The NBA playoffs won’t begin for another week and the Los Angeles Lakers won’t be anywhere near it, but on April 9, 1970, dominant performances from Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor helped them get to the Western Conference Finals when they knocked off the Phoenix Suns in Game 7 of the semifinals.
Chamberlain led the way for the Lakers, as the dominant big man often did throughout his tenure, scoring 30 points and snatching 27 rebounds to go with his six assists in the contest. Chamberlain also shot 11-of-18 in the win, and managed to only pick up two personal fouls.