1961 NBA playoffs


The 1961 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1960-61 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Division champion St. Louis Hawks 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals.
The Lakers made the playoffs for the first time after moving to Los Angeles. They were one game away from their first Finals in L.A. as the St. Louis Hawks defeat them.
The Division Semifinals were extended from a best-of-three to a best-of-five series.
For the Celtics, it was their third straight NBA title and fourth overall. This would be the last Finals appearance for the Hawks franchise to date; though they still exist in the NBA as the Atlanta Hawks, they have yet to return to the Finals as of 2024.

Division Semifinals

Eastern Division Semifinals

(2) [Philadelphia Warriors] vs. (3) [Syracuse Nationals]

This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers/Nationals winning four of the first seven meetings.
Philadelphia 76ers/ Syracuse Nationals leads 4–3 in all-time playoff series


Western Division Semifinals

(2) [Los [Angeles Lakers]] vs. (3) [Detroit Pistons]

This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning six of the first seven meetings when the Lakers were in Minneapolis.
Los Angeles leads 6–1 in all-time playoff series


Division Finals

Eastern Division Finals

(1) [Boston Celtics] vs. (3) [Syracuse Nationals]

This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Nationals winning four of the first seven meetings.
Syracuse leads 4–3 in all-time playoff series


Western Division Finals

(1) [St. Louis Hawks] vs. (2) [Los Angeles Lakers]

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning three of the first four meetings while the Lakers were based in Minneapolis.
St. Louis leads 3–1 in all-time playoff series


NBA Finals: (E1) Boston Celtics vs. (W1) St. Louis Hawks

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning two of the first three meetings.
Boston leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series