In the grand scheme of the NBA's storied history, there are few matchups that compare to the Lakers versus Celtics rivalry of the 1984 NBA Finals. With two of the league's greatest franchises meeting in the championship round, basketball fans were in for a treat that would leave an indelible mark on the sport.

The stage was set at Boston Garden, where the Celtics were looking to reclaim their spot atop the NBA world after an extended hiatus since their last championship in 1976. Led by legendary center Robert Parish and point guard extraordinaire Dennis Johnson, Boston's roster was chocked full of All-Stars and Hall of Fame talent.

On the other side of the court stood the Los Angeles Lakers, led by their dynamic duo of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Lakers were no strangers to championship success, having won the title in 1980 with rookie sensation Johnson at the helm.

The 1984 NBA Finals were a true clash of titans, with both squads striking blow after blow in a competitive back-and-forth series. Game 4 of the Finals would go down as one of the most memorable in NBA history.

The Celtics would start strong, with Parish and Johnson dominating on both ends of the court. But the Lakers would rally behind their superstar duo, with Johnson dishing out assists and Abdul-Jabbar scoring from the post.

The action was so intense that play was briefly halted as tempers flared, with both teams exchanging heated words and shoves. As the game wore on and tensions mounted, the Lakers managed to eke out a narrow lead in the fourth quarter.

With just seconds remaining in the game, the Celtics found themselves down by one point and with the ball in Johnson's hands. As he surged towards the basket, Lakers forward James Worthy collided with him, sending Johnson tumbling to the ground.

After a tense moment of deliberation, the referees called a foul on Worthy, giving Johnson the chance to win the game at the free-throw line. As the crowd held its breath, Johnson calmly sank both free throws, securing a thrilling victory for the Celtics in one of the most iconic games in NBA history.

The Lakers would ultimately fall to the Celtics in the 1984 NBA Finals, but the spectacle of that legendary Game 4 would live on in the minds of basketball fans for generations to come.

Reprinted:The Greatest Showdown in NBA History: Lakers vs Celtics 1984 Finals