1952 NBA playoffs

Postseason tournament August 2023 NBA playoffs 1952 1951–52 March 18 – April 25, 1952 8 Minneapolis Lakers 3 New York Knicks Rochester Royals Syracuse Nationals 1951 1953 The 1952 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1951–52 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Minneapolis Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals. For the first time in NBA history, all teams that made the playoffs the year before meet again, but this time with different outcomes. This would happen again in 1957, in 1966, and then 1973 before a few more teams add to the playoffs in 1975, 1977 and 1984. The first NBA dynasty, the Lakers, won their third NBA title in the last 4 years and what would become their first of 3 straight titles. Bracket Division Semifinals Division Finals NBA Finals Eastern Division Western Division E1 Syracuse* 2 E4 Philadelphia 1 E3 New York 2 E2 Boston 1 W1 Rochester* 2 W4 Fort Wayne 0 W3 Indianapolis 0 W2 Minneapolis 2 E1 Syracuse* 1 E3 New York 3 W1 Rochester* 1 W2 Minneapolis 3 E3 New York 3 W2 Minneapolis 4* Division winner Bold Series winner Italic Team with home-court advantage in NBA Finals Division Semifinals Eastern Division Semifinals (1) Syracuse Nationals vs. (4) Philadelphia Warriors #eee March 20 Boxscore Philadelphia Warriors 83 Syracuse Nationals 102 19–25 21–24 22–28 21–25 Paul Arizin 22 Paul Arizin 13 Andy Phillip 6 Dolph Schayes 31 Dolph Schayes 18 Seymour, Osterkorn 4 each Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York Syracuse leads series, 1–0 March 22 Boxscore Syracuse Nationals 95 Philadelphia Warriors 100 22–30 23–28 21–18 29–24 Osterkorn, Seymour 16 each Schayes, Ratkovicz 12 each Wally Osterkorn 7 Paul Arizin 29 Paul Arizin 10 Andy Phillip 9 Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Series tied, 1–1 #eee March 23 Boxscore Philadelphia Warriors 73 Syracuse Nationals 84 24–22 20–20 11–19 18–23 Paul Arizin 26 Paul Arizin 15 Andy Phillip 7 Red Rocha 20 Wally Osterkorn 12 Paul Seymour 4 Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York Syracuse wins series, 2–1 This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers/Nationals winning the first two meetings. +Previous playoff serieshttps://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, 2021Philadelphia 76ers/ Syracuse Nationals leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series#fff 1950 Philadelphia Warriors 0 Syracuse Nationals 2 1950 Eastern Division Semifinals #fff 1951 Philadelphia Warriors 0 Syracuse Nationals 2 1951 Eastern Division Semifinals (2) Boston Celtics vs. (3) New York Knicks #eee March 19 Boxscore New York Knicks 94 Boston Celtics 105 18–21 21–32 25–24 30–28 Max Zaslofsky 20 Dick McGuire 7 Bob Cousy 31 Bill Sharman 7 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts Boston leads series, 1–0 March 23 Boxscore Boston Celtics 97 New York Knicks 101 25–22 22–29 25–26 25–24 Ed Macauley 36 Bob Donham 9 Connie Simmons 22 Dick McGuire 7 Madison Square Garden III, Manhattan, New York Chuck Solodare, Jocko Collins Series tied, 1–1 #eee March 26 Boxscore New York Knicks 88 Boston Celtics 87 2OT 13–20 26–21 25–17 15–21 4–4, 5–4 Max Zaslofsky 21 Dick McGuire 9 Bob Cousy 34 Bob Cousy 8 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts Chuck Solodare, Jocko Collins New York wins series, 2–1 This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first two meetings. +Previous playoff serieshttps://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=BOS&opp_id=NYK&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus New York Knicks (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021New York leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series#fff 1951 Boston Celtics 0 New York Knicks 2 1951 Eastern Division Semifinals Western Division Semifinals (1) Rochester Royals vs. (4) Fort Wayne Pistons #eee March 18 Boxscore Fort Wayne Pistons 78 Rochester Royals 95 22–22 14–17 18–23 24–33 Larry Foust 17 Bobby Wanzer 26 Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York Rochester leads series, 1–0 March 20 Boxscore Rochester Royals 92 Fort Wayne Pistons 86 30–17 14–26 23–15 25–28 Bob Davies 29 Jack Kerris 17 North Side High School Gym, Fort Wayne, Indiana Rochester wins series, 2–0 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=DET&opp_id=SAC&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Sacramento Kings (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series#fff 1950 Fort Wayne Pistons 2 Rochester Royals 0 1950 Central Division Semifinals #fff 1951 Fort Wayne Pistons 1 Rochester Royals 2 1951 Western Division Semifinals (2) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (3) Indianapolis Olympians #eee March 23 Boxscore Indianapolis Olympians 70 Minneapolis Lakers 78 18–19 21–18 14–18 17–23 Barnhorst, Graboski 17 each George Mikan 24 Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota Sid Borgia, Arnie Heft Minneapolis leads series, 1–0 March 25 Boxscore Minneapolis Lakers 94 Indianapolis Olympians 87 23–24 21–25 25–21 25–17 George Mikan 36 Joe Graboski 29 Butler Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana Minneapolis wins series, 2–0 This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting. +Previous playoff seriesMinneapolis leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series#fff 1951 Indianapolis Olympians 1 Minneapolis Lakers 2 1951 Western Division Semifinals Division Finals Eastern Division Finals (1) Syracuse Nationals vs. (3) New York Knicks #eee April 2 Boxscore New York Knicks 87 Syracuse Nationals 85 13–23 23–22 28–13 23–27 Max Zaslofsky 26 Dolph Schayes 25 Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York New York leads series, 1–0 April 3 Boxscore New York Knicks 92 Syracuse Nationals 102 22–21 27–27 17–27 26–27 Harry Gallatin 16 Paul Seymour 21 Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York Sid Borgia, Julie Meyer Series tied, 1–1 #eee April 5 Boxscore Syracuse Nationals 92 New York Knicks 99 19–24 23–29 22–14 28–32 Red Rocha 22 Max Zaslofsky 20 Madison Square Garden III, Manhattan, New York Julie Meyer, Phil Fox New York leads series, 2–1 April 8 Boxscore Syracuse Nationals 93 New York Knicks 100 16–20 22–20 17–28 38–32 Dolph Schayes 22 Max Zaslofsky 20 Madison Square Garden III, Manhattan, New York New York 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=NYK&opp_id=PHI&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — New York Knicks versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series#fff 1950 New York Knicks 1 Syracuse Nationals 2 1950 Eastern Division Finals #fff 1951 New York Knicks 3 Syracuse Nationals 2 1951 Eastern Division Finals Western Division Finals (1) Rochester Royals vs. (2) Minneapolis Lakers #eee March 29 Boxscore Minneapolis Lakers 78 Rochester Royals 88 25–28 17–19 23–23 13–18 George Mikan 47 Bob Davies 26 Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York Rochester leads series, 1–0 March 30 Boxscore Minneapolis Lakers 83 Rochester Royals 78 OT 27–17 15–17 17–20 14–19 10–5 Vern Mikkelsen 19 Arnie Risen 24 Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York Series tied, 1–1 #eee April 5 Boxscore Rochester Royals 67 Minneapolis Lakers 77 14–14 15–22 19–18 19–23 Arnie Johnson 16 Jim Pollard 22 Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis leads series, 2–1 April 6 Boxscore Rochester Royals 80 Minneapolis Lakers 82 20–20 26–23 19–22 15–17 Bob Davies 21 Saul, Mikkelsen 18 each Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota Sid Borgia, Stan Stutz Minneapolis 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=LAL&opp_id=SAC&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Sacramento Kings (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series#fff 1949 Minneapolis Lakers 2 Rochester Royals 0 1949 Western Division Finals #fff 1951 Minneapolis Lakers 1 Rochester Royals 3 1951 Western Division Finals NBA Finals: (W2) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (E3) New York Knicks 1952 NBA Finals #eee April 12 Boxscore New York Knicks 79 Minneapolis Lakers 83 OT 18–21 14–19 27–20 12–11 8–12 Simmons, McGuire 15 each Nat Clifton 12 Dick McGuire 5 Jim Pollard 34 George Mikan 16 Pollard, Mikan 4 each St. Paul Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota 8,722 Sid Borgia, Stan Stutz Minneapolis leads series, 1–0 April 13 Boxscore New York Knicks 80 Minneapolis Lakers 72 11–17 30–14 20–20 19–21 Harry Gallatin 18 Harry Gallatin 11 Dick McGuire 5 George Mikan 18 George Mikan 21 Slater Martin 4 St. Paul Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota Sid Borgia, Stan Stutz Series tied, 1–1 #eee April 16 Boxscore Minneapolis Lakers 82 New York Knicks 77 19–20 22–26 19–16 22–15 George Mikan 26 George Mikan 17 Pep Saul 8 Max Zaslofsky 17 Nat Clifton 10 Dick McGuire 10 69th Regiment Armory, Manhattan, New York 4,500 Minneapolis leads series, 2–1 April 18 Boxscore Minneapolis Lakers 89 New York Knicks 90 OT 21–23 21–18 20–16 15–20 12–13 Slater Martin 32 George Mikan 17 Pep Saul 5 Connie Simmons 30 Nat Clifton 12 Dick McGuire 6 69th Regiment Armory, Manhattan, New York 5,200 Sid Borgia, Stan Stutz Series tied, 2–2 #eee April 20 Boxscore New York Knicks 89 Minneapolis Lakers 102 26–33 22–16 17–28 24–25 Nat Clifton 17 Clifton, Gallatin 8 each six players 1 each Mikkelsen, Mikan 32 each George Mikan 17 Pep Saul 5 St. Paul Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota 7,244 Sid Borgia, Stan Stutz Minneapolis leads series, 3–2 April 23 Boxscore Minneapolis Lakers 68 New York Knicks 76 20–24 13–11 19–17 16–24 George Mikan 28 George Mikan 15 Slater Martin 9 Max Zaslofsky 23 Harry Gallatin 13 Ernie Vandeweghe 7 69th Regiment Armory, Manhattan, New York 3,000 Series tied, 3–3 #eee April 25 Boxscore New York Knicks 65 Minneapolis Lakers 82 12–18 17–18 8–13 28–33 Max Zaslofsky 21 Nat Clifton 10 Nat Clifton 3 George Mikan 22 George Mikan 19 Slater Martin 6 Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota 8,612 Sid Borgia, Stan Stutz Minneapolis 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=LAL&opp_id=NYK&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus New York Knicks (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021 References External links Basketball-Reference.com's 1952 NBA Playoffs page Category:NBA playoffs Playoffs fi:NBA-kausi 1951–1952#Pudotuspelit