1958 NBA Finals

1958 NBA Finals
1958 NBA champions banner at Philips Arena
TeamCoachWins
St. Louis Hawks Alex Hannum 4
Boston Celtics Red Auerbach 2
Dates March 29–April 12
Hall of Famers Celtics:
Bill Russell
Andy Phillip
Arnie Risen
Tom Heinsohn (as a player and coach)
Bob Cousy
Frank Ramsey
Sam Jones (basketball)
Bill Sharman (as a player and coach)
Hawks:
Slater Martin
Ed Macauley
Cliff Hagan
Bob Pettit
Coaches:
Alex Hannum
Red Auerbach
Eastern Finals Celtics defeat Warriors, 4–1
Western Finals Hawks defeat Pistons, 4–1

The 1958 NBA World Championship Series was the championship series for the 1957–58 National Basketball Association (NBA) season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. It pitted the Western Division champion St. Louis Hawks against the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics. The Hawks won the series in six games to win the club's first and so far only NBA championship title.

Series summary

GameDateHome TeamResultRoad Team
Game 1March 29Boston Celtics102–104 (0–1)St. Louis Hawks
Game 2March 30Boston Celtics136–112 (1–1)St. Louis Hawks
Game 3April 2St. Louis Hawks111–108 (2–1)Boston Celtics
Game 4April 5St. Louis Hawks98–109 (2–2)Boston Celtics
Game 5April 9Boston Celtics100–102 (2–3)St. Louis Hawks
Game 6April 12St. Louis Hawks110–109 (4–2)Boston Celtics

Hawks win series 4–2

Recap

After suffering a heartbreaking loss to the Celtics in Game 7 of the 1957 NBA Finals, St. Louis survived a sometimes difficult 1957-58 NBA season, returning to the NBA Finals to face the Celtics again. The teams split the first two games and were tied 49-49 in the third game when the series' decisive play occurred. Bill Russell soared high to block a shot by Bob Pettit, landed heavily on his right ankle and collapsed in a heap on the floor with a severe sprain. He missed the next 2 games. Boston won just one more game, the fourth, as the Hawks prevailed with a six-game series victory that gave them their first and (to date) only NBA championship.

The sixth game was vindication for Bob Pettit. Before a cheering, stomping crowd of 10,218 in St. Louis, Pettit scored 19 1st half points as the Hawks took a 57-52 lead into the halftime intermission. Six straight points by Pettit pushed the Hawks' margin to 10 in the third quarter before the Celtics sparked by Bob Cousy's playmaking, cut the margin back to six, 83-77. A Boston spurt in the opening moments of the final period gave the Celts an 86-84 lead.

With a little more than 20 seconds to play, Pettit drove on Russell, stopped and arched a shot over the Celtic captain for the basket that gave the Hawks a 108-105 lead.Tom Heinsohn made two foul shots with 16 seconds left to cut it to 108-107. With the Boston defense converging on Pettit, Slater Martin tried a set shot that missed, but Pettit somehow fought his way through the mob of Celtics around him to tap the ball in and make a final Celtic field goal meaningless. Pettit had scored 50 points, including 18 of the Hawks' final 21 points propelling the Hawks' to the 1958 NBA Championship.

The 1958 Hawks were the last team to win an NBA championship without a black player on the roster.

Team rosters

St. Louis Hawks

Boston Celtics

See also

References

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