The 1982 NBA playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1981–82 season.

The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.

Magic Johnson was named NBA Finals MVP for the second time.

The Sixers beat the Celtics again in the Eastern Conference Finals, the second of their three series wins in a four-year stretch.

This was the third straight year the Bucks failed to advance to the third round with the #2 seed despite a first-round bye, although they did not have the better record in each of those matchups, and thus not having home-court advantage.