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The 1962 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1961-62 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Division champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | March 16–April 18, 1962 |
| Season | 1961–62 |
| Teams | 6 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Boston Celtics (5th title) |
| Runner-up | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Semifinalists | |
The Celtics won their 4th straight title to become the first (and as of 2022, only) NBA team to do so. Boston's Game 7 victory occurred in OT, with Bill Russell tying his own Finals record with 40 rebounds.
This was the second NBA Finals played between the Celtics and Lakers, but it was the first one the Lakers played in since they moved to Los Angeles.
Though the NBA has existed since 1947, this is the earliest NBA Finals played between two teams that still reside in their present (2022) locations.
| Division Semifinals | Division Finals | NBA Finals | |||||||||||
| E1 | Boston* | 4 | |||||||||||
| E3 | Syracuse | 2 | E2 | Philadelphia | 3 | ||||||||
| E2 | Philadelphia | 3 | E1 | Boston* | 4 | ||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles* | 3 | |||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles* | 4 | |||||||||||
| W3 | Detroit | 3 | W3 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||
| W2 | Cincinnati | 1 | |||||||||||
- * Division winner
- Bold Series winner
- Italic Team with home-court advantage in NBA Finals
Eastern Division Semifinals
(2) Philadelphia Warriors vs. (3) Syracuse Nationals
March 16 |
| Syracuse Nationals 103, Philadelphia Warriors 110 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 21–26, 22–29, 28–35, 32–20 | ||
| Pts: Larry Costello 23 Rebs: Red Kerr 15 Asts: Bianchi, Shaffer 4 each |
Pts: Paul Arizin 43 Rebs: Wilt Chamberlain 25 Asts: Guy Rodgers 8 | |
| Philadelphia leads series, 1–0 | ||
March 18 |
| Philadelphia Warriors 97, Syracuse Nationals 82 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 26–27, 28–16, 22–18, 21–21 | ||
| Pts: Wilt Chamberlain 28 Rebs: Wilt Chamberlain 26 Asts: Wilt Chamberlain 4 |
Pts: Red Kerr 18 Rebs: Lee Shaffer 13 Asts: Larry Costello 5 | |
| Philadelphia leads series, 2–0 | ||
March 19 |
| Syracuse Nationals 101, Philadelphia Warriors 100 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 27–27, 34–35, 19–24, 21–14 | ||
| Pts: Lee Shaffer 30 Rebs: Red Kerr 16 Asts: Larry Costello 10 |
Pts: Wilt Chamberlain 40 Rebs: Wilt Chamberlain 25 Asts: Guy Rodgers 9 | |
| Philadelphia leads series, 2–1 | ||
March 20 |
| Philadelphia Warriors 99, Syracuse Nationals 106 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 24–30, 24–28, 24–25, 27–23 | ||
| Pts: Wilt Chamberlain 29 Rebs: Wilt Chamberlain 20 Asts: Guy Rodgers 7 |
Pts: Red Kerr 27 Rebs: Red Kerr 22 Asts: Larry Costello 7 | |
| Series tied, 2–2 | ||
March 22 |
| Syracuse Nationals 104, Philadelphia Warriors 121 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 28–35, 29–24, 20–31, 27–31 | ||
| Pts: Lee Shaffer 30 Rebs: Red Kerr 15 Asts: Al Bianchi 5 |
Pts: Wilt Chamberlain 56 Rebs: Wilt Chamberlain 35 Asts: Guy Rodgers 10 | |
| Philadelphia wins series, 3–2 | ||
This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers/Nationals winning five of the first eight meetings.
| Philadelphia 76ers/ Syracuse Nationals leads 5–3 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
Western Division Semifinals
(2) Cincinnati Royals vs. (3) Detroit Pistons
March 16 |
| Cincinnati Royals 122, Detroit Pistons 123 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 29–32, 29–27, 31–34, 33–30 | ||
| Pts: Bockhorn, Robertson 24 each | Pts: Ray Scott 34 | |
| Detroit leads series, 1–0 | ||
March 17 |
| Detroit Pistons 107, Cincinnati Royals 129 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 25–31, 24–31, 29–30, 29–37 | ||
| Pts: Ohl, Shue 18 each | Pts: Oscar Robertson 33 | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
March 18 |
| Cincinnati Royals 107, Detroit Pistons 118 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 25–19, 24–29, 32–39, 26–31 | ||
| Pts: Oscar Robertson 26 | Pts: Bailey Howell 27 | |
| Detroit leads series, 2–1 | ||
March 20 |
| Detroit Pistons 112, Cincinnati Royals 111 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 27–21, 36–34, 22–24, 27–32 | ||
| Pts: Don Ohl 33 | Pts: Oscar Robertson 32 | |
| Detroit wins series, 3–1 | ||
This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with both teams splitting the first six meetings.
| Tied 3–3 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
Eastern Division Finals
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (2) Philadelphia Warriors
March 24 |
| Philadelphia Warriors 89, Boston Celtics 117 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 15–24, 20–26, 29–36, 25–31 | ||
| Pts: Wilt Chamberlain 33 Rebs: Wilt Chamberlain 31 Asts: Chamberlain, Arizin 3 each |
Pts: Sam Jones 20 Rebs: Bill Russell 30 Asts: Bob Cousy 8 | |
| Boston leads series, 1–0 | ||
March 27 |
| Boston Celtics 106, Philadelphia Warriors 113 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 26–27, 34–22, 25–30, 21–34 | ||
| Pts: Tom Heinsohn 24 Rebs: Bill Russell 20 Asts: Bill Russell 6 |
Pts: Wilt Chamberlain 42 Rebs: Wilt Chamberlain 37 Asts: Guy Rodgers 10 | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
March 28 |
| Philadelphia Warriors 114, Boston Celtics 129 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 29–35, 26–41, 26–33, 33–20 | ||
| Pts: Wilt Chamberlain 35 Rebs: Wilt Chamberlain 29 Asts: Wilt Chamberlain 6 |
Pts: Russell, Heinsohn 31 each Rebs: Bill Russell 31 Asts: Bob Cousy 10 | |
| Boston leads series, 2–1 | ||
March 31 |
| Boston Celtics 106, Philadelphia Warriors 110 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 25–23, 29–32, 23–23, 29–32 | ||
| Pts: Bill Russell 31 Rebs: Bill Russell 30 Asts: Bob Cousy 10 |
Pts: Wilt Chamberlain 41 Rebs: Wilt Chamberlain 34 Asts: Guy Rodgers 10 | |
| Series tied, 2–2 | ||
April 1 |
| Philadelphia Warriors 104, Boston Celtics 119 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 26–36, 23–36, 19–18, 36–29 | ||
| Pts: Wilt Chamberlain 30 Rebs: Wilt Chamberlain 14 Asts: Guy Rodgers 9 |
Pts: Bill Russell 29 Rebs: Bill Russell 26 Asts: Russell, S. Jones 7 each | |
| Boston leads series, 3–2 | ||
April 3 |
| Boston Celtics 99, Philadelphia Warriors 109 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 22–34, 30–28, 26–25, 21–22 | ||
| Pts: Heinsohn, Cousy 22 each Rebs: Bill Russell 22 Asts: Bob Cousy 12 |
Pts: Wilt Chamberlain 32 Rebs: Wilt Chamberlain 21 Asts: Guy Rodgers 10 | |
| Series tied, 3–3 | ||
April 5 |
| Philadelphia Warriors 107, Boston Celtics 109 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 23–34, 33–18, 25–28, 26–29 | ||
| Pts: Tom Meschery 32 Rebs: Wilt Chamberlain 22 Asts: Guy Rodgers 8 |
Pts: Sam Jones 28 Rebs: Bill Russell 22 Asts: K. C. Jones 10 | |
| Boston wins series, 4–3 | ||
- Paul Arizin's final NBA game; Sam Jones hits the series-winning shot with 2 seconds left.
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first two meetings.
| Boston leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
Western Division Finals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Detroit Pistons
March 24 |
| Detroit Pistons 108, Los Angeles Lakers 132 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 27–28, 31–39, 30–32, 20–33 | ||
| Pts: Bailey Howell 27 Rebs: Walter Dukes 12 |
Pts: Elgin Baylor 35 Rebs: Elgin Baylor 17 | |
| Los Angeles leads series, 1–0 | ||
March 25 |
| Detroit Pistons 112, Los Angeles Lakers 127 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 24–29, 24–32, 35–38, 29–28 | ||
| Pts: Don Ohl 33 Rebs: Bailey Howell 13 |
Pts: Jerry West 40 Rebs: West, Baylor 13 each | |
| Los Angeles leads series, 2–0 | ||
March 27 |
| Los Angeles Lakers 111, Detroit Pistons 106 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 35–24, 26–29, 26–27, 24–26 | ||
| Pts: Elgin Baylor 34 Rebs: Elgin Baylor 17 |
Pts: Gene Shue 26 Rebs: Walter Dukes 25 | |
| Los Angeles leads series, 3–0 | ||
March 29 |
| Los Angeles Lakers 117, Detroit Pistons 118 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 23–29, 36–35, 27–27, 31–27 | ||
| Pts: Elgin Baylor 45 Rebs: Elgin Baylor 17 |
Pts: Bailey Howell 24 Rebs: Ray Scott 23 | |
| Los Angeles leads series, 3–1 | ||
March 31 |
| Detroit Pistons 132, Los Angeles Lakers 125 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 30–19, 38–33, 34–22, 30–51 | ||
| Pts: Willie Jones 27 Rebs: Ray Scott 13 |
Pts: Elgin Baylor 37 Rebs: Elgin Baylor 19 | |
| Los Angeles leads series, 3–2 | ||
April 3 |
| Los Angeles Lakers 123, Detroit Pistons 117 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 31–27, 33–18, 33–39, 26–33 | ||
| Pts: Baylor, West 38 each | Pts: Ray Scott 22 | |
| Los Angeles wins series, 4–2 | ||
This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning seven of the first eight meetings.
| Los Angeles leads 7–1 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
April 7 |
| Los Angeles Lakers 108, Boston Celtics 122 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 32–29, 20–31, 22–35, 34–27 | ||
| Pts: Elgin Baylor 35 Rebs: Elgin Baylor 17 Asts: Jerry West 4 |
Pts: Sam Jones 24 Rebs: Bill Russell 28 Asts: Bob Cousy 7 | |
| Boston leads series, 1–0 | ||
April 8 |
| Los Angeles Lakers 129, Boston Celtics 122 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 30–36, 43–23, 29–39, 27–24 | ||
| Pts: Jerry West 40 Rebs: Jim Krebs 13 Asts: Frank Selvy 6 |
Pts: Tom Heinsohn 27 Rebs: Bill Russell 23 Asts: Bob Cousy 11 | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
April 10 |
| Boston Celtics 115, Los Angeles Lakers 117 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 27–24, 23–30, 28–33, 37–30 | ||
| Pts: Bill Russell 26 Rebs: Bill Russell 32 Asts: Bob Cousy 8 |
Pts: Elgin Baylor 39 Rebs: Elgin Baylor 23 Asts: Frank Selvy 5 | |
| Los Angeles leads series, 2–1 | ||
- Jerry West steals Sam Jones' inbound pass and hit the game winning buzzer-beater.
April 11 |
| Boston Celtics 115, Los Angeles Lakers 103 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 32–20, 28–31, 31–25, 24–27 | ||
| Pts: Bill Russell 21 Rebs: Bill Russell 22 Asts: Bob Cousy 13 |
Pts: Elgin Baylor 38 Rebs: Elgin Baylor 14 Asts: Elgin Baylor 6 | |
| Series tied, 2–2 | ||
April 14 |
| Los Angeles Lakers 126, Boston Celtics 121 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 31–30, 35–38, 27–31, 33–22 | ||
| Pts: Elgin Baylor 61 Rebs: Elgin Baylor 22 Asts: Frank Selvy 5 |
Pts: Tom Heinsohn 30 Rebs: Bill Russell 29 Asts: Bob Cousy 10 | |
| Los Angeles leads series, 3–2 | ||
- Elgin Baylor's 61 points sets a Finals record for an individual scorer in a game.
April 16 |
| Boston Celtics 119, Los Angeles Lakers 105 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 33–34, 24–31, 34–16, 28–24 | ||
| Pts: Sam Jones 35 Rebs: Bill Russell 24 Asts: Bill Russell 10 |
Pts: West, Baylor 34 each Rebs: Elgin Baylor 15 Asts: West, LaRusso 5 each | |
| Series tied, 3–3 | ||
April 18 |
| Los Angeles Lakers 107, Boston Celtics 110 (OT) | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 22–22, 25–31, 28–22, 25–25, Overtime: 7–10 | ||
| Pts: Elgin Baylor 41 Rebs: Elgin Baylor 22 Asts: three players 4 each |
Pts: Bill Russell 30 Rebs: Bill Russell 40 Asts: Bob Cousy 9 | |
| Boston wins series, 4–3 | ||
- Frank Selvy misses the championship-winning shot in regulation; Bill Russell's 40 rebounds ties his own Finals record in a single game.[5]
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning first meeting when the Lakers were in Minneapolis.
| Boston leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
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