Wilt Chamberlain saves the ball in an archive photo

After losing the fourth game of the 1972 National Basketball Association Western Conference playoff series 114-88, the Lakers responded in game five. They out-rebounded and out-hustled the Bucks to win the pivotal fifth game, 115-90. Every Laker contributed, especially Chamberlain.

L.A. Times staff writer Mal Florence reported, “Wilt Chamberlain, who pulled down 26 rebounds and, believe it or not, was 8 for 8 from the free throw line. Wilt was always riding Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hard and the Milwaukee center missed frequently (13-for-33), finishing with 28 points – far below his average against the Lakers.”

The Lakers won the series in six games, then beat the New York Knicks in five games for the 1972 NBA Championship.

Art Rogers, a staff photographer for the Los Angeles Times, published this image in the sports section on April 19, 1972.

The initial publication date of this piece was April 15, 2011.

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