1969 NBA playoffs

Postseason tournament August 2023 NBA playoffs 1969 1968–69 March 26–May 5, 1969 8 Boston Celtics 11 Los Angeles Lakers Atlanta Hawks New York Knicks 1968 1970 The 1969 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1968–69 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. Despite finishing in 4th place, the Celtics won their second straight NBA title, marking their 11th overall as their era of 1960s dominance drew to a close. They upset Philadelphia and New York on the way to the Finals. Out west, the San Francisco Warriors stunned the Lakers by winning the first two in Southern California and Bay Area fans were thinking of avenging the prior year's sweep by the Lakers with a sweep of their own. But the Lakers won 4 straight to win the series in 6. This year marked the debut of the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award; it was awarded to Jerry West of the Lakers, which marks the only time so far that the trophy has been given to a player on the losing team. The Celtics were the first team seeded below third in their conference or division to win the NBA championship. It would not happen again until the 1995 NBA playoffs.Exner Rich What history says about a No. 4 seed like the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals https://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/2018/05/what_history_says_about_a_no_4.html#seed cleveland.com 17 June 2019 The second-year San Diego Rockets made their first playoff appearance; the next time they appeared was in 1975 as the Houston Rockets. Bracket Division Semifinals Division Finals NBA Finals Eastern Division Western Division E1 Baltimore* 0 E3 New York 4 E4 Boston 4 E2 Philadelphia 1 W1 Los Angeles* 4 W3 San Francisco 2 W4 San Diego 2 W2 Atlanta 4 E3 New York 2 E4 Boston 4 W1 Los Angeles* 4 W2 Atlanta 1 E4 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 (1) Baltimore Bullets vs. (3) New York Knicks #eee March 27 Boxscore New York Knicks 113 Baltimore Bullets 101 22–21 32–23 30–28 29–29 Walt Frazier 26 Dave DeBusschere 21 Walt Frazier 11 Earl Monroe 32 Wes Unseld 13 Monroe, Unseld 3 each Baltimore Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland 11,941 New York leads series, 1–0 March 29 Boxscore Baltimore Bullets 91 New York Knicks 107 29–30 20–23 28–31 14–23 Earl Monroe 29 Wes Unseld 27 Kevin Loughery 4 Dick Barnett 27 Dave DeBusschere 19 Walt Frazier 12 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York 19,500 New York leads series, 2–0 #eee March 30 Boxscore New York Knicks 119 Baltimore Bullets 116 38–32 24–28 25–31 32–25 Willis Reed 35 Willis Reed 19 Walt Frazier 17 Kevin Loughery 29 Wes Unseld 14 Kevin Loughery 7 Baltimore Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland 9,927 New York leads series, 3–0 April 2 Boxscore Baltimore Bullets 108 New York Knicks 115 29–25 22–25 29–32 28–33 Monroe, Unseld 25 each Wes Unseld 20 Kevin Loughery 7 Willis Reed 43 Willis Reed 17 Walt Frazier 11 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York 19,500 New York wins series, 4–0 This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=NYK&opp_id=WAS&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — New York Knicks versus Washington Wizards (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021 (2) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (4) Boston Celtics #eee March 26 Boxscore Boston Celtics 114 Philadelphia 76ers 100 33–27 27–22 26–24 28–27 John Havlicek 35 Bill Russell 15 Bill Russell 8 Billy Cunningham 29 Darrall Imhoff 19 Billy Cunningham 6 Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 8,151 Boston leads series, 1–0 March 28 Boxscore Philadelphia 76ers 103 Boston Celtics 134 29–27 25–28 25–37 24–42 Chet Walker 26 Billy Cunningham 11 Matt Guokas 4 Bailey Howell 29 Howell, Russell 16 each John Havlicek 7 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 13,751 Boston leads series, 2–0 #eee March 30 Boxscore Boston Celtics 125 Philadelphia 76ers 118 31–31 36–34 28–28 30–25 Sam Jones 28 Bill Russell 18 John Havlicek 10 Billy Cunningham 33 Imhoff, Cunningham 14 each Hal Greer 7 Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 15,244 Boston leads series, 3–0 April 1 Boxscore Philadelphia 76ers 119 Boston Celtics 116 25–25 32–30 28–28 34–33 Hal Greer 24 Darrall Imhoff 20 Hal Greer 7 John Havlicek 28 Bill Russell 29 Bill Russell 5 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 14,017 Boston leads series, 3–1 #eee April 4 Boxscore Boston Celtics 93 Philadelphia 76ers 90 22–19 18–21 27–25 26–25 John Havlicek 22 Bill Russell 18 Bill Russell 6 Billy Cunningham 23 Darrall Imhoff 19 Archie Clark 7 Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 15,244 Boston wins series, 4–1 This was the 13th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning seven of the first 12 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 7–5 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 #fff 1966 Boston Celtics 4 Philadelphia 76ers 1 1966 Eastern Division Finals #fff 1967 Boston Celtics 1 Philadelphia 76ers 4 1967 Eastern Division Finals #fff 1968 Boston Celtics 4 Philadelphia 76ers 3 1968 Eastern Division Finals Western Division Semifinals (1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) San Francisco Warriors #eee March 26 Boxscore San Francisco Warriors 99 Los Angeles Lakers 94 28–22 19–25 25–29 27–18 Jeff Mullins 36 Nate Thurmond 27 Al Attles 9 Jerry West 36 Wilt Chamberlain 30 Jerry West 7 The Forum, Inglewood, California 10,697 San Francisco leads series, 1–0 March 28 Boxscore San Francisco Warriors 107 Los Angeles Lakers 101 34–30 30–23 22–26 21–22 Rudy LaRusso 29 Nate Thurmond 28 Jim King 7 Jerry West 36 Wilt Chamberlain 17 Jerry West 11 The Forum, Inglewood, California 15,119 San Francisco leads series, 2–0 #eee March 31 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 115 San Francisco Warriors 98 21–23 22–22 41–25 31–28 Jerry West 25 Wilt Chamberlain 28 Jerry West 9 Nate Thurmond 22 Nate Thurmond 20 Nate Thurmond 5 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California 13,221 San Francisco leads series, 2–1 April 2 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 103 San Francisco Warriors 88 25–16 32–19 26–23 20–30 Jerry West 36 Wilt Chamberlain 14 Jerry West 5 Ron Williams 16 Nate Thurmond 15 Nate Thurmond 4 Cow Palace, Daly City, California 14,812 Series tied, 2–2 #eee April 4 Boxscore San Francisco Warriors 98 Los Angeles Lakers 103 26–28 18–32 30–24 24–19 Joe Ellis 23 Bill Turner 14 Nate Thurmond 6 Jerry West 29 Wilt Chamberlain 27 Jerry West 13 The Forum, Inglewood, California 17,309 Los Angeles leads series, 3–2 April 5 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 118 San Francisco Warriors 78 29–20 32–18 24–17 33–23 Jerry West 29 Wilt Chamberlain 25 Jerry West 8 Jeff Mullins 21 Nate Thurmond 14 Jeff Mullins 5 Cow Palace, Daly City, California 8,924 Los Angeles wins series, 4–2 The Lakers become the first team to win a playoff series after losing the first 2 games at home. 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=GSW&opp_id=LAL&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — Golden State Warriors versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series#fff 1967 Los Angeles Lakers 0 San Francisco Warriors 3 1967 Western Division Semifinals #fff 1968 Los Angeles Lakers 4 San Francisco Warriors 0 1968 Western Division Finals (4) Atlanta Hawks vs. (2) San Diego Rockets #eee March 27 Boxscore San Diego Rockets 98 Atlanta Hawks 107 26–18 17–28 26–36 29–25 Elvin Hayes 31 Toby Kimball 15 Art Williams 6 Lou Hudson 39 Bill Bridges 22 Ohl, Hazzard 3 each Alexander Memorial Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia 4,194 Atlanta leads series, 1–0 March 29 Boxscore San Diego Rockets 114 Atlanta Hawks 116 24–21 21–30 25–32 44–33 Rick Adelman 26 three players 9 each Rick Adelman 6 Zelmo Beaty 31 Bill Bridges 14 Joe Caldwell 8 Alexander Memorial Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia 6,006 Atlanta leads series, 2–0 #eee April 1 Boxscore Atlanta Hawks 97 San Diego Rockets 104 30–21 26–28 23–27 18–28 Zelmo Beaty 31 Zelmo Beaty 17 Joe Caldwell 6 Elvin Hayes 26 Elvin Hayes 19 Rick Adelman 8 San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California 9,340 Atlanta leads series, 2–1 April 4 Boxscore Atlanta Hawks 112 San Diego Rockets 114 32–26 26–33 19–23 35–32 Walt Hazzard 34 Beaty, Bridges 11 each Walt Hazzard 5 Elvin Hayes 30 Elvin Hayes 20 Don Kojis 4 San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California 12,237 Series tied, 2–2 #eee April 6 Boxscore San Diego Rockets 101 Atlanta Hawks 112 26–25 24–28 27–31 24–28 Elvin Hayes 27 Elvin Hayes 9 Art Williams 8 Joe Caldwell 26 Bill Bridges 17 Caldwell, Hazzard 5 each Alexander Memorial Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia 4,007 Atlanta leads series, 3–2 April 7 Boxscore Atlanta Hawks 108 San Diego Rockets 106 23–29 27–33 27–22 31–22 Lou Hudson 27 Bill Bridges 17 Caldwell, Hazzard 4 each Kojis, Hayes 26 each Toby Kimball 15 Adelman, Williams 6 each San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California 10,117 Atlanta wins series, 4–2 This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=ATL&opp_id=HOU&is_playoffs=Y Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Houston Rockets (Playoffs) basketball-reference.com February 19, 2021 Division Finals Eastern Division Finals (3) New York Knicks vs. (4) Boston Celtics #eee April 6 Boxscore Boston Celtics 108 New York Knicks 100 23–26 33–23 22–24 30–27 John Havlicek 25 Bill Russell 16 Em Bryant 8 Walt Frazier 34 Dave DeBusschere 14 Walt Frazier 8 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York 19,500 Boston leads series, 1–0 April 9 Boxscore New York Knicks 97 Boston Celtics 112 14–26 19–29 30–32 34–25 Willis Reed 28 Willis Reed 13 Walt Frazier 4 Bailey Howell 27 Bill Russell 29 John Havlicek 12 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 14,933 Boston leads series, 2–0 #eee April 10 Boxscore Boston Celtics 91 New York Knicks 101 19–28 22–23 29–24 21–26 Russell, Bryant 16 each Bill Russell 20 Russell, Havlicek 8 each Walt Frazier 26 Willis Reed 14 Walt Frazier 12 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York 19,500 Boston leads series, 2–1 April 13 Boxscore New York Knicks 96 Boston Celtics 97 26–25 24–26 23–24 23–22 Willis Reed 22 Willis Reed 19 Walt Frazier 6 Bill Russell 21 Bill Russell 23 John Havlicek 4 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 13,506 Boston leads series, 3–1 #eee April 14 Boxscore Boston Celtics 104 New York Knicks 112 24–30 22–30 21–25 37–27 John Havlicek 29 Bill Russell 16 John Havlicek 7 Willis Reed 24 Walt Frazier 12 Walt Frazier 9 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York 19,500 Boston leads series, 3–2 April 18 Boxscore New York Knicks 105 Boston Celtics 106 21–24 31–33 24–25 29–24 Willis Reed 32 Willis Reed 11 Bill Bradley 7 Sam Jones 29 Bill Russell 21 Russell, Havlicek 5 each Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 14,933 Boston wins series, 4–2 John Havlicek hits the series-winning shot. This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with both teams splitting the first six 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, 2021Tied 3–3 in all-time playoff series#fff 1951 Boston Celtics 0 New York Knicks 2 1951 Eastern Division Semifinals #fff 1952 Boston Celtics 1 New York Knicks 2 1952 Eastern Division Semifinals #fff 1953 Boston Celtics 1 New York Knicks 3 1953 Eastern Division Finals #fff 1954 Boston Celtics 2 New York Knicks 0 1954 Eastern Division Round Robin Semifinals #fff 1955 Boston Celtics 2 New York Knicks 1 1955 Eastern Division Semifinals #fff 1967 Boston Celtics 3 New York Knicks 1 1967 Eastern Division Semifinals Western Division Finals (1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (2) Atlanta Hawks #eee April 11 Boxscore Atlanta Hawks 93 Los Angeles Lakers 95 17–25 23–28 29–23 24–19 Zelmo Beaty 29 Bill Bridges 20 Walt Hazzard 6 Jerry West 25 Wilt Chamberlain 29 Baylor, Egan 6 each The Forum, Inglewood, California 16,190 Los Angeles leads series, 1–0 April 13 Boxscore Atlanta Hawks 102 Los Angeles Lakers 104 21–27 31–25 30–29 20–23 Joe Caldwell 34 Caldwell, Bridges 10 each Bill Bridges 5 Wilt Chamberlain 23 Wilt Chamberlain 29 Johnny Egan 11 The Forum, Inglewood, California 15,136 Los Angeles leads series, 2–0 #eee April 15 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 86 Atlanta Hawks 99 18–18 20–28 23–23 25–30 Johnny Egan 19 Wilt Chamberlain 22 West, Baylor 4 each Zelmo Beaty 22 Zelmo Beaty 15 Lou Hudson 5 Alexander Memorial Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia 7,140 Los Angeles leads series, 2–1 April 17 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 100 Atlanta Hawks 85 20–15 21–28 26–20 33–22 Wilt Chamberlain 25 Wilt Chamberlain 19 Jerry West 5 Lou Hudson 35 Zelmo Beaty 20 Bill Bridges 5 Alexander Memorial Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia 7,140 Los Angeles leads series, 3–1 #eee April 20 Boxscore Atlanta Hawks 96 Los Angeles Lakers 104 16–22 26–32 29–22 25–23 Zelmo Beaty 30 Bill Bridges 22 Lou Hudson 7 Elgin Baylor 29 Wilt Chamberlain 29 Elgin Baylor 12 The Forum, Inglewood, California 16,273 Los Angeles wins series, 4–1 This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning five of the first eight meetings while in St. Louis. +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, 2021Atlanta/ St. Louis leads 5–3 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 #fff 1966 St. Louis Hawks 3 Los Angeles Lakers 4 1966 Western Division Finals NBA Finals: (W1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (E4) Boston Celtics 1969 NBA Finals #eee April 23 Boxscore Boston Celtics 118 Los Angeles Lakers 120 32–33 26–23 26–26 34–38 John Havlicek 37 Bill Russell 27 Sam Jones 6 Jerry West 53 Wilt Chamberlain 23 Jerry West 10 The Forum, Inglewood, California 17,554 Los Angeles leads series, 1–0 April 25 Boxscore Boston Celtics 112 Los Angeles Lakers 118 25–24 30–29 30–35 27–30 John Havlicek 43 Bill Russell 21 Bill Russell 13 Jerry West 41 Wilt Chamberlain 19 Egan, West 8 each The Forum, Inglewood, California 17,559 Los Angeles leads series, 2–0 #eee April 27 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 105 Boston Celtics 111 16–25 24–32 38–21 27–33 Jerry West 24 Wilt Chamberlain 26 Jerry West 6 John Havlicek 34 Bill Russell 18 John Havlicek 7 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 14,037 Los Angeles leads series, 2–1 April 29 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 88 Boston Celtics 89 15–16 26–33 29–18 18–22 Jerry West 40 Wilt Chamberlain 31 West, Baylor 4 each John Havlicek 21 Bill Russell 29 five players 2 each Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 15,128 Series tied, 2–2 Sam Jones hits the game-winner at the buzzer. #eee May 1 Boxscore Boston Celtics 104 Los Angeles Lakers 117 24–23 21–26 24–30 35–38 Sam Jones 25 John Havlicek 14 Russell, Havlicek 5 each Jerry West 39 Wilt Chamberlain 31 Jerry West 9 The Forum, Inglewood, California 17,553 Los Angeles leads series, 3–2 May 3 Boxscore Los Angeles Lakers 90 Boston Celtics 99 22–32 17–23 26–27 25–17 West, Baylor 26 each Wilt Chamberlain 18 Wilt Chamberlain 4 Don Nelson 25 Bill Russell 19 Em Bryant 5 Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 15,128 Series tied, 3–3 #eee May 5 Boxscore Boston Celtics 108 Los Angeles Lakers 106 28–25 31–31 32–20 17–30 John Havlicek 26 Bill Russell 21 Bill Russell 6 Jerry West 42 Wilt Chamberlain 27 Jerry West 12 The Forum, Inglewood, California 17,568 Boston wins series, 4–3 Don Nelson hit a foul-line jumper which dropped through the basket after hitting the back rim and bouncing several feet straight up. The shot gave the Celtics a 105–102 lead after the Lakers cut their lead to 103–102. Bill Russell and Sam Jones’ final NBA game; Celtics become the first team to come back from a 2–0 series deficit in the NBA Finals. This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first six 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 6–0 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 #fff 1966 Boston Celtics 4 Los Angeles Lakers 3 1966 NBA Finals #fff 1968 Boston Celtics 4 Los Angeles Lakers 2 1968 NBA Finals See also 1969 NBA Finals 1969 NBA season References External links Basketball-Reference.com's 1969 NBA Playoffs page Category:NBA playoffs Playoffs fi:NBA-kausi 1968–1969#Pudotuspelit