Playoff Appearances: 38 Overall Playoff Record: 178-158 NBA Championships: 3 (1955, 1967, 1983) 1999 -- defeated Orlando, 3-1, first round lost to Indiana, 4-0, conference semifinals 1991 -- defeated Milwaukee, 3-0, first round lost to Chicago, 4-1, conference semifinals 1990 -- defeated Cleveland, 3-2, first round lost to Chicago, 4-1, conference semifinals 1989 -- lost to New York, 3-0, first round 1987 -- lost to Milwaukee, 3-2, first round 1986 -- defeated Washington, 3-2, first round lost to Milwaukee, 4-3, conference semifinals 1985 -- defeated Washington, 3-1, first round defeated Milwaukee, 4-0, conference semifinals lost to Boston, 4-1, conference finals 1984 -- lost to New Jersey, 3-2, first round 1983 -- defeated New York, 4-0, conference semifinals defeated Milwaukee, 4-1, conference finals defeated LA Lakers, 4-0, NBA Finals WON NBA CHAMPIONSHIP 1982 -- defeated Atlanta, 2-0, first round defeated Milwaukee, 4-2, conference semifinals defeated Boston, 4-3, conference finals lost to LA Lakers, 4-2, NBA Finals 1981 -- defeated Indiana, 2-0, first round defeated Milwaukee, 4-3, conference semifinals lost to Boston, 4-3, conference finals 1980 -- defeated Washington, 2-0, first round defeated Atlanta, 4-1, conference semifinals defeated Boston, 4-1, conference finals lost to LA Lakers, 4-2, NBA Finals 1979 -- defeated New Jersey, 2-0, first round lost to San Antonio, 4-3, conference semifinals 1978 -- defeated New York, 4-0, conference semifinals lost to Washington, 4-2, conference finals 1977 -- defeated Boston, 4-3, conference semifinals defeated Houston, 4-2, conference finals lost to Portland, 4-2, NBA Finals 1976 -- lost to Buffalo, 2-1, first round 1971 -- lost to Baltimore, 4-2, conference semifinals 1970 -- lost to Milwaukee, 4-1, division semifinals 1969 -- lost to Boston, 4-1, division semifinals 1968 -- defeated New York, 4-2, division semifinals lost to Boston, 4-3, division finals 1967 -- defeated Cincinnati, 3-1, division semifinals defeated Boston, 4-1, division finals defeated San Francisco, 4-2, NBA Finals WON NBA CHAMPIONSHIP 1966 -- lost to Boston, 4-1, division finals 1965 -- defeated Cincinnati, 3-1, division semifinals lost to Boston, 4-3, division finals 1964 -- lost to Cincinnati, 3-2, division semifinals (AS SYRACUSE NATIONALS) 1963 -- lost to Cincinnati, 3-2, division semifinals 1962 -- lost to Philadelphia, 3-2, division semifinals 1961 -- defeated Philadelphia, 3-0, division semifinals lost to Boston, 4-1, division finals 1960 -- lost to Philadelphia, 2-1, division semifinals 1959 -- defeated New York, 2-0, division semifinals lost to Boston, 4-3, division finals 1958 -- lost to Philadelphia, 2-1, division semifinals 1957 -- defeated Philadelphia, 2-0, division semifinals lost to Boston, 3-0, division finals 1956 -- defeated New York, division tiebreaker defeated Boston, 2-1, division semifinals lost to Philadelphia, 3-2, division finals 1955 -- defeated Boston, 3-1, division finals defeated Fort Wayne, 4-3, NBA Finals WON NBA CHAMPIONSHIP 1954 -- advanced, 4-0, in three-team division round-robin defeated Boston, 2-0, division finals lost to Minneapolis, 4-3, NBA Finals 1953 -- lost to Boston, 2-0, division semifinals 1952 -- defeated Philadelphia, 2-1, division semifinals lost to New York, 3-1, division finals 1951 -- defeated Philadelphia, 2-0, division semifinals lost to New York, 3-2, division finals 1950 -- defeated Philadelphia, 2-0, division semifinals defeated New York, 2-1, division finals lost to Minneapolis, 4-2, NBA Finals  