlanta Hawks in two games in the First Round, and defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in six games in the Semifinals to face off against the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics in the Conference Finals. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Sixers defeated the Celtics in seven games to earn a trip to the NBA Finals for the 3rd time in 6 years. In the NBA Finals, the Sixers faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers in a rematch of the 1980 NBA Finals, where the Lakers won in six games. In the deciding 7th game, with under a minute and a Sixers victory well secured, the fans at the Boston Garden chanted "Beat LA" to the Sixers, one of pro basketballs most enduring moments, wanting the team to defeat the Lakers in the NBA Finals, as Celtics fans hated the Lakers. However, the Lakers would go on to win in the NBA Finals, defeating the Sixers in six games to capture their second NBA championship in the 1980s. The Lakers won game one by going on an incredible 40-9 scoring spurt in the second half. The home team would win each of the remaining five contests. Draft picks Roster Regular season Season standings Record vs. opponents Game log Regular season |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | October 31 | @ Atlanta | W 108–106 | | | | The Omni | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | November 3 | @ Washington | W 112–99 | | | | Capital Centre | 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | November 4 | Indiana | W 107–99 | | | | The Spectrum | 4–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | November 6 | Atlanta | L 99–106 | | | | The Spectrum | 4–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | November 10 | @ Detroit | W 95–93 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome | 5–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 | November 18 | Milwaukee | W 102–100 | | | | The Spectrum | 9–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 12 | November 21 | Houston | W 135–106 | | | | The Spectrum | 11–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"