Pat Riley on legendary NBA Finals game that forced Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to wear an oxygen mask

Soon, it will be 42 years since one of the most legendary NBA Finals games of all time — epic Game 5 of the 1984 championship-round played at Boston Garden between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Heading into the game, the series was tied 2-2, and the rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson had already reached mythical heights. Even though everything was set for another nail-biter, the Purple and Gold stood no chance after in the un-airconditioned Boston Garden, with the temperature inside the arena reaching 97 degrees — a record at the time, as the previous highs had been 93 degrees in 1950 and 1976.

When you combine the heated atmosphere fueled by tension and the desire to win from both teams, the summer heat outside, and a packed arena overflowing with hyped-up fans, it becomes clear what kind of conditions both teams faced.

"You have to give both clubs credit for enduring a forty-eight-minute steam bath," Lakers coach Pat Riley said. "It was extremely hot; both teams were affected. But Boston showed up better than we did."

Bird was playing out of his mind

Still, the home team handled it better, though they also had plenty of issues.

Robert Parish struggled with cramps, referee Hugh Evans left the game due to dehydration and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had such a difficult time that he had to wear an oxygen mask.

The Celtics defeated the Lakers by 121–103 on the back of the only man who played without any problems that night.

Bird delivered the game of his career with 34 points and 17 rebounds, shooting a remarkable 15-of-20 from the field and making both 3-pointers he attempted. Kevin McHale added 19 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, while among the starters, only Dennis Johnson kept pace with Bird, scoring 22 points on 10-of-20 shooting.

Abdul-Jabbar, already deep into his career at that point, tried everything, but nothing was falling on the night. He finished with 19 points and seven rebounds on a dreadful 7-of-25 from the field.

Johnson had his standard double-double with 10 points and 13 assists, but he too struggled with his shot, finishing 3-of-9. James Worthy was the only one consistently finding ways to score against Boston, putting up 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting.

Years later, Bird explained why the broken air conditioning at Boston Garden never bothered him.

"We didn't have real air conditioning in the Garden, so when it's hot out, it's gonna be hot in there," said the Celtics legend. "I don't think it played a big factor. Growing up, I played on the asphalt when it was 95 degrees. To me, it was nothing, and I wasn't alone. It helps to be at home, but I think Red's tricks have all been overplayed. They helped more because people talked about them more than anything real."

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Boston captured its 15th title

The truth is that Boston Garden was known as a doorway to hell for opponents, with numerous myths surrounding the AC and dead spots on the parquet, where Celtics players supposedly couldn't miss, while opponents could never find their rhythm.

As for that Finals series, Boston ultimately won 4-3, and Bird got his revenge for losing to Magic in the legendary 1979 NCAA title game, where their rivalry truly began. Many still claim that Game 5 was the turning point of the series; another trick that Red Auerbach, then the team's GM, used to outsmart the opponent.

And all of this is what makes this rivalry one of the greatest in the world of sports, from epic teams to psychological masterminds, legendary players and unforgettable Finals games –  everything built over decades and helped elevate the league to the heights we see today.

Related: Larry Bird offered the Lakers "anyone they wanted" from Pacers roster for Shaquille O'Neal in 2004

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Nov 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.