1966 NBA playoffs

Postseason tournament August 2023 NBA playoffs 1966 1965–66 March 23–April 28, 1966 6 Boston Celtics 9 Los Angeles Lakers St. Louis Hawks Philadelphia 76ers 1965 1967 The 1966 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1965–66 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. The Celtics won their eighth consecutive NBA title and ninth overall, defeating the Lakers in the Finals for a fifth straight time. This was the last NBA playoffs under the "top team in each division gets a first-round bye" format established in 1955, although teams receiving a bye would be reused in 1975, and strictly for division winners from 1977–1983 (albeit in a four-round playoff format). the 1967 NBA playoffs featured an eight-team tournament with no first-round byes. Bracket Division Semifinals Division Finals NBA Finals Eastern Division Western Division E3 Cincinnati 2 E2 Boston 3 W3 St. Louis 3 W2 Baltimore 0 E1 Philadelphia* 1 E2 Boston 4 W1 Los Angeles* 4 W3 St. Louis 3 E2 Boston 4 W1 Los Angeles* 3* Division winner Bold Series winner Italic Team with home-court advantage in NBA Finals Division Semifinals Eastern Division Semifinals (2) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Cincinnati Royals #eee March 23 Boxscore Cincinnati Royals 107 Boston Celtics 103 24–17 29–31 26–19 28–36 Smith, Robertson 26 each Jerry Lucas 27 Oscar Robertson 3 Bill Russell 22 Bill Russell 29 Russell, Havlicek 4 each Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 9,510 Cincinnati leads series, 1–0 March 26 Boxscore Boston Celtics 132 Cincinnati Royals 125 35–42 33–29 25–28 39–26 Sam Jones 42 Bill Russell 16 K. C. Jones 9 Oscar Robertson 35 Jerry Lucas 24 Oscar Robertson 11 Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio 10,027 Series tied, 1–1 #eee March 27 Boxscore Cincinnati Royals 113 Boston Celtics 107 31–27 26–29 25–26 31–25 Robertson, Lucas 27 each Jerry Lucas 16 Adrian Smith 6 John Havlicek 36 Bill Russell 25 K. C. Jones 6 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 13,571 Cincinnati leads series, 2–1 March 30 Boxscore Boston Celtics 120 Cincinnati Royals 103 31–27 27–21 29–24 33–31 Sam Jones 32 Bill Russell 26 John Havlicek 8 Oscar Robertson 34 Jerry Lucas 17 Oscar Robertson 11 Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio 12,107 Series tied, 2–2 #eee April 1 Boxscore Cincinnati Royals 103 Boston Celtics 112 31–26 25–35 23–28 24–23 Oscar Robertson 37 Jerry Lucas 17 Oscar Robertson 9 Sam Jones 34 Bill Russell 31 Bill Russell 11 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 13,909 Boston wins series, 3–2 This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning both prior meetings. +Previous playoff serieshttps://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, 2021Boston leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series#fff 1963 Boston Celtics 4 Cincinnati Royals 3 1963 Eastern Division Finals #fff 1964 Boston Celtics 4 Cincinnati Royals 1 1964 Eastern Division Finals Western Division Semifinals (2) Baltimore Bullets vs. (3) St. Louis Hawks #eee March 24 Boxscore St. Louis Hawks 113 Baltimore Bullets 111 27–22 31–31 23–26 32–32 Joe Caldwell 33 Bill Bridges 19 Richie Guerin 12 Don Ohl 38 Green, Howell 11 each Johnny Egan 9 Baltimore Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland 3,587 St. Louis leads series, 1–0 March 27 Boxscore St. Louis Hawks 105 Baltimore Bullets 100 26–24 19–32 30–23 30–21 Richie Guerin 25 Bill Bridges 19 Richie Guerin 8 Jim Barnes 27 Bob Ferry 17 Johnny Egan 8 Baltimore Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland 13,104 St. Louis leads series, 2–0 #eee March 30 Boxscore Baltimore Bullets 112 St. Louis Hawks 121 29–28 31–31 20–34 32–28 Don Ohl 32 Bailey Howell 12 Johnny Egan 6 Bill Bridges 32 Bill Bridges 20 Lenny Wilkens 10 Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri 7,135 St. Louis wins series, 3–0 This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bullets winning the first meeting. +Previous playoff serieshttps://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=ATL&opp_id=WAS&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Washington Wizards (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021Baltimore leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series#fff 1965 St. Louis Hawks 1 Baltimore Bullets 3 1965 Western Division Semifinals Division Finals Eastern Division Finals (1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (2) Boston Celtics #eee April 3 Boxscore Boston Celtics 115 Philadelphia 76ers 96 27–24 25–24 30–22 33–26 Sam Jones 29 Bill Russell 18 three players 4 each Wilt Chamberlain 25 Wilt Chamberlain 32 Chamberlain, W. Jones 5 each Municipal Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 6,563 Boston leads series, 1–0 April 6 Boxscore Philadelphia 76ers 93 Boston Celtics 114 20–27 24–31 26–27 23–29 Wilt Chamberlain 23 Wilt Chamberlain 25 Billy Cunningham 4 Sam Jones 23 Bill Russell 29 K. C. Jones 11 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 13,909 Boston leads series, 2–0 #eee April 7 Boxscore Boston Celtics 105 Philadelphia 76ers 111 22–31 26–27 31–27 26–26 John Havlicek 27 Bill Russell 23 Sam Jones 6 Wilt Chamberlain 31 Wilt Chamberlain 27 Hal Greer 9 Municipal Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 10,454 Boston leads series, 2–1 April 10 Boxscore Philadelphia 76ers 108 Boston Celtics 114 OT 26–28 28–21 22–21 24–30 8–14 Hal Greer 25 Wilt Chamberlain 33 Hal Greer 4 John Havlicek 27 Bill Russell 30 Russell, Havlicek 7 each Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 13,909 Boston leads series, 3–1 #eee April 12 Boxscore Boston Celtics 120 Philadelphia 76ers 112 32–25 29–26 20–21 39–40 John Havlicek 32 Bill Russell 31 Bill Russell 6 Wilt Chamberlain 46 Wilt Chamberlain 34 Chet Walker 8 Municipal Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 8,623 Boston wins series, 4–1 This was the 10th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning five of the first nine meetings. +Previous playoff serieshttps://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=BOS&opp_id=PHI&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021Boston leads 5–4 in all-time playoff series#fff 1953 Boston Celtics 2 Syracuse Nationals 0 1953 Eastern Division Semifinals #fff 1954 Boston Celtics 0 Syracuse Nationals 2 1954 Eastern Division Round Robin Semifinals #fff 1954 Boston Celtics 0 Syracuse Nationals 2 1954 Eastern Division Finals #fff 1955 Boston Celtics 1 Syracuse Nationals 3 1955 Eastern Division Finals #fff 1956 Boston Celtics 1 Syracuse Nationals 2 1956 Eastern Division Semifinals #fff 1957 Boston Celtics 3 Syracuse Nationals 0 1957 Eastern Division Finals #fff 1959 Boston Celtics 4 Syracuse Nationals 3 1959 Eastern Division Finals #fff 1961 Boston Celtics 4 Syracuse Nationals 1 1961 Eastern Division Finals #fff 1965 Boston Celtics 4 Philadelphia 76ers 3 1965 Eastern Division Finals Western Division Finals (1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) St. Louis Hawks #eee April 1 Boxscore St. Louis Hawks 106 Los Angeles Lakers 129 31–37 30–31 30–26 15–35 Beaty, Guerin 22 each Zelmo Beaty 14 Richie Guerin 8 Jerry West 28 Elgin Baylor 15 Jerry West 12 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California 11,509 Los Angeles leads series, 1–0 April 3 Boxscore St. Louis Hawks 116 Los Angeles Lakers 125 27–30 24–31 29–30 36–34 Zelmo Beaty 36 Bill Bridges 16 Lenny Wilkens 9 Elgin Baylor 42 Elgin Baylor 14 Elgin Baylor 9 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California 14,896 Los Angeles leads series, 2–0 #eee April 6 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 113 St. Louis Hawks 120 27–31 29–31 32–34 25–24 Jerry West 32 Jerry West 11 Jerry West 8 Bill Bridges 27 Bill Bridges 17 Richie Guerin 8 Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri 8,318 Los Angeles leads series, 2–1 April 9 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 107 St. Louis Hawks 95 23–23 24–28 30–18 30–26 Jerry West 42 Elgin Baylor 13 three players 4 each Zelmo Beaty 22 Zelmo Beaty 19 Richie Guerin 7 Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri 9,569 Los Angeles leads series, 3–1 #eee April 10 Boxscore St. Louis Hawks 112 Los Angeles Lakers 100 32–30 27–25 27–19 26–26 Lenny Wilkens 29 Zelmo Beaty 19 Lenny Wilkens 12 Jerry West 31 Elgin Baylor 17 Elgin Baylor 4 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California 14,297 Los Angeles leads series, 3–2 April 13 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 127 St. Louis Hawks 131 36–36 32–33 36–36 23–26 Jerry West 38 Elgin Baylor 13 West, Hazzard 5 each Bill Bridges 29 Bridges, Beaty 11 each Richie Guerin 11 Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri 8,614 Series tied, 3–3 #eee April 15 Boxscore St. Louis Hawks 121 Los Angeles Lakers 130 28–27 30–30 33–34 30–39 Cliff Hagan 29 Bill Bridges 13 Richie Guerin 5 Jerry West 35 Elgin Baylor 11 Baylor, LaRusso 7 each Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California 15,200 Los Angeles wins series, 4–3 This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning five of the first seven 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 5–2 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 #fff 1963 St. Louis Hawks 3 Los Angeles Lakers 4 1963 Western Division Finals #fff 1964 St. Louis Hawks 3 Los Angeles Lakers 2 1964 Western Division Semifinals NBA Finals: (E2) Boston Celtics vs. (W1) Los Angeles Lakers 1966 NBA Finals #eee April 17 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 133 Boston Celtics 129 OT 20–34 41–28 34–37 26–22 12–8 Jerry West 41 Elgin Baylor 20 Gail Goodrich 5 Bill Russell 28 Bill Russell 26 Sam Jones 9 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 13,909 Los Angeles leads series, 1–0 April 19 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 109 Boston Celtics 129 25–35 22–36 35–30 27–28 Jerry West 18 Elgin Baylor 14 Walt Hazzard 5 Havlicek, S. Jones 21 each Bill Russell 24 John Havlicek 7 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 13,909 Series tied, 1–1 #eee April 20 Boxscore Boston Celtics 120 Los Angeles Lakers 106 25–29 32–27 35–19 28–31 Sam Jones 36 Bill Russell 19 Sanders, K. C. Jones 5 each Jerry West 34 Elgin Baylor 15 Jim King 6 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California 15,101 Boston leads series, 2–1 April 22 Boxscore Boston Celtics 122 Los Angeles Lakers 117 31–27 35–29 34–33 22–28 John Havlicek 32 Bill Russell 18 Larry Siegfried 7 Jerry West 45 Elgin Baylor 12 Jerry West 10 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California 15,251 Boston leads series, 3–1 #eee April 24 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 121 Boston Celtics 117 37–23 27–35 26–31 31–28 Elgin Baylor 41 Elgin Baylor 16 Jerry West 5 Bill Russell 32 Bill Russell 28 Siegfried, K. C. Jones 6 each Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 13,909 Boston leads series, 3–2 April 26 Boxscore Boston Celtics 115 Los Angeles Lakers 123 29–32 29–36 32–21 25–34 John Havlicek 27 Bill Russell 23 K. C. Jones 6 Jerry West 32 Elgin Baylor 14 Jerry West 7 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California 15,069 Series tied, 3–3 #eee April 28 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 93 Boston Celtics 95 20–27 18–26 22–23 33–19 Jerry West 36 Elgin Baylor 14 West, Hazzard 3 each Bill Russell 25 Bill Russell 32 Sanders, K. C. Jones 3 each Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 13,909 Boston wins series, 4–3 This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first four 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 4–0 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 #fff 1963 Boston Celtics 4 Los Angeles Lakers 2 1963 NBA Finals #fff 1965 Boston Celtics 4 Los Angeles Lakers 1 1965 NBA Finals See also 1966 NBA Finals 1965–66 NBA season References External links Basketball-Reference.com's 1966 NBA Playoffs page Category:NBA playoffs Playoffs fi:NBA-kausi 1965–1966#Pudotuspelit