1954 NBA Finals

The 1954 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1954 NBA Playoffs, which concluded the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1953–54 season. The Western Division champion Minneapolis Lakers faced the Eastern Division champion Syracuse Nationals in a best-of-seven series with Minneapolis having home-court advantage.[1] The Lakers won their third consecutive NBA championship and their fifth title in seven years dating from 1948, the club's final season as a member of the National Basketball League.

1954 NBA Finals
TeamCoachWins
Minneapolis Lakers John Kundla 4
Syracuse Nationals Al Cervi 3
DatesMarch 31–April 12
Hall of FamersLakers:
George Mikan (1959)
Jim Pollard (1978)
Clyde Lovellette (1988)
Vern Mikkelsen (1995)
Slater Martin (1982)
Nationals:
Dolph Schayes (1973)
Earl Lloyd (2003)
Coaches:
John Kundla (1995)
Al Cervi (1985, player)
Eastern FinalsNationals defeated Celtics, 2–0
Western FinalsLakers defeated Royals, 2–1

Minneapolis won game one and the teams thereafter alternated victories, with the Lakers winning the decisive game by a seven-point margin at home. The seven games were played in thirteen days, beginning Wednesday, March 31 and concluding Monday, April 12. The entire postseason tournament spanned 28 days in which both Minneapolis and Syracuse played 13 games.[1][2]

Series summary
GameDateHome TeamResultRoad Team
Game 1March 31Minneapolis Lakers79–68 (1–0)Syracuse Nationals
Game 2April 3Minneapolis Lakers60–62 (1–1)Syracuse Nationals
Game 3April 4Syracuse Nationals67–81 (1–2)Minneapolis Lakers
Game 4April 8Syracuse Nationals80–69 (2–2)Minneapolis Lakers
Game 5April 10Syracuse Nationals73–84 (2–3)Minneapolis Lakers
Game 6April 11Minneapolis Lakers63–65 (3–3)Syracuse Nationals
Game 7April 12Minneapolis Lakers87–80 (4–3)Syracuse Nationals

Lakers win series 4–3

Team rosters

Minneapolis Lakers

Sonny Juarez Ricardo juarez

Syracuse Nationals

Television

Game two was the first NBA Finals contest to be carried live on national television, with the DuMont network providing the coverage. Game five was also aired by DuMont, featuring Marty Glickman doing play-by-play and Lindsey Nelson as the color analyst.

References
  1. "1953–54 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
      Select "Previous Season" from the heading for 1952–53, and so on. Select "Finals" from League Playoffs for the daily schedule of the final series, and so on.
  2. "NBA Division Playoffs Open Tonight". The Washington Post. March 16, 1954.
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