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1953 NBA playoffs

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1953 NBA playoffs
Tournament details
DatesMarch 17–April 10, 1953
Season1952–53
Teams8
Final positions
ChampionsMinneapolis Lakers(4th title)
Runner-upNew York Knicks
Semifinalists
←1952
1954→

The1953 NBA playoffswas the postseason tournament of theNational Basketball Association's1952–53 season.The tournament concluded with theWestern ConferencechampionMinneapolis Lakersdefeating theEastern ConferencechampionNew York Knicks4 games to 1 in theNBA Finals.

The Lakers won their fourth championship in the last five years, and defeated the Knicks in the Finals for the second straight season to complete their run.

Not only did the four Western Division teams meet for the third straight year, but the Eastern Division teams this year, had a slight change. ThePhiladelphia Warriorsdid not make the playoffs, but theBaltimore Bulletsdid. They would be swept by the Eastern Division champion New York Knicks in 2 games.

TheIndianapolis Olympiansplayed their last game, a Game 2 loss to the Lakers in the first round. They folded at the end of the season, and major professional basketball did not return toIndianapolis, Indianauntil theIndiana Pacerswere founded for the inaugural1967–68 seasonof theAmerican Basketball Association.

TheBoston Celticsearned their first playoff series victory with a two-game sweep of theSyracuse Nationals.

The1952–53 Baltimore Bulletshold the distinction of having the worst regular-season record of any playoff qualifier in league history, at 16–54.

Bracket

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Division Semifinals Division Finals NBA Finals
E1 New York* 2
E4 Baltimore 0
E1 New York* 3
Eastern Division
E3 Boston 1
E3 Boston 2
E2 Syracuse 0
E1 New York* 1
W1 Minneapolis* 4
W1 Minneapolis* 2
W4 Indianapolis 0
W1 Minneapolis* 3
Western Division
W3 Fort Wayne 2
W3 Fort Wayne 2
W2 Rochester 1
  • * Division winner
  • BoldSeries winner
  • ItalicTeam with home-court advantage in NBA Finals

Division Semifinals

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Eastern Division Semifinals

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(1)New York Knicksvs. (4)Baltimore Bullets

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March 17
Baltimore Bullets62,New York Knicks80
Scoring by quarter:13–12, 19–21,11–20,19–27
Pts:Jim Baechtold17 Pts:Connie Simmons25
New York leads series, 1–0
March 20
New York Knicks90,Baltimore Bullets81
Scoring by quarter:20–14, 23–24,21–24,26–19
Pts:Vince Boryla20 Pts:Baechtold,Miller21 each
New York wins series, 2–0

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team splitting the first two meetings.

(2)Syracuse Nationalsvs. (3)Boston Celtics

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March 19
Boston Celtics87,Syracuse Nationals81
Scoring by quarter:16–19,19–14,18–16,34–32
Pts:Bob Cousy20 Pts:Paul Seymour18
Boston leads series, 1–0
March 21
Syracuse Nationals105,Boston Celtics111(4OT)
Scoring by quarter:22–21,20–19, 17–22,18–15,Overtime:9–9, 4–4, 9–9, 6–12
Pts:Red Rocha19
Asts:George King4		 Pts:Bob Cousy50
Asts:Macauley,Sharman5 each
Boston wins series, 2–0

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.[1]This series featured the last quadruple overtime game until 2019.

Western Division Semifinals

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(1)Minneapolis Lakersvs. (4)Indianapolis Olympians

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March 22
Indianapolis Olympians69,Minneapolis Lakers85
Scoring by quarter:14–21,17–21,25–21, 13–22
Pts:Joe Graboski22 Pts:Vern Mikkelsen18
Minneapolis leads series, 1–0
March 23
Minneapolis Lakers81,Indianapolis Olympians79
Scoring by quarter:24–19, 10–13,25–17, 22–30
Pts:Pollard,Mikkelsen16 each Pts:Paul Walther17
Minneapolis wins series, 2–0

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first two meetings.

(2)Rochester Royalsvs. (3)Fort Wayne Pistons

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March 20
Fort Wayne Pistons84,Rochester Royals77
Scoring by quarter:14–16,23–21,21–20,26–20
Pts:Fred Schaus20 Pts:Arnie Risen17
Fort Wayne leads series, 1–0
March 22
Rochester Royals83,Fort Wayne Pistons71
Scoring by quarter:21–19, 19–19,17–13,26–20
Pts:Bobby Wanzer19 Pts:Larry Foust24
Series tied, 1–1
March 24
Fort Wayne Pistons67,Rochester Royals65
Scoring by quarter:23–18, 13–13, 15–18,16–16
Pts:Larry Foust18 Pts:Bobby Wanzer17
Fort Wayne wins series, 2–1

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Royals winning two of the first three meetings.

Division Finals

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Eastern Division Finals

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(1)New York Knicksvs. (3)Boston Celtics

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March 25
Boston Celtics91,New York Knicks95
Scoring by quarter:27–26, 15–16,18–27,31–26
Pts:Bob Cousy28
Asts:Chuck Cooper6		 Pts:Connie Simmons18
Asts:Dick McGuire8
New York leads series, 1–0
March 26
New York Knicks70,Boston Celtics86
Scoring by quarter:10–23,19–13, 15–21,26–29
Pts:Harry Gallatin17
Asts:Carl Braun7		 Pts:Macauley,Cousy21 each
Asts:Bob Cousy13
Series tied, 1–1
March 28
Boston Celtics82,New York Knicks101
Scoring by quarter:22–20, 15–23,18–32,27–26
Pts:Bob Cousy18
Asts:Ed Macauley5		 Pts:Harry Gallatin23
Asts:Dick McGuire11
New York leads series, 2–1
Madison Square Garden III,Manhattan,New York
Referees:Phil Fox, Charles Eckman
March 29
New York Knicks82,Boston Celtics75
Scoring by quarter:17–26,14–19,22–11,29–19
Pts:Carl Braun18
Asts:Nat Clifton9		 Pts:Ed Macauley25
Asts:Bob Cousy8
New York wins series, 3–1
Boston Garden,Boston,Massachusetts
Referees:Phil Fox, Charles Eckman

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first two meetings.

Western Division Finals

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(1)Minneapolis Lakersvs. (3)Fort Wayne Pistons

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March 26
Fort Wayne Pistons73,Minneapolis Lakers83
Scoring by quarter:16–24,14–19,12–13,31–27
Pts:Larry Foust16 Pts:George Mikan21
Minneapolis leads series, 1–0
March 28
Fort Wayne Pistons75,Minneapolis Lakers82
Scoring by quarter:18–16, 17–23,18–17, 22–26
Pts:Larry Foust21 Pts:George Mikan20
Minneapolis leads series, 2–0
Minneapolis Auditorium,Minneapolis,Minnesota
Referees:Jocko Collins, Arnie Heft
March 30
Minneapolis Lakers95,Fort Wayne Pistons98
Scoring by quarter:16–29,28–18, 17–24,34–27
Pts:George Mikan23 Pts:Fred Scolari27
Minneapolis leads series, 2–1
April 1
Minneapolis Lakers82,Fort Wayne Pistons85
Scoring by quarter:20–25,18–22,23–11, 21–27
Pts:George Mikan25 Pts:Larry Foust20
Series tied, 2–2
April 2
Fort Wayne Pistons58,Minneapolis Lakers74
Scoring by quarter:9–23,16–11, 12–19,21–21
Pts:Larry Foust16 Pts:Mikan,Martin18 each
Minneapolis wins series, 3–2

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting.

NBA Finals: (W1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (E1) New York Knicks

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Main article:1953 NBA Finals
April 4
New York Knicks96,Minneapolis Lakers88
Scoring by quarter:19–18, 24–29,23–20,30–21
Pts:Carl Braun21 Pts:George Mikan25
New York leads series, 1–0
Minneapolis Auditorium,Minneapolis,Minnesota
Attendance:5,000
Referees:Sid Borgia, Arnie Heft
April 5
New York Knicks71,Minneapolis Lakers73
Scoring by quarter:16–26,14–21,24–11,17–15
Pts:Connie Simmons17 Pts:George Mikan18
Series tied, 1–1
Minneapolis Auditorium,Minneapolis,Minnesota
Attendance:4,848
Referees:Sid Borgia, Arnie Heft
April 7
Minneapolis Lakers90,New York Knicks75
Scoring by quarter:21–14, 18–24,26–22,25–15
Pts:George Mikan20 Pts:Connie Simmons18
Minneapolis leads series, 2–1
April 8
Minneapolis Lakers71,New York Knicks69
Scoring by quarter:21–16,20–18, 13–16,17–19
Pts:George Mikan27 Pts:Connie Simmons17
Minneapolis leads series, 3–1
April 10
Minneapolis Lakers91,New York Knicks84
Scoring by quarter:19–18,25–17, 25–25, 22–24
Pts:Jim Pollard17
Asts:Vern Mikkelsen6		 Pts:Carl Braun19
Asts:Ernie Vandeweghe4
Minneapolis wins series, 4–1

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting.

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)".basketball-reference.com.RetrievedFebruary 19,2021.
  2. ^"Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Sacramento Kings (Playoffs)".basketball-reference.com.RetrievedFebruary 19,2021.
  3. ^"Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)".basketball-reference.com.RetrievedFebruary 19,2021.
  4. ^"Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)".basketball-reference.com.RetrievedFebruary 19,2021.
  5. ^"Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)".basketball-reference.com.RetrievedFebruary 19,2021.
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