The 1963 NBA playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1962-63 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Division champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | March 19–April 24, 1963 |
| Season | 1962–63 |
| Teams | 6 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Boston Celtics (6th title) |
| Runner-up | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Semifinalists |
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← 1962
1964 →
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The Celtics won their 5th straight and 6th overall, NBA title. Boston defeated L.A. in the NBA Finals for the second straight year, something that happened regularly in 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 moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the following season and became known as the Philadelphia 76ers.
This was the first time that both Division Finals series went to a deciding Game 7, and will be the last until 1979 and again until 2018.
| Division Semifinals | Division Finals | NBA Finals | |||||||||||
| E1 | Boston* | 4 | |||||||||||
| E3 | Cincinnati | 3 | E3 | Cincinnati | 3 | ||||||||
| E2 | Syracuse | 2 | E1 | Boston* | 4 | ||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles* | 2 | |||||||||||
| W1 | Los Angeles* | 4 | |||||||||||
| W3 | Detroit | 1 | W2 | St. Louis | 3 | ||||||||
| W2 | St. Louis | 3 | |||||||||||
March 19 |
| Cincinnati Royals 120, Syracuse Nationals 123 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 38–36, 30–34, 23–24, 29–29 | ||
| Pts: Oscar Robertson29 | Pts: Hal Greer32 | |
| Syracuse leads series, 1–0 | ||
Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York |
March 21 |
| Syracuse Nationals 115, Cincinnati Royals 133 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 21–33, 29–29, 31–27, 34–44 | ||
| Pts: Chet Walker24 | Pts: Oscar Robertson41 | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio |
March 23 |
| Cincinnati Royals 117, Syracuse Nationals 121 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 33–31, 20–34, 39–31, 25–25 | ||
| Pts: Embry, Twyman 24 each | Pts: Lee Shaffer34 | |
| Syracuse leads series, 2–1 | ||
Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York |
March 24 |
| Syracuse Nationals 118, Cincinnati Royals 125 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 24–31, 35–29, 32–35, 27–30 | ||
| Pts: Lee Shaffer32 | Pts: Oscar Robertson29 | |
| Series tied, 2–2 | ||
Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio |
March 26 |
| Cincinnati Royals 131, Syracuse Nationals 127 (OT) | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 29–29, 26–31, 28–28, 31–26, Overtime: 17–13 | ||
| Pts: Oscar Robertson32 | Pts: Lee Shaffer45 | |
| Cincinnati wins series, 3–2 | ||
Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York |
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.[1]
March 20 |
| Detroit Pistons 99, St. Louis Hawks 118 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 27–15, 32–40, 15–28, 25–35 | ||
| Pts: Dave DeBusschere30 Rebs: Dave DeBusschere18 Asts: Don Ohl6 |
Pts: Pettit, Hagan 31 each Rebs: Bob Pettit15 Asts: Wilkens, Barnhill 6 each | |
| St. Louis leads series, 1–0 | ||
Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri |
March 22 |
| Detroit Pistons 108, St. Louis Hawks 122 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 29–30, 20–24, 30–25, 29–43 | ||
| Pts: Scott, Ohl 29 each Rebs: Scott, Howell 9 each Asts: Don Ohl6 |
Pts: Bob Pettit42 Rebs: Bob Pettit18 Asts: Pettit, Farmer 5 each | |
| St. Louis leads series, 2–0 | ||
March 24 |
| St. Louis Hawks 103, Detroit Pistons 107 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 20–28, 26–27, 26–29, 31–23 | ||
| Pts: Bob Pettit36 Rebs: Bob Pettit22 Asts: Lenny Wilkens10 |
Pts: DeBusschere, Ferry 23 each Rebs: Dave DeBusschere26 Asts: Jones, Ohl 4 each | |
| St. Louis leads series, 2–1 | ||
Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan |
March 26 |
| St. Louis Hawks 104, Detroit Pistons 100 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 25–24, 29–23, 29–27, 21–26 | ||
| Pts: Bob Pettit35 Rebs: Bill Bridges15 Asts: Chico Vaughn9 |
Pts: Don Ohl32 Rebs: Ray Scott14 Asts: Ray Scott6 | |
| St. Louis wins series, 3–1 | ||
Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan |
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with both teams splitting the first two meetings.
| Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series | ||||||||||||
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March 28 |
| Cincinnati Royals 135, Boston Celtics 132 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 27–36, 35–36, 41–32, 32–28 | ||
| Pts: Oscar Robertson43 Rebs: Oscar Robertson14 Asts: Oscar Robertson10 |
Pts: Sam Jones30 Rebs: Bill Russell24 Asts: Bob Cousy9 | |
| Cincinnati leads series, 1–0 | ||
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
March 29 |
| Boston Celtics 125, Cincinnati Royals 102 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 30–27, 24–29, 38–23, 33–23 | ||
| Pts: Bill Russell26 Rebs: Bill Russell24 |
Pts: Oscar Robertson28 Rebs: Wayne Embry16 | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio |
March 31 |
| Cincinnati Royals 121, Boston Celtics 116 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 26–27, 41–35, 26–27, 28–27 | ||
| Pts: Oscar Robertson23 Rebs: Bob Boozer14 Asts: Oscar Robertson8 |
Pts: Tom Heinsohn28 Rebs: Bill Russell28 Asts: Bob Cousy7 | |
| Cincinnati leads series, 2–1 | ||
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
April 3 |
| Boston Celtics 128, Cincinnati Royals 110 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 34–25, 36–30, 27–31, 31–24 | ||
| Pts: Bill Russell26 Rebs: Bill Russell21 |
Pts: Oscar Robertson25 Rebs: Robertson, Embry 15 each | |
| Series tied, 2–2 | ||
Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio |
April 6 |
| Cincinnati Royals 120, Boston Celtics 125 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 34–32, 25–33, 27–37, 34–23 | ||
| Pts: Oscar Robertson36 Rebs: Wayne Embry14 Asts: Oscar Robertson10 |
Pts: Tom Heinsohn34 Rebs: Bill Russell26 Asts: Bob Cousy8 | |
| Boston leads series, 3–2 | ||
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
April 7 |
| Boston Celtics 99, Cincinnati Royals 109 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 25–25, 23–26, 28–34, 23–24 | ||
| Pts: Sam Jones22 Rebs: Bill Russell23 |
Pts: Oscar Robertson36 Rebs: Wayne Embry22 | |
| Series tied, 3–3 | ||
Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio |
April 10 |
| Cincinnati Royals 131, Boston Celtics 142 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 30–35, 34–33, 29–40, 38–34 | ||
| Pts: Oscar Robertson43 Rebs: Embry, Hawkins 7 each Asts: Oscar Robertson6 |
Pts: Sam Jones47 Rebs: Bill Russell24 Asts: Bob Cousy16 | |
| Boston wins series, 4–3 | ||
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.[3]
March 31 |
| St. Louis Hawks 104, Los Angeles Lakers 112 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 14–24, 29–21, 27–33, 34–34 | ||
| Pts: Bob Pettit38 Rebs: Bob Pettit14 Asts: Pettit, Barnhill 6 each |
Pts: Jerry West27 Rebs: Elgin Baylor12 Asts: Elgin Baylor8 | |
| Los Angeles leads series, 1–0 | ||
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California |
April 2 |
| St. Louis Hawks 99, Los Angeles Lakers 101 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 19–24, 29–19, 22–27, 29–31 | ||
| Pts: Cliff Hagan34 Rebs: Bob Pettit16 Asts: Lenny Wilkens7 |
Pts: Elgin Baylor29 Rebs: three players 14 each Asts: Baylor, Selvy 6 each | |
| Los Angeles leads series, 2–0 | ||
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California |
April 4 |
| Los Angeles Lakers 112, St. Louis Hawks 125 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 14–21, 29–29, 33–43, 36–32 | ||
| Pts: Elgin Baylor34 Rebs: Elgin Baylor12 Asts: three players 2 each |
Pts: Bob Pettit33 Rebs: Zelmo Beaty15 Asts: Lenny Wilkens10 | |
| Los Angeles leads series, 2–1 | ||
Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri |
April 6 |
| Los Angeles Lakers 114, St. Louis Hawks 124 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 28–18, 31–28, 22–45, 33–33 | ||
| Pts: Jerry West33 Rebs: Baylor, Ellis 13 each Asts: three players 2 each |
Pts: Cliff Hagan33 Rebs: Bob Pettit15 Asts: Lenny Wilkens10 | |
| Series tied, 2–2 | ||
Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri |
April 7 |
| St. Louis Hawks 96, Los Angeles Lakers 123 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 15–30, 28–27, 23–39, 30–27 | ||
| Pts: Chico Vaughn16 Rebs: Mike Farmer10 |
Pts: Elgin Baylor37 Rebs: Baylor, Wiley 13 each | |
| Los Angeles leads series, 3–2 | ||
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California |
April 9 |
| Los Angeles Lakers 113, St. Louis Hawks 121 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 28–27, 24–33, 29–32, 32–29 | ||
| Pts: Elgin Baylor39 Rebs: Rudy LaRusso11 Asts: Jerry West4 |
Pts: Bob Pettit36 Rebs: Bob Pettit20 Asts: Lenny Wilkens11 | |
| Series tied, 3–3 | ||
Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri |
April 11 |
| St. Louis Hawks 100, Los Angeles Lakers 115 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 24–30, 26–27, 22–30, 28–28 | ||
| Pts: Bob Pettit31 Rebs: Bob Pettit13 Asts: Cliff Hagan4 |
Pts: Elgin Baylor35 Rebs: Elgin Baylor15 Asts: Baylor, West 7 each | |
| Los Angeles wins series, 4–3 | ||
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California |
This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning four of the first five meetings.
| St. Louis leads 4–1 in all-time playoff series | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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April 14 |
| Los Angeles Lakers 114, Boston Celtics 117 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 30–21, 24–34, 32–30, 28–32 | ||
| Pts: Elgin Baylor33 Rebs: Rudy LaRusso14 Asts: three players 3 each |
Pts: Sam Jones29 Rebs: Bill Russell29 Asts: Bob Cousy11 | |
| Boston leads series, 1–0 | ||
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
April 16 |
| Los Angeles Lakers 106, Boston Celtics 113 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 25–19, 21–31, 24–31, 36–32 | ||
| Pts: Elgin Baylor30 Rebs: Rudy LaRusso12 Asts: Elgin Baylor4 |
Pts: Sam Jones27 Rebs: Bill Russell38 Asts: Bob Cousy11 | |
| Boston leads series, 2–0 | ||
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
April 17 |
| Boston Celtics 99, Los Angeles Lakers 119 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 22–25, 29–30, 29–28, 19–36 | ||
| Pts: Sam Jones30 Rebs: Bill Russell19 Asts: Bill Russell5 |
Pts: Jerry West42 Rebs: Elgin Baylor23 Asts: Elgin Baylor8 | |
| Boston leads series, 2–1 | ||
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California |
April 19 |
| Boston Celtics 108, Los Angeles Lakers 105 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 31–20, 27–32, 27–18, 23–35 | ||
| Pts: Tom Heinsohn35 Rebs: Bill Russell19 Asts: three players 5 each |
Pts: Elgin Baylor31 Rebs: Elgin Baylor19 Asts: Jerry West5 | |
| Boston leads series, 3–1 | ||
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California |
April 21 |
| Los Angeles Lakers 126, Boston Celtics 119 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 22–25, 33–27, 35–40, 36–27 | ||
| Pts: Elgin Baylor43 Rebs: Elgin Baylor20 Asts: Jerry West6 |
Pts: Sam Jones36 Rebs: Bill Russell27 Asts: Bob Cousy14 | |
| Boston leads series, 3–2 | ||
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
April 24 |
| Boston Celtics 112, Los Angeles Lakers 109 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 33–35, 33–17, 26–28, 20–29 | ||
| Pts: Tom Heinsohn22 Rebs: Bill Russell24 Asts: Bill Russell9 |
Pts: Jerry West32 Rebs: Gene Wiley14 Asts: Jerry West9 | |
| Boston wins series, 4–2 | ||
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California |
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first two meetings.
| Boston leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series | ||||||||||||
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