1963 NBA Playoffs
Encyclopedia
The 1963 NBA Playoffs
were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association
's 1962-1963 season
. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics
defeating the Western Division champion Los Angeles Lakers
, four games to two in the NBA Finals
.
The Celtics won their fifth consecutive, and sixth overall, NBA championship. Boston defeated Los Angeles in the NBA Finals for the second year in a row, something that would become a regular occurrence throughout 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 would move to Philadelphia
the following season and become known as the Philadelphia 76ers
.
Division Semifinals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers have division semifinals byes.
(2) St. Louis Hawks vs. (3) Detroit Pistons
:
Hawks win series 3-1
Division Finals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers
vs. (2) St. Louis Hawks:
Lakers win series 4-3
Division Semifinals
(1) Boston Celtics have division semifinals byes.
(2) Syracuse Nationals
vs. (3) Cincinnati Royals:
Royals win series 3-2
Division Finals
(1) Boston Celtics
vs. (3) Cincinnati Royals:
Celtics win series 4-3
VS. (1) Los Angeles Lakers
:
Celtics win series 4-2
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
's 1962-1963 season
1962-63 NBA season
The 1962–63 NBA season was the 17th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning their 5th straight NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.- History :...
. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
defeating the Western Division champion Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, four games to two in the NBA Finals
1963 NBA Finals
The 1963 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 1962-63 National Basketball Association season, and was the conclusion of the 1963 NBA Playoffs. The best-of-seven series was played between the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers and the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics...
.
The Celtics won their fifth consecutive, and sixth overall, NBA championship. Boston defeated Los Angeles in the NBA Finals for the second year in a row, something that would become a regular occurrence throughout the 1960s.
The Cincinnati Royals advanced to the division finals for the first time since 1952
1952 NBA Playoffs
The 1952 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1951-1952 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Minneapolis Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks, four games to three in the NBA Finals.The first...
, extending the Celtics to seven games.
This was the last playoff appearance for the Syracuse Nationals
Syracuse Nationals
The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
under that name; they would move to Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
the following season and become known as the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
.
Western Division
Champion: Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
Division Semifinals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers have division semifinals byes.
(2) St. Louis Hawks vs. (3) Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
:
Hawks win series 3-1
- Game 1 @ St. Louis: St. Louis 118, Detroit 99
- Game 2 @ St. Louis: St. Louis 122, Detroit 108
- Game 3 @ Detroit: Detroit 107, St. Louis 103
- Game 4 @ Detroit: St. Louis 104, Detroit 100
Division Finals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
vs. (2) St. Louis Hawks:
Lakers win series 4-3
- Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 112, St. Louis 104
- Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 101, St. Louis 99
- Game 3 @ St. Louis: St. Louis 125, Los Angeles 112
- Game 4 @ St. Louis: St. Louis 124, Los Angeles 114
- Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 123, St. Louis 96
- Game 6 @ St. Louis: St. Louis 121, Los Angeles 113
- Game 7 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 115, St. Louis 100
Eastern Division
Champion: Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
Division Semifinals
(1) Boston Celtics have division semifinals byes.
(2) Syracuse Nationals
Syracuse Nationals
The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
vs. (3) Cincinnati Royals:
Royals win series 3-2
- Game 1 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 123, Cincinnati 120
- Game 2 @ Cincinnati: Cincinnati 133, Syracuse 115
- Game 3 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 121, Cincinnati 117
- Game 4 @ Cincinnati: Cincinnati 125, Syracuse 118
- Game 5 @ Syracuse: Cincinnati 131, Syracuse 127
Division Finals
(1) Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
vs. (3) Cincinnati Royals:
Celtics win series 4-3
- Game 1 @ Boston: Cincinnati 135, Boston 132
- Game 2 @ Cincinnati: Boston 125, Cincinnati 102
- Game 3 @ Boston: Cincinnati 121, Boston 116
- Game 4 @ Cincinnati: Boston 128, Cincinnati 110
- Game 5 @ Boston: Boston 125, Cincinnati 120
- Game 6 @ Cincinnati: Cincinnati 109, Boston 99
- Game 7 @ Boston: Boston 142, Cincinnati 131
NBA finals
(1) Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
VS. (1) Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
:
Celtics win series 4-2
- Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 117, Los Angeles 114
- Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 113, Los Angeles 106
- Game 3 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 119, Boston 99
- Game 4 @ Los Angeles: Boston 108, Los Angeles 105
- Game 5 @ Boston: Los Angeles 126, Boston 119
- Game 6 @ Los Angeles: Boston 112, Los Angeles 109 (Bob CousyBob CousyRobert Joseph "Bob" Cousy is a retired American professional basketball player. The 6'1" , 175-pound Cousy played point guard with the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics from 1951 to 1963 and briefly with the Cincinnati Royals in the 1969–70 season...
’s final NBA game.)