1969 NBA Playoffs

The 1969 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1968-69 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.

Despite finishing in 4th place, the Celtics won their second straight NBA title, marking their 11th overall as their era of 1960s dominance drew to a close. They upset Philadelphia and New York on the way to the Finals. Out west, the San Francisco Warriors stunned the Lakers by winning the first 2 in L.A., and Bay Area fans were thinking of avenging the prior year's sweep by the Lakers with a sweep of their own. But the Lakers won 4 straight to win the series in 6.

This year marked the debut of the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award; it was awarded to Jerry West of the Lakers, which marks the only time so far that the trophy has been given to a player on the losing team.

The second-year San Diego Rockets made their first playoff appearance; the next time they appeared was in 1975 as the Houston Rockets.

Western Division

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers

Division Semifinals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) San Francisco Warriors: Lakers win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Los Angeles: San Francisco 99, Los Angeles 94
• Game 2 @ Los Angeles: San Francisco 107, Los Angeles 101
• Game 3 @ San Francisco: Los Angeles 115, San Francisco 98
• Game 4 @ San Francisco: Los Angeles 103, San Francisco 88
• Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 103, San Francisco 98
• Game 6 @ San Francisco: Los Angeles 118, San Francisco 78 (The Lakers become the first team to win a playoff series after losing the first 2 games at home.)

(2) Atlanta Hawks vs. (4) San Diego Rockets: Hawks win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 107, San Diego 98
• Game 2 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 116, San Diego 114
• Game 3 @ San Diego: San Diego 104, Atlanta 97
• Game 4 @ San Diego: San Diego 114, Atlanta 112
• Game 5 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 112, San Diego 101
• Game 6 @ San Diego: Atlanta 108, San Diego 106

Division Finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (2) Atlanta Hawks: Lakers win series 4-1

• Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 95, Atlanta 93
• Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 104, Atlanta 102
• Game 3 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 99, Los Angeles 86
• Game 4 @ Atlanta: Los Angeles 100, Atlanta 85
• Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 104, Atlanta 96

Eastern Division

Champion: Boston Celtics

Division Semifinals

(1) Baltimore Bullets vs. (3) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 4-0

• Game 1 @ Baltimore: New York 113, Baltimore 101
• Game 2 @ New York: New York 107, Baltimore 91
• Game 3 @ Baltimore: New York 119, Baltimore 116
• Game 4 @ New York: New York 115, Baltimore 108

(2) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (4) Boston Celtics: Celtics win series 4-1

• Game 1 @ Philadelphia: Boston 114, Philadelphia 100
• Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 134, Philadelphia 103
• Game 3 @ Philadelphia: Boston 125, Philadelphia 118
• Game 4 @ Boston: Philadelphia 119, Boston 116
• Game 5 @ Philadelphia: Boston 93, Philadelphia 90

Division Finals

(3) New York Knicks vs. (4) Boston Celtics: Celtics win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ New York: Boston 108, New York 100
• Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 112, New York 97
• Game 3 @ New York: New York 101, Boston 91
• Game 4 @ Boston: Boston 97, New York 96
• Game 5 @ New York: New York 112, Boston 104
• Game 6 @ Boston: Boston 106, New York 105 (John Havlicek hits the series-winning shot.)

NBA Finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Boston Celtics: Celtics win series 4-3

• Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 120, Boston 118
• Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 118, Boston 112
• Game 3 @ Boston: Boston 111, Los Angeles 105
• Game 4 @ Boston: Boston 89, Los Angeles 88 (Sam Jones hits the game-winner.)
• Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 117, Boston 104
• Game 6 @ Boston: Boston 99, Los Angeles 90
• Game 7 @ Los Angeles: Boston 108, Los Angeles 106 (Bill Russell and Sam Jones’ final NBA game; Celtics become the first team to come back from a 2-0 series deficit in the NBA Finals.)

In Game 7, Don Nelson hit a foul-line jumper which dropped through the basket after hitting the back rim and bouncing several feet straight up. The shot gave the Celtics a 105-102 lead after the Lakers cut their lead to 103-102.

External links

• Basketball-Reference.com's 1969 NBA Playoffs page