 Game 7 featured a surreal scene : in anticipation of a Lakers win , Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke put up thousands of balloons in the rafters of the Forum in Los Angeles . This display of arrogance motivated the Celtics . In Game 7 , the Lakers trailed 91 – 76 after three quarters . The Lakers mounted a comeback ; then Chamberlain twisted his knee after a rebound and had to be replaced by Mel Counts . With three minutes to go the Lakers trailed 103 – 102 . The Lakers committed costly turnovers and lost the game 108 – 106 , despite a triple @-@ double from West , who had 42 points , 13 rebounds and 12 assists . West became the only player in NBA history to be named Finals MVP despite being on the losing team . 
