The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Celtics in the Finals championship.
1987 NBA Finals . The Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics 4 games to 2 . Los Angeles Lakers . Led by Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor and Jerry West , Los Angeles made the NBA Finals six times in the 1960s , but lost each series to the Boston Celtics , beginning their long and storied rivalry . The 1980s Lakers were nicknamed `` Showtime '' due to their Magic Johnson-led fast break-offense , and won five championships in a 9-year span , including their first ever Finals championship against the Celtics in 1985 .