LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 12: Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense against Ralph Sampson #50 of the Houston Rockets on November 12, 1982 during an NBA game at the Forum in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1982 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
On May 21, 1986, the Houston Rockets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 114-112 on a turnaround buzzer beater by Ralph Sampson. With the Game 5 win, Sampson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and the Rockets would go on to face the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, losing in six games. This would mark the only season from 1982-1989 where the Lakers would not make the NBA Finals.
