1950 NBA playoffs

Postseason tournament August 2023 NBA playoffs 1950 1949–50 March 20 – April 23, 1950 12 Minneapolis Lakers 2 Syracuse Nationals 1949 1951 upright|thumb|The 1949-50 NBA champion Minneapolis Lakers. The 1950 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the inaugural National Basketball Association 1949–50 season. The tournament concluded with the Central Division champion Minneapolis Lakers defeating the Eastern Division champion Syracuse Nationals 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Twelve teams qualified for the playoffs. Including tiebreaker games that preceded two of the six first-round series, they began play on Monday to Wednesday, March 20 to 22, and the best-of-seven Finals concluded in game six on Sunday, April 23. The champions played the greatest number of games, 13 in a span of 34 days, on a schedule including both back-to-back games and as many as six days off. Bracket The NBA was created in 1949 by merger of two competing professional basketball leagues, the BAA and NBL. For its first season only, the NBA teams were arranged in three divisions: Eastern, comprising the five surviving BAA Eastern Division teams plus Syracuse from the NBL; Central, comprising the five surviving BAA Western Division teams; and Western, comprising all the NBL teams except Syracuse. Within each division the top four teams were matched in two rounds of short series to generate a champion, after which the three division champions contended for the NBA title. With three contenders the third round of the tournament comprised a bye for one and a best-of-three match between the other two. Division Semifinals Division Finals NBA Semifinals NBA Finals Eastern Division Central Division Western Division C1 Minneapolis* 2 C4 Chicago 0 C3 Fort Wayne 2 C2 Rochester 0 E1 Syracuse* 2 E4 Philadelphia 0 E3 Washington 0 E2 New York 2 W1 Indianapolis* 2 W4 Sheboygan 1 W3 Tri-Cities 1 W2 Anderson 2 C1 Minneapolis* 2 C3 Fort Wayne 0 E1 Syracuse* 2 E2 New York 1 W1 Indianapolis* 1 W2 Anderson 2 3 Anderson 0 2 Minneapolis 2 1 Syracuse 2 2 Minneapolis 4* Division winner Bold Series winner Division Tiebreakers Central Division Tiebreakers Chicago Stags @ Fort Wayne Pistons #eee March 20 Boxscore Chicago Stags 69 Fort Wayne Pistons 86 21–22 14–24 12–16 22–24 Max Zaslofsky 14 Phillip, Kudelka 4 each Fred Schaus 18 Fred Schaus 6 North Side High School Gym, Fort Wayne, Indiana Pat Kennedy, Jim Beiersdorfer Fort Wayne finishes as the Central's #3 seed, Chicago as the Central's #4 seed Minneapolis Lakers @ Rochester Royals #eee March 21 Boxscore Minneapolis Lakers 78 Rochester Royals 76 20–23 16–20 20–16 22–17 George Mikan 35 Herm Schaefer 7 Bob Davies 26 Bob Davies 6 Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York Pat Kennedy, Eddie Boyle Minneapolis finishes as the Central's #1 seed, Rochester as the Central's #2 seed Division Semifinals Central Division Semifinals (1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (4) Chicago Stags #eee March 22 Boxscore Chicago Stags 75 Minneapolis Lakers 85 17–22 18–17 16–20 24–26 Leo Barnhorst 17 Andy Phillip 4 George Mikan 30 George Mikan 3 Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis leads series, 1–0 March 25 Boxscore Minneapolis Lakers 75 Chicago Stags 67 19–17 19–17 18–16 19–17 George Mikan 34 Max Zaslofsky 31 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois Minneapolis wins series, 2–0 This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting.meeting +Previous playoff seriesMinneapolis leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series#fff 1949 Chicago Stags 0 Minneapolis Lakers 2 1949 Western Division Semifinals (2) Rochester Royals vs. (3) Fort Wayne Pistons #eee March 23 Boxscore Fort Wayne Pistons 90 Rochester Royals 84 22–15 26–20 18–20 24–29 Wager, Schaefer 18 each three players 15 each Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York Fort Wayne leads series, 1–0 March 24 Boxscore Rochester Royals 78 Fort Wayne Pistons 79 OT 21–17 11–23 21–19 17–11 8–9 Arnie Risen 17 Bob Carpenter 27 North Side High School Gym, Fort Wayne, Indiana Fort Wayne wins series, 2–0 This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.meetinghttps://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=DET&opp_id=SAC&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Sacramento Kings (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021 Eastern Division Semifinals (1) Syracuse Nationals vs. (4) Philadelphia Warriors #eee March 22 Boxscore Philadelphia Warriors 76 Syracuse Nationals 93 24–20 14–28 17–19 21–26 Chink Crossin 20 Al Guokas 4 George Ratkovicz 25 Dolph Schayes 6 State Fair Coliseum, Geddes, New York Syracuse leads series, 1–0 March 23 Boxscore Syracuse Nationals 59 Philadelphia Warriors 53 16–12 10–19 13–13 20–9 Dolph Schayes 16 Al Cervi 2 Vern Gardner 17 Leo Mogus 4 Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Syracuse wins series, 2–0 This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.meetinghttps://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=GSW&opp_id=PHI&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — Golden State Warriors versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021 (2) New York Knicks vs. (3) Washington Capitols #eee March 21 Boxscore New York Knicks 90 Washington Capitols 87 26–25 16–20 21–19 27–23 Carl Braun 26 Carl Braun 6 Fred Scolari 23 Don Otten 4 Uline Arena, Washington, D.C. Jocko Collins, Sam Schoenfeld New York leads series, 1–0 March 22 Boxscore Washington Capitols 83 New York Knicks 103 21–25 21–26 21–24 20–28 Don Otten 21 three players 3 each Harry Gallatin 20 Dick McGuire 6 Madison Square Garden III, Manhattan, New York New York wins series, 2–0 This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Capitols winning the first meeting.meeting +Previous playoff seriesWashington leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series#fff 1949 New York Knicks 1 Washington Capitols 2 1949 Eastern Division Finals Western Division Semifinals (1) Indianapolis Olympians vs. (4) Sheboygan Red Skins #eee March 21 Boxscore Sheboygan Red Skins 85 Indianapolis Olympians 86 24–23 15–22 25–14 21–27 Jack Burmaster 19 Ralph Beard 17 Butler Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis leads series, 1–0 March 23 Boxscore Indianapolis Olympians 85 Sheboygan Red Skins 95 31–21 22–28 15–20 17–26 Alex Groza 26 Bob Brannum 17 Sheboygan Municipal Auditorium and Armory, Sheboygan, Wisconsin Series tied, 1–1 #eee March 25 Boxscore Sheboygan Red Skins 84 Indianapolis Olympians 91 22–27 18–19 28–19 16–26 Noble Jorgensen 20 Alex Groza 30 Butler Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis wins series, 2–1 This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.meeting (2) Anderson Packers vs. (3) Tri-Cities Blackhawks #eee March 21 Boxscore Tri-Cities Blackhawks 77 Anderson Packers 89 17–20 21–15 19–21 20–33 Jack Nichols 27 Red Owens 19 Anderson High School Wigwam, Anderson, Indiana Anderson leads series, 1–0 March 23 Boxscore Anderson Packers 75 Tri-Cities Blackhawks 76 9–13 12–18 22–21 32–24 Frankie Brian 26 Jack Nichols 23 Wharton Field House, Moline, Illinois Series tied, 1–1 #eee March 24 Boxscore Tri-Cities Blackhawks 71 Anderson Packers 94 21–22 18–25 11–26 21–21 Dike Eddleman 23 John Hargis 21 Anderson High School Wigwam, Anderson, Indiana Anderson wins series, 2–1 This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.meeting Division Finals Central Division Finals (1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (3) Fort Wayne Pistons #eee March 27 Boxscore Fort Wayne Pistons 79 Minneapolis Lakers 93 14–19 14–30 19–16 32–28 Fred Schaus 20 Fred Schaus 4 George Mikan 24 George Mikan 4 Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis leads series, 1–0 March 28 Boxscore Minneapolis Lakers 89 Fort Wayne Pistons 82 20–18 26–20 19–18 24–26 George Mikan 37 Fred Schaus 33 North Side High School Gym, Fort Wayne, Indiana Minneapolis wins series, 2–0 This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.meetinghttps://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=DET&opp_id=LAL&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021 Eastern Division Finals (1) Syracuse Nationals vs. (2) New York Knicks #eee March 26 Boxscore New York Knicks 83 Syracuse Nationals 91 OT 42–36 35–41 6–14 Carl Braun 22 Carl Braun 4 Dolph Schayes 26 Andrew Levane 4 State Fair Coliseum, Geddes, New York Syracuse leads series, 1–0 March 30 Boxscore Syracuse Nationals 76 New York Knicks 80 33–42 43–38 George Ratkovicz 17 Al Cervi 4 Vince Boryla 21 Dick McGuire 7 Madison Square Garden III, Manhattan, New York Series tied, 1–1 #eee April 2 Boxscore New York Knicks 80 Syracuse Nationals 91 42–45 38–46 Gallatin, Vandeweghe 17 each Dick McGuire 5 Dolph Schayes 24 Schayes, Cervi 3 each State Fair Coliseum, Geddes, New York Syracuse wins series, 2–1 This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.meetinghttps://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=NYK&opp_id=PHI&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — New York Knicks versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021 Western Division Finals (1) Indianapolis Olympians vs. (2) Anderson Packers #eee March 28 Boxscore Anderson Packers 74 Indianapolis Olympians 77 19–16 19–21 20–17 16–23 Milo Komenich 14 Alex Groza 31 Butler Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis leads series, 1–0 March 30 Boxscore Indianapolis Olympians 67 Anderson Packers 84 23–15 11–21 20–25 13–23 Joe Holland 14 three players 13 each Anderson High School Wigwam, Anderson, Indiana Series tied, 1–1 #eee April 1 Boxscore Anderson Packers 67 Indianapolis Olympians 65 17–18 12–12 18–14 20–21 Frankie Brian 14 Alex Groza 26 Butler Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana Anderson wins series, 2–1 This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.meeting NBA Semifinals: (2) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (3) Anderson Packers #eee April 5 Boxscore Anderson Packers 50 Minneapolis Lakers 75 19–27 31–48 Bill Closs 12 three players 2 each George Mikan 26 Jim Pollard 5 Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota 6,136 Minneapolis leads series, 1–0 April 6 Boxscore Minneapolis Lakers 90 Anderson Packers 71 25–21 18–22 21–8 26–20 George Mikan 32 Bill Closs 16 Anderson High School Wigwam, Anderson, Indiana Minneapolis wins series, 2–0 This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.meeting NBA Finals: (1) Syracuse Nationals vs. (2) Minneapolis Lakers 1950 NBA Finals #eee April 8 Boxscore Minneapolis Lakers 68 Syracuse Nationals 66 16–10 18–20 17–23 17–13 George Mikan 37 Dolph Schayes 19 State Fair Coliseum, Geddes, New York 7,552 Minneapolis leads series, 1–0 Bob Harrison hits the game-winning shot from 40 feet at the buzzer. April 9 Boxscore Minneapolis Lakers 85 Syracuse Nationals 91 17–16 14–28 22–23 32–24 George Mikan 32 George Ratkovicz 17 State Fair Coliseum, Geddes, New York 8,280 Series tied, 1–1 #eee April 14 Boxscore Syracuse Nationals 77 Minneapolis Lakers 91 15–21 24–21 16–24 22–25 Johnny Macknowski 25 Paul Seymour 5 George Mikan 28 George Mikan 8 St. Paul Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota 10,288 Minneapolis leads series, 2–1 April 16 Boxscore Syracuse Nationals 69 Minneapolis Lakers 77 22–27 16–11 19–24 12–15 Schayes, Hannum 18 each Bill Gabor 6 George Mikan 28 Jim Pollard 4 St. Paul Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota 10,512 Minneapolis leads series, 3–1 #eee April 20 Boxscore Minneapolis Lakers 76 Syracuse Nationals 83 16–14 8–24 19–23 33–22 George Mikan 28 Dolph Schayes 19 State Fair Coliseum, Geddes, New York 9,024 Minneapolis leads series, 3–2 April 23 Boxscore Syracuse Nationals 95 Minneapolis Lakers 110 18–25 21–26 17–30 39–29 Dolph Schayes 23 Johnny Macknowski 5 George Mikan 40 Jim Pollard 10 Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota 9,812 Jim Biersdorf, John Nucatola Minneapolis wins series, 4–2 This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.meetinghttps://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=LAL&opp_id=PHI&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021 Notes 25em meeting Notes identifying the "last playoff meeting" (latest previous meeting) or "first playoff meeting" between two teams refer to BAA and NBA playoffs only—for this inaugural NBA season, that is, only to the BAA playoffs of 1946–47 to 1948–49. (This follows NBA recognition of BAA history as part of its own.)"NBA Season Recaps". NBA History (nba.com/history). July 1, 2014. Retrieved 2015-03-03. All of the Western teams were new to the NBA; so was Syracuse, which participated in all but one of the Eastern playoff matches. As Syracuse advanced from the East, two of the three division champions who composed the two-round League Finals were new to the NBA. Furthermore, only Chicago among the three Central Division playoff teams had been a member of the BAA for more than one season (compare 1947–48) as the other three had moved from NBL to BAA in 1948. References 25em "1949–50 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-03-03.   Select "Previous Season" from the heading for 1948–49, and so on. Select "Finals" from League Playoffs for the daily schedule of the final series, and so on. "1948–49 BAA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-03-03. "1947–48 BAA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-03-03. External links 1950 Playoff Results at NBA.com 1950 NBA Playoffs at Basketball-Reference Category:NBA playoffs Playoffs it:National Basketball Association 1949-1950#Play-off fi:NBA-kausi 1949–1950#Pudotuspelit