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1957 NBA playoffs

Postseason tournament

Postseason tournament

FieldValue
titleNBA playoffs
year1957
season[1956–57](1956-57-nba-season)
datesMarch 14 – April 13, 1957
num_teams6
winnersBoston Celtics
count1
secondSt. Louis Hawks
semifinal1Minneapolis Lakers
semifinal2Syracuse Nationals
prev_season[1956](1956-nba-playoffs)
next_season[1958](1958-nba-playoffs)

The 1957 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1956–57 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Division champion St. Louis Hawks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.

It was the first title in Celtics history; as of 2024, they have won the most NBA titles with 18.

The Celtics and Hawks met in 4 out of 5 NBA Finals from 1957–1961, with the Celtics winning 3 out of 4. While the Hawks' dominance of the Western Division was succeeded by the Los Angeles Lakers afterward, Boston missed the NBA Finals just once between 1957–1969, and won the NBA title in every year but two.

In the division semifinals, the Philadelphia Warriors were swept by the Syracuse Nationals 2–0. This was the first time in NBA history that the defending champions were swept in the opening round. The next time the defending champions were swept in the opening round was in 2007. It was also the only time in which the playoff series leading to the Final resulted in sweeps.

Bracket

| RD2-text1= | RD2-text2=

| RD1-seed1=E3 | RD1-team1=Philadelphia | RD1-score1=0 | RD1-seed2=E2 | RD1-team2=Syracuse | RD1-score2=2

| RD1-seed3=W3 | RD1-team3=Fort Wayne | RD1-score3=0 | RD1-seed4=W2 | RD1-team4=Minneapolis | RD1-score4=2

| RD2-seed1=E1 | RD2-team1=Boston* | RD2-score1=3 | RD2-seed2=E2 | RD2-team2=Syracuse | RD2-score2=0

| RD2-seed3=W1 | RD2-team3=St. Louis* | RD2-score3=3 | RD2-seed4=W2 | RD2-team4=Minneapolis | RD2-score4=0

| RD3-seed1=E1 | RD3-team1=Boston* | RD3-score1=4 | RD3-seed2=W1 | RD3-team2=St. Louis* | RD3-score2=3 |* Division winner |Bold Series winner |Italic Team with home-court advantage in NBA Finals}}

Division Tiebreakers

Western Division Tiebreakers

[[Fort Wayne Pistons]] @ [[St. Louis Hawks]]

[[Minneapolis Lakers]] @ [[St. Louis Hawks]]

Division Semifinals

Eastern Division Semifinals

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

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers/Nationals winning three of the first four meetings.

Philadelphia 76ers/ Syracuse Nationals leads 3–1 in all-time playoff series

Western Division Semifinals

(2) [[Minneapolis Lakers]] vs. (3) [[Fort Wayne Pistons]]

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning three of the first four meetings.

Minneapolis leads 3–1 in all-time playoff series

Division Finals

Eastern Division Finals

(1) [[Boston Celtics]] vs. (2) [[Syracuse Nationals]]

This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Nationals winning four of the first five meetings.

Syracuse leads 4–1 in all-time playoff series

Western Division Finals

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

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

St. Louis leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series

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

Main article: 1957 NBA Finals

  • Tom Heinsohn hits the game-tying lay-up with 6 seconds left in regulation to force the first OT; Bob Cousy hits the game-tying shot with 15 seconds left in the first OT to force the second OT.
  • Bob Pettit hits the game-winner with 45 seconds left.
  • Cliff Hagan hits the game-winning shot at the buzzer, which is believed to be the first buzzer-beater shot to win a playoff game in NBA history.
  • Bob Pettit hits the game-tying free throws with 7 seconds left in regulation to force the first OT; Jack Coleman makers the game-tying basket with 9 seconds left in the first OT to force the second OT. Bob Pettit misses the game-tying shot at the buzzer to force a third OT.
  • Only NBA Finals Game 7 to date to go past the first overtime, and as of 2021, the only Game 7 in NBA history to go past the first overtime.

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

References

References

  1. "Team Rivalry Finder — Golden State Warriors versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
  2. "Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
  3. "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
  4. "Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
  5. "Game-Winning Buzzer-Beaters".
  6. "Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Boston Celtics (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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