1965 NBA playoffs

Postseason tournament

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.

Bracket

• * Division winner
• Bold Series winner
• Italic Team with home-court advantage in NBA Finals

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.

Western Division Semifinals

(2) St. Louis Hawks vs. (3) Baltimore Bullets

• Bob Pettit's last NBA game.

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.^[2]

Division Finals

Eastern Division Finals

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers

• John Havlicek steals the inbounds pass by Hal Greer.

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.

Western Division Finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Baltimore Bullets

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.^[4]

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

• Tom Heinsohn's final NBA game.

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first three meetings.

See also

• 1965 NBA Finals
• 1964–65 NBA season
• NBA records

References

1. "Team Rivalry Finder — Philadelphia 76ers versus Sacramento Kings (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
2. "Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Washington Wizards (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
3. "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
4. "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Washington Wizards (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
5. "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2021.

External links

• Basketball-Reference.com's 1965 NBA Playoffs page