1965 NBA playoffs
The 1965 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1964–65 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Division champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals.
Boston won its seventh consecutive NBA title and eighth overall while handing the Lakers their fourth straight Finals loss in the process.
This was the first playoff appearance for the Baltimore Bullets, who had begun play in the 1961–62 season as the Chicago Packers.
Division Semifinals
Eastern Division Semifinals
(2) [Cincinnati Royals] vs. (3) [Philadelphia 76ers]
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Royals winning the first two meetings.| Cincinnati leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series |
Western Division Semifinals
(2) [St. Louis Hawks] vs. (3) Baltimore Bullets">Baltimore Bullets (1963–73)">Baltimore Bullets
- Bob Pettit's last NBA game.
Division Finals
Eastern Division Finals
(1) [Boston Celtics] vs. (3) [Philadelphia 76ers]
This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with both teams splitting the first eight meetings when the 76ers were the Syracuse Nationals.| Tied 4–4 in all-time playoff series |
Western Division Finals
(1) [Los Angeles Lakers] vs. (3) Baltimore Bullets">Baltimore Bullets (1963–73)">Baltimore Bullets
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.NBA Finals: (E1) Boston Celtics vs. (W1) Los Angeles Lakers
- Tom Heinsohn's final NBA game.
| Boston leads 3–0 in all-time playoff series |