1962 NBA playoffs


The 1962 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1961-62 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Division champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.
The Celtics won their 4th straight title to become the first NBA team to do so. Boston's Game 7 victory occurred in OT, with Bill Russell tying his own Finals record with 40 rebounds.
This was the second NBA Finals played between the Celtics and Lakers, but it was the first one the Lakers played in since they moved to Los Angeles.
Though the NBA has existed since 1947, this is the earliest NBA Finals played between two teams that still reside in their present locations.

Bracket

Division Semifinals

Eastern Division Semifinals

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

This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers/Nationals winning five of the first eight meetings.
Philadelphia 76ers/ Syracuse Nationals leads 5–3 in all-time playoff series

Western Division Semifinals

(2) [Cincinnati Royals] vs. (3) [Detroit Pistons]

This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with both teams splitting the first six meetings.
Tied 3–3 in all-time playoff series

Division Finals

Eastern Division Finals

(1) [Boston Celtics] vs. (2) [Philadelphia Warriors]

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

Western Division Finals

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

This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning seven of the first eight meetings.
Los Angeles leads 7–1 in all-time playoff series

NBA Finals: (E1) Boston Celtics vs. (W1) Los Angeles Lakers

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning first meeting when the Lakers were in Minneapolis.
Boston leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series