Western Conference
Champion: Houston Rockets
1st Round
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) San Antonio Spurs: Lakers win series 3–0
- Game 1 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (April 17): Los Angeles 135, San Antonio 88
- Game 2 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (April 19): Los Angeles 122, San Antonio 94
- Game 3 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio (April 23): Los Angeles 114, San Antonio 94
Last Playoff Meeting: 1983 Western Conference Finals (Los Angeles won 4–2)
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Sacramento Kings:Rockets win series 3–0
- Game 1 @ The Summit, Houston (April 17): Houston 107, Sacramento 87
- Game 2 @ The Summit, Houston (April 19): Houston 111, Sacramento 103
- Game 3 @ ARCO Arena I, Sacramento (April 22): Houston 113, Sacramento 98
Last Playoff Meeting: 1981 Western Conference Finals (Houston won 4–1; Kings were in Kansas City, Missouri)
(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers: Nuggets win series 3–1
- Game 1 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (April 18): Denver 133, Portland 126
- Game 2 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (April 20): Portland 108, Denver 106
- Game 3 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (April 22): Denver 115, Portland 104
- Game 4 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (April 24): Denver 116, Portland 112
Last Playoff Meeting: 1977 Western Conference Semifinals (Portland won 4–2)
(4) Dallas Mavericks vs. (5) Utah Jazz: Mavericks win series 3–1
- Game 1 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (April 18): Dallas 101, Utah 93
- Game 2 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (April 20): Dallas 113, Utah 106
- Game 3 @ Salt Palace, Salt Lake City (April 23): Utah 100, Dallas 98
- Game 4 @ Salt Palace, Salt Lake City (April 25): Dallas 117, Utah 113
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Mavericks and Jazz.
Conference Semifinals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Dallas Mavericks: Lakers win series 4–2
- Game 1 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (April 27): Los Angeles 130, Dallas 116
- Game 2 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (April 30): Los Angeles 117, Dallas 113
- Game 3 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (May 2): Dallas 110, Los Angeles 108 (Derek Harper avenged his 1984 mistake by hitting the game-winning 3)
- Game 4 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (May 4): Dallas 120, Los Angeles 118
- Game 5 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 6): Los Angeles 116, Dallas 113
- Game 6 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (May 8): Los Angeles 120, Dallas 107
Last Playoff Meeting: 1984 Western Conference Semifinals (Los Angeles won 4–1)
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (3) Denver Nuggets: Rockets win series 4–2
- Game 1 @ The Summit, Houston (April 26): Houston 126, Denver 119
- Game 2 @ The Summit, Houston (April 29): Houston 119, Denver 101
- Game 3 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 2): Denver 116, Houston 115
- Game 4 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 4): Denver 114, Houston 111 (OT)
- Game 5 @ The Summit, Houston (May 6): Houston 131, Denver 103
- Game 6 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 8): Houston 126, Denver 122 (2OT)
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Rockets and Nuggets.
Conference Finals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (2) Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 4–1
- Game 1 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 10): Los Angeles 119, Houston 107
- Game 2 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 13): Houston 112, Los Angeles 102
- Game 3 @ The Summit, Houston (May 16): Houston 117, Los Angeles 109
- Game 4 @ The Summit, Houston (May 18): Houston 105, Los Angeles 95
- Game 5 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 21): Houston 114, Los Angeles 112 (Ralph Sampson hits the famous off-balanced series winner at the buzzer; Hakeem Olajuwon was ejected in the third quarter for fighting Lakers forward Mitch Kupchak)
Last Playoff Meeting: 1981 Western Conference First Round (Houston won 2–1)
Read more about this topic: 1986 NBA Playoffs
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
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