1952 NBA Playoffs

The 1952 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1951-52 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Minneapolis Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.

The first great NBA dynasty, the Lakers won their third NBA title in the last 4 years and what would become their first of 3 titles in a row. If not for their division finals loss to the Rochester Royals the previous season, Minneapolis would have won 6 straight titles.

Western Division

Champion: Minneapolis Lakers

Division Semifinals

(1) Rochester Royals vs. (4) Fort Wayne Pistons: Royals win series 2-0

• Game 1 @ Rochester: Rochester 95, Fort Wayne 78
• Game 2 @ Fort Wayne: Rochester 92, Fort Wayne 86

(2) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (3) Indianapolis Olympians: Lakers win series 2-0

• Game 1 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 78, Indianapolis 70
• Game 2 @ Indianapolis: Minneapolis 94, Indianapolis 87

Division Finals

(1) Rochester Royals vs. (2) Minneapolis Lakers: Lakers win series 3-1

• Game 1 @ Rochester: Rochester 88, Minneapolis 78
• Game 2 @ Rochester: Minneapolis 83, Rochester 78 (OT)
• Game 3 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 77, Rochester 67
• Game 4 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 82, Rochester 80

Eastern Division

Champion: New York Knicks

Division Semifinals

(1) Syracuse Nationals vs. (4) Philadelphia Warriors: Nationals win series 2-1

• Game 1 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 102, Philadelphia 83
• Game 2 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 100, Syracuse 95
• Game 3 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 84, Philadelphia 73

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (3) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 2-1

• Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 105, New York 94
• Game 2 @ New York: New York 101, Boston 97
• Game 3 @ Boston: New York 88, Boston 87 (2OT)

Division Finals

(1) Syracuse Nationals vs. (3) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 3-1

• Game 1 @ Syracuse: New York 87, Syracuse 85
• Game 2 @ Syracuse: Syracuse 102, New York 92
• Game 3 @ New York: New York 99, Syracuse 92
• Game 4 @ New York: New York 100, Syracuse 93

NBA Finals

(2) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (3) New York Knicks: Lakers win series 4-3

• Game 1 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 83, New York 79 (OT)
• Game 2 @ Minneapolis: New York 80, Minneapolis 72
• Game 3 @ New York: Minneapolis 82, New York 77
• Game 4 @ New York: New York 90, Minneapolis 89 (OT)
• Game 5 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 102, New York 89
• Game 6 @ New York: New York 76, Minneapolis 68
• Game 7 @ Minneapolis: Minneapolis 82, New York 65

External links

• Basketball-Reference.com's 1952 NBA Playoffs page