1963 NBA playoffs

Basketball competition August 2023 NBA playoffs 1963 1962–63 March 19–April 24, 1963 6 Boston Celtics 6 Los Angeles Lakers Scoring leader(s) Elgin Baylor (Lakers) 32.6 PPG St. Louis Hawks Cincinnati Royals 1962 1964 The 1963 NBA playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1962-63 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Division champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. The Celtics won their 5th straight and 6th overall, NBA title. Boston defeated L.A. in the NBA Finals for the second straight year, something that happened regularly in the 1960s. The Cincinnati Royals advanced to the Division Finals for the first time since 1952, extending the Celtics to seven games. This was the last playoff appearance for the Syracuse Nationals under that name; they moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the following season and became known as the Philadelphia 76ers. This was the first time that both Division Finals series went to a deciding Game 7, and will be the last until 1979 and again until 2018. Bracket Division Semifinals Division Finals NBA Finals Eastern Division Western Division E3 Cincinnati 3 E2 Syracuse 2 W3 Detroit 1 W2 St. Louis 3 E1 Boston* 4 E3 Cincinnati 3 W1 Los Angeles* 4 W2 St. Louis 3 E1 Boston* 4 W1 Los Angeles* 2* Division winner Bold Series winner Italic Team with home-court advantage in NBA Finals Division Semifinals Eastern Division Semifinals (2) Syracuse Nationals vs. (3) Cincinnati Royals #eee March 19 Boxscore Cincinnati Royals 120 Syracuse Nationals 123 38–36 30–34 23–24 29–29 Oscar Robertson 29 Hal Greer 32 Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York 4,335 Syracuse leads series, 1–0 March 21 Boxscore Syracuse Nationals 115 Cincinnati Royals 133 21–33 29–29 31–27 34–44 Chet Walker 24 Oscar Robertson 41 Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio 3,205 Series tied, 1–1 #eee March 23 Boxscore Cincinnati Royals 117 Syracuse Nationals 121 33–31 20–34 39–31 25–25 Embry, Twyman 24 each Lee Shaffer 34 Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York 8,007 Syracuse leads series, 2–1 March 24 Boxscore Syracuse Nationals 118 Cincinnati Royals 125 24–31 35–29 32–35 27–30 Lee Shaffer 32 Oscar Robertson 29 Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio 3,331 Series tied, 2–2 #eee March 26 Boxscore Cincinnati Royals 131 Syracuse Nationals 127 OT 29–29 26–31 28–28 31–26 17–13 Oscar Robertson 32 Lee Shaffer 45 Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York 7,418 Cincinnati wins series, 3–2 This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=PHI&opp_id=SAC&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — Philadelphia 76ers versus Sacramento Kings (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021 Western Division Semifinals (2) St. Louis Hawks vs. (3) Detroit Pistons #eee March 20 Boxscore Detroit Pistons 99 St. Louis Hawks 118 27–15 32–40 15–28 25–35 Dave DeBusschere 30 Dave DeBusschere 18 Don Ohl 6 Pettit, Hagan 31 each Bob Pettit 15 Wilkens, Barnhill 6 each Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri 5,818 St. Louis leads series, 1–0 March 22 Boxscore Detroit Pistons 108 St. Louis Hawks 122 29–30 20–24 30–25 29–43 Scott, Ohl 29 each Scott, Howell 9 each Don Ohl 6 Bob Pettit 42 Bob Pettit 18 Pettit, Farmer 5 each Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis leads series, 2–0 #eee March 24 Boxscore St. Louis Hawks 103 Detroit Pistons 107 20–28 26–27 26–29 31–23 Bob Pettit 36 Bob Pettit 22 Lenny Wilkens 10 DeBusschere, Ferry 23 each Dave DeBusschere 26 Jones, Ohl 4 each Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan 3,232 St. Louis leads series, 2–1 March 26 Boxscore St. Louis Hawks 104 Detroit Pistons 100 25–24 29–23 29–27 21–26 Bob Pettit 35 Bill Bridges 15 Chico Vaughn 9 Don Ohl 32 Ray Scott 14 Ray Scott 6 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan 3,257 St. Louis wins series, 3–1 This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with both teams splitting the first two meetings. +Previous playoff serieshttps://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=ATL&opp_id=DET&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Detroit Pistons (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series#fff 1956 Fort Wayne Pistons 3 St. Louis Hawks 2 1956 Western Division Finals #fff 1958 Detroit Pistons 1 St. Louis Hawks 4 1958 Western Division Finals Division Finals Eastern Division Finals (1) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Cincinnati Royals #eee March 28 Boxscore Cincinnati Royals 135 Boston Celtics 132 27–36 35–36 41–32 32–28 Oscar Robertson 43 Oscar Robertson 14 Oscar Robertson 10 Sam Jones 30 Bill Russell 24 Bob Cousy 9 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 13,798 Cincinnati leads series, 1–0 March 29 Boxscore Boston Celtics 125 Cincinnati Royals 102 30–27 24–29 38–23 33–23 Bill Russell 26 Bill Russell 24 Oscar Robertson 28 Wayne Embry 16 Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio 11,102 Series tied, 1–1 #eee March 31 Boxscore Cincinnati Royals 121 Boston Celtics 116 26–27 41–35 26–27 28–27 Oscar Robertson 23 Bob Boozer 14 Oscar Robertson 8 Tom Heinsohn 28 Bill Russell 28 Bob Cousy 7 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 13,909 Cincinnati leads series, 2–1 April 3 Boxscore Boston Celtics 128 Cincinnati Royals 110 34–25 36–30 27–31 31–24 Bill Russell 26 Bill Russell 21 Oscar Robertson 25 Robertson, Embry 15 each Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio 3,498 Series tied, 2–2 #eee April 6 Boxscore Cincinnati Royals 120 Boston Celtics 125 34–32 25–33 27–37 34–23 Oscar Robertson 36 Wayne Embry 14 Oscar Robertson 10 Tom Heinsohn 34 Bill Russell 26 Bob Cousy 8 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 13,909 Boston leads series, 3–2 April 7 Boxscore Boston Celtics 99 Cincinnati Royals 109 25–25 23–26 28–34 23–24 Sam Jones 22 Bill Russell 23 Oscar Robertson 36 Wayne Embry 22 Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio 7,745 Series tied, 3–3 #eee April 10 Boxscore Cincinnati Royals 131 Boston Celtics 142 30–35 34–33 29–40 38–34 Oscar Robertson 43 Embry, Hawkins 7 each Oscar Robertson 6 Sam Jones 47 Bill Russell 24 Bob Cousy 16 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 13,909 Boston wins series, 4–3 This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=BOS&opp_id=SAC&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Sacramento Kings (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021 Western Division Finals (1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (2) St. Louis Hawks #eee March 31 Boxscore St. Louis Hawks 104 Los Angeles Lakers 112 14–24 29–21 27–33 34–34 Bob Pettit 38 Bob Pettit 14 Pettit, Barnhill 6 each Jerry West 27 Elgin Baylor 12 Elgin Baylor 8 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California 10,086 Los Angeles leads series, 1–0 April 2 Boxscore St. Louis Hawks 99 Los Angeles Lakers 101 19–24 29–19 22–27 29–31 Cliff Hagan 34 Bob Pettit 16 Lenny Wilkens 7 Elgin Baylor 29 three players 14 each Baylor, Selvy 6 each Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California 11,225 Los Angeles leads series, 2–0 #eee April 4 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 112 St. Louis Hawks 125 14–21 29–29 33–43 36–32 Elgin Baylor 34 Elgin Baylor 12 three players 2 each Bob Pettit 33 Zelmo Beaty 15 Lenny Wilkens 10 Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri 7,396 Los Angeles leads series, 2–1 April 6 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 114 St. Louis Hawks 124 28–18 31–28 22–45 33–33 Jerry West 33 Baylor, Ellis 13 each three players 2 each Cliff Hagan 33 Bob Pettit 15 Lenny Wilkens 10 Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri 10,614 Series tied, 2–2 #eee April 7 Boxscore St. Louis Hawks 96 Los Angeles Lakers 123 15–30 28–27 23–39 30–27 Chico Vaughn 16 Mike Farmer 10 Elgin Baylor 37 Baylor, Wiley 13 each Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California 15,212 Los Angeles leads series, 3–2 April 9 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 113 St. Louis Hawks 121 28–27 24–33 29–32 32–29 Elgin Baylor 39 Rudy LaRusso 11 Jerry West 4 Bob Pettit 36 Bob Pettit 20 Lenny Wilkens 11 Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri 8,110 Series tied, 3–3 #eee April 11 Boxscore St. Louis Hawks 100 Los Angeles Lakers 115 24–30 26–27 22–30 28–28 Bob Pettit 31 Bob Pettit 13 Cliff Hagan 4 Elgin Baylor 35 Elgin Baylor 15 Baylor, West 7 each Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California 14,864 Los Angeles wins series, 4–3 This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning four of the first five meetings. +Previous playoff serieshttps://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=ATL&opp_id=LAL&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021St. Louis leads 4–1 in all-time playoff series#fff 1956 St. Louis Hawks 2 Minneapolis Lakers 1 1956 Western Division Semifinals #fff 1957 St. Louis Hawks 3 Minneapolis Lakers 0 1957 Western Division Finals #fff 1959 St. Louis Hawks 2 Minneapolis Lakers 4 1959 Western Division Finals #fff 1960 St. Louis Hawks 4 Minneapolis Lakers 3 1960 Western Division Finals #fff 1961 St. Louis Hawks 4 Los Angeles Lakers 3 1961 Western Division Finals NBA Finals: (E1) Boston Celtics vs. (W1) Los Angeles Lakers 1963 NBA Finals #eee April 14 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 114 Boston Celtics 117 30–21 24–34 32–30 28–32 Elgin Baylor 33 Rudy LaRusso 14 three players 3 each Sam Jones 29 Bill Russell 29 Bob Cousy 11 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 13,909 Boston leads series, 1–0 April 16 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 106 Boston Celtics 113 25–19 21–31 24–31 36–32 Elgin Baylor 30 Rudy LaRusso 12 Elgin Baylor 4 Sam Jones 27 Bill Russell 38 Bob Cousy 11 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 13,909 Boston leads series, 2–0 #eee April 17 Boxscore Boston Celtics 99 Los Angeles Lakers 119 22–25 29–30 29–28 19–36 Sam Jones 30 Bill Russell 19 Bill Russell 5 Jerry West 42 Elgin Baylor 23 Elgin Baylor 8 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California 15,493 Boston leads series, 2–1 April 19 Boxscore Boston Celtics 108 Los Angeles Lakers 105 31–20 27–32 27–18 23–35 Tom Heinsohn 35 Bill Russell 19 three players 5 each Elgin Baylor 31 Elgin Baylor 19 Jerry West 5 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California 16,382 Boston leads series, 3–1 #eee April 21 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 126 Boston Celtics 119 22–25 33–27 35–40 36–27 Elgin Baylor 43 Elgin Baylor 20 Jerry West 6 Sam Jones 36 Bill Russell 27 Bob Cousy 14 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 13,909 Boston leads series, 3–2 April 24 Boxscore Boston Celtics 112 Los Angeles Lakers 109 33–35 33–17 26–28 20–29 Tom Heinsohn 22 Bill Russell 24 Bill Russell 9 Jerry West 32 Gene Wiley 14 Jerry West 9 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California 15,652 Boston wins series, 4–2 This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first two meetings. +Previous playoff serieshttps://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=BOS&opp_id=LAL&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021Boston leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series#fff 1959 Boston Celtics 4 Minneapolis Lakers 0 1959 NBA Finals #fff 1962 Boston Celtics 4 Los Angeles Lakers 3 1962 NBA Finals See also 1963 NBA Finals 1962-63 NBA season References External links Basketball-Reference.com's 1963 NBA Playoffs page Category:NBA playoffs Playoffs