The 2008 NBA finals were held from June 5 to June 17, 2008, to determine the winner of the 2007 - 2008 NBA season and to complete the qualifying matches for the season. The Eastern Conference's leading champions, the Boston Celtics, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, the Western Conference's top winners, four out of two in the top seven. This was Boston's first article since 1986 and 17th in total.