{{Short description|Postseason tournament}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{infobox basketball tournament season |title=NBA playoffs |year=1954 | season =1953–54 |dates=March 16 – April 12, 1954 | num_teams =6 | winners =Minneapolis Lakers | count =5 | second = Syracuse Nationals | semifinal1 =Rochester Royals | semifinal2 =Boston Celtics | prev_season =1953 | next_season =1955 }}
The '''1954 NBA playoffs''' was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1953–54 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Minneapolis Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Syracuse Nationals 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.
For the Lakers, it was their third straight NBA title, and fifth in the last six years.
With the folding of the Indianapolis Olympians after the previous year's playoffs, leaving the NBA with nine teams, they resorted to a round-robin playoff format in 1954 for the only time in league history.
Although the Minneapolis Lakers, Fort Wayne Pistons, Rochester Royals and Syracuse Nationals all play in different cities now (Los Angeles, Detroit, Sacramento and Philadelphia respectively), this is the earliest NBA playoff in which every team that participated still exists today.
==Bracket== {{#invoke:Build bracket|main | rounds = 3 | RD1-teams-per-match = 3
| col1-matches = 3,7 | col2-matches = 3.5,7.5 | col3-matches = 5.5
| col2-col3-paths = (3.5,7.5)-5.5
| RD1=Division Round Robin Semifinals | RD2=Division Finals | RD3=NBA Finals | RD2-text1='''Eastern Division''' | RD2-text2='''Western Division'''
| RD1-seed01=E1 | RD1-team01=New York* | RD1-score01=0–4 | RD1-seed02='''E2''' | RD1-team02='''Boston''' | RD1-score02='''2–2''' | RD1-seed03='''E3''' | RD1-team03='''Syracuse''' | RD1-score03='''4–0'''
| RD1-seed04='''W1''' | RD1-team04='''Minneapolis'''* | RD1-score04='''3–0''' | RD1-seed05='''W2''' | RD1-team05='''Rochester''' | RD1-score05='''2–1''' | RD1-seed06=W3 | RD1-team06=Fort Wayne | RD1-score06=0–4
| RD2-seed01='''E1''' | RD2-team01='''Syracuse''' | RD2-score01='''2''' | RD2-seed02=E2 | RD2-team02=Boston | RD2-score02=0
| RD2-seed03='''W1''' | RD2-team03='''Minneapolis'''* | RD2-score03='''2''' | RD2-seed04=W2 | RD2-team04=Rochester | RD2-score04=1
| RD3-seed01=E1 | RD3-team01=Syracuse | RD3-score01=3 | RD3-seed02='''W1''' | RD3-team02='''''Minneapolis'''''* | RD3-score02='''4''' }}{{ubl |<nowiki>*</nowiki> Division winner |'''Bold''' Series winner (Division Round Robin Semifinals: top 2 advanced) |''Italic'' Team with home-court advantage in NBA Finals }}
==Division Round Robin Semifinals== Within each division, the top three teams in the season standings played a double round robin, comprising one home game in each city for each pair of teams, in order to eliminate one of the three participants. A three-way tie with two wins each would have secured home-court advantage in the Division Finals for New York or Minneapolis, who finished first in the season standings, against an opponent to be determined by one further game played with the season runner-up as host.<ref name=WP19540316/> In the event, neither round-robin generated even a two-way tie, so no seventh game was required in either Division. Two of three teams advanced to the Division Finals. The second game between Minneapolis and Rochester—the sixth and final Western Division game scheduled—was not played because both teams had qualified for the Division Final ''and'' Minneapolis had secured home-court advantage in that series. The sixth and final Eastern Division game scheduled, Boston at Syracuse, was played because home-court advantage in their subsequent Division Final hadn't been determined.<!-- 2015-04-10 inferred from the facts -P64 --> Both teams had won 42 season games and Boston had won by coin flip the edge in case of a tie in the round-robin stage.<ref name=WP19540316/>
===Eastern Division Round Robin Semifinals===
====(1) New York Knicks, (2) Boston Celtics, (3) Syracuse Nationals====
{{col-begin|width=auto}} {{col-break}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Eastern Division ! Team !! W !! L |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | align="left" | Syracuse Nationals || 4 || 0 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | align="left" | Boston Celtics || 2 || 2 |- | align="left" | New York Knicks || 0 || 4 |} {{col-end}}
{{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 16 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195403160NYK.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Boston Celtics''' | score1 = '''93''' | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 71 | Q1 = '''16'''–15 | Q2 = '''32'''–12 | Q3 = '''24'''–19 | Q4 = 21–'''25''' | points1 = Cousy, Sharman 22 each | assist1 = Bob Cousy 10 | points2 = Carl Braun 18 | assist2 = Simmons, Baechtold 3 each | referee = Sid Borgia, Mendy Rudolph | place = Madison Square Garden III, Manhattan, New York }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = March 17 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195403170BOS.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Syracuse Nationals''' | score1 = '''96''' | team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 95 | overtime = OT | Q1 = 15–'''17''' | Q2 = '''18'''–15 | Q3 = '''26'''–24 | Q4 = 22–'''25''' | OT = '''15'''–14 | points1 = Dolph Schayes 20 | rebounds1 = Dolph Schayes 13 | assist1 = Earl Lloyd 8 | points2 = Bob Cousy 32 | rebounds2 = ''three players'' 10 each | assist2 = Jack Nichols 10 | place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts }} {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 18 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195403180SYR.html Boxscore] | team1 = New York Knicks | score1 = 68 | team2 = '''Syracuse Nationals''' | score2 = '''75''' | Q1 = 15–'''16''' | Q2 = 20–'''25''' | Q3 = 14–'''19''' | Q4 = '''19'''–15 | points1 = Harry Gallatin 15 | rebounds1 = Harry Gallatin 20 | assist1 = Jim Baechtold 5 | points2 = Dolph Schayes 23 | rebounds2 = Dolph Schayes 16 | assist2 = Paul Seymour 6 | place = Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = March 20 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195403200BOS.html Boxscore] | team1 = New York Knicks | score1 = 78 | team2 = '''Boston Celtics''' | score2 = '''79''' | Q1 = '''17'''–15 | Q2 = '''24'''–21 | Q3 = 16–'''19''' | Q4 = 21–'''24''' | points1 = Harry Gallatin 15 | assist1 = Braun, Simmons 3 each | points2 = Bill Sharman 26 | assist2 = Cousy, Nichols 6 each | place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | series = Syracuse & Boston clinch berth to Division Finals, New York eliminated }} {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 21 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195403210NYK.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Syracuse Nationals''' | score1 = '''103''' | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 99 | Q1 = 22–'''25''' | Q2 = 15–'''19''' | Q3 = '''32'''–26 | Q4 = '''34'''–29 | points1 = Dolph Schayes 36 | rebounds1 = Dolph Schayes 21 | assist1 = Paul Seymour 6 | points2 = Carl Braun 32 | rebounds2 = Nat Clifton 16 | assist2 = Carl Braun 6 | place = Madison Square Garden III, Manhattan, New York | referee = Jocko Collins, Charles Eckman }} * With the Knicks having already been mathematically eliminated from contention, this is the only playoff game to date in which one team had nothing to play for. This contest only contributed towards who would have home-court advantage in the Division Finals between the Nationals and Celtics. {{basketballbox | bg = | date = March 22 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195403220SYR.html Boxscore] | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 85 | team2 = '''Syracuse Nationals''' | score2 = '''98''' | Q1 = 19–'''27''' | Q2 = '''23'''–18 | Q3 = 21–'''26''' | Q4 = 22–'''27''' | points1 = Bob Cousy 25 | rebounds1 = Jack Nichols 12 | assist1 = Bob Cousy 8 | points2 = Dolph Schayes 25 | rebounds2 = Dolph Schayes 16 | assist2 = Paul Seymour 7 | place = Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York | series = Syracuse finishes as East's #1 seed in Division Finals, Boston finishes as the East's #2 seed }}
This was the fourth playoff meeting between the Celtics and Knicks, with the Knicks winning two of the first three meetings. {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=BOS&opp_id=NYK&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2021}}</ref> |- !New York leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series |- | {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1951 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 0 | team2 = '''New York Knicks''' | score2 = 2 | place = 1951 Eastern Division Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1952 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 1 | team2 = '''New York Knicks''' | score2 = 2 | place = 1952 Eastern Division Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1953 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 1 | team2 = '''New York Knicks''' | score2 = 3 | place = 1953 Eastern Division Finals| }} |}
This was the second playoff meeting between the Celtics and Nationals, with the Celtics winning the first meeting. {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |+Previous playoff series<ref name="East repeat">{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=BOS&opp_id=PHI&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2021}}</ref> |- !Boston leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |- | {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1953 | team1 = '''Boston Celtics''' | score1 = 2 | team2 = Syracuse Nationals | score2 = 0 | place = 1953 Eastern Division Semifinals| }} |}
This was the fourth playoff meeting between the Knicks and Nationals, with the Knicks winning two of the first three meetings. {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=NYK&opp_id=PHI&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — New York Knicks versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2021}}</ref> |- !New York leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series |- | {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1950 | team1 = New York Knicks | score1 = 1 | team2 = '''Syracuse Nationals''' | score2 = 2 | place = 1950 Eastern Division Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1951 | team1 = '''New York Knicks''' | score1 = 3 | team2 = Syracuse Nationals | score2 = 2 | place = 1951 Eastern Division Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1952 | team1 = '''New York Knicks''' | score1 = 3 | team2 = Syracuse Nationals | score2 = 1 | place = 1952 Eastern Division Finals| }} |}
===Western Division Round Robin Semifinals===
====(1) Minneapolis Lakers, (2) Rochester Royals, (3) Fort Wayne Pistons====
{{col-begin|width=auto}} {{col-break}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Western Division ! Team !! W !! L |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | align="left" | Minneapolis Lakers || 3 || 0 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | align="left" | Rochester Royals || 2 || 1 |- | align="left" | Fort Wayne Pistons || 0 || 4 |} {{col-end}}
{{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 16 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195403160ROC.html Boxscore] | team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 75 | team2 = '''Rochester Royals''' | score2 = '''82''' | Q1 = 13–'''19''' | Q2 = 15–'''21''' | Q3 = '''23'''–14 | Q4 = 24–'''28''' | points1 = George Yardley 20 | points2 = Bobby Wanzer 18 | place = Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = March 17 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195403170MNL.html Boxscore] | team1 = Rochester Royals | score1 = 88 | team2 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score2 = '''109''' | Q1 = 21–'''29''' | Q2 = 17–'''34''' | Q3 = '''23'''–22 | Q4 = '''27'''–24 | points1 = Arnie Risen 21 | points2 = Slater Martin 24 | place = Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota | referee = Jocko Collins, Bill Biebel }} {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 18 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195403180FTW.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score1 = '''90''' | team2 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score2 = 85 | Q1 = '''22'''–21 | Q2 = 19–'''20''' | Q3 = '''27'''–20 | Q4 = 22–'''24''' | points1 = George Mikan 28 | points2 = Frankie Brian 20 | place = War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana | series = Minneapolis clinches berth to Division Finals }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = March 20 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195403200MNL.html Boxscore] | team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 73 | team2 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score2 = '''78''' | Q1 = 19–'''21''' | Q2 = 15–'''22''' | Q3 = 15–15 | Q4 = '''24'''–20 | points1 = Max Zaslofsky 15 | points2 = George Mikan 21 | place = Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota | referee = Sid Borgia, Stan Stutz | series = Minneapolis finishes as the West's #1 seed in Division Finals }} {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 21 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195403210FTW.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Rochester Royals''' | score1 = '''89''' | team2 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score2 = 71 | Q1 = '''19'''–14 | Q2 = '''17'''–14 | Q3 = '''26'''–15 | Q4 = 27–'''28''' | points1 = Bobby Wanzer 14 | points2 = George Yardley 16 | place = War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana | series = Rochester finishes as the West's #2 seed in Division Finals, Fort Wayne eliminated }} * The contest originally scheduled for March 23 (Minneapolis @ Rochester) was not played due to first place finishers owning a tiebreaker, and thus the final positions in the round-robin were already locked in.
This was the fourth playoff meeting between the Lakers and Royals, with the Lakers winning two of the first three meetings. {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |+Previous playoff series<ref name="West repeat">{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=LAL&opp_id=SAC&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Sacramento Kings (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2021}}</ref> |- !Minneapolis leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series |- | {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1949 | team1 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score1 = 2 | team2 = Rochester Royals | score2 = 0 | place = 1949 Western Division Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1951 | team1 = Minneapolis Lakers | score1 = 1 | team2 = '''Rochester Royals''' | score2 = 3 | place = 1951 Western Division Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1952 | team1 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score1 = 3 | team2 = Rochester Royals | score2 = 1 | place = 1952 Western Division Finals| }} |}
This was the fifth playoff meeting between the Royals and Pistons, with both teams splitting the first four meetings. {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=DET&opp_id=SAC&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Sacramento Kings (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2021}}</ref> |- !Tied 2–2 in all-time playoff series |- | {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1950 | team1 = '''Fort Wayne Pistons''' | score1 = 2 | team2 = Rochester Royals | score2 = 0 | place = 1950 Central Division Semifinals | }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1951 | team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 1 | team2 = '''Rochester Royals''' | score2 = 2 | place = 1951 Western Division Semifinals | }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1952 | team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 0 | team2 = '''Rochester Royals''' | score2 = 2 | place = 1952 Western Division Semifinals | }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1953 | team1 = '''Fort Wayne Pistons''' | score1 = 2 | team2 = Rochester Royals | score2 = 0 | place = 1953 Western Division Semifinals | }} |}
This was the third playoff meeting between the Pistons and Lakers, with the Lakers winning the first two meetings. {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=DET&opp_id=LAL&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2021}}</ref> |- !Minneapolis leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series |- | {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1950 | team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 0 | team2 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score2 = 2 | place = 1950 Central Division Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1953 | team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 2 | team2 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score2 = 3 | place = 1953 Western Division Finals| }} |}
==Division Finals==
===Eastern Division Finals===
====(1) Syracuse Nationals vs. (2) Boston Celtics====
{{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 25 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195403250SYR.html Boxscore] | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 94 | team2 = '''Syracuse Nationals''' | score2 = '''109''' | Q1 = '''30'''–25 | Q2 = 14–'''28''' | Q3 = 22–'''27''' | Q4 = 28–'''29''' | points1 = Jack Nichols 28 | rebounds1 = Jack Nichols 9 | assist1 = Bill Sharman 5 | points2 = Dolph Schayes 27 | rebounds2 = Dolph Schayes 21 | assist2 = Bill Gabor 6 | place = Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York | series = Syracuse leads series, 1–0 }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = March 27 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195403270BOS.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Syracuse Nationals''' | score1 = '''83''' | team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 76 | Q1 = 21–21 | Q2 = 19–'''29''' | Q3 = '''24'''–16 | Q4 = '''19'''–10 | points1 = Wally Osterkorn 16 | assist1 = George King 8 | points2 = Bill Sharman 20 | assist2 = Bob Cousy 6 | place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | series = Syracuse wins series, 2–0 }}
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams following the round-robin, with both teams splitting the first two meetings. {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |+Previous playoff series<ref name="East repeat"/> |- !Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series |- | {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1953 | team1 = '''Boston Celtics''' | score1 = 2 | team2 = Syracuse Nationals | score2 = 0 | place = 1953 Eastern Division Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1954 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 0 | team2 = '''Syracuse Nationals''' | score2 = 2 | place = 1954 Eastern Division Round Robin Semifinals| }} |}
===Western Division Finals===
====(1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (2) Rochester Royals==== {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 24 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195403240MNL.html Boxscore] | team1 = Rochester Royals | score1 = 76 | team2 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score2 = '''89''' | Q1 = 17–'''20''' | Q2 = 16–'''20''' | Q3 = 24–24 | Q4 = 19–'''25''' | points1 = Wanzer, Coleman 17 each | points2 = George Mikan 28 | place = Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota | referee = Chuck Eckman, Jocko Collins | series = Minneapolis leads series, 1–0 }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = March 27 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195403270ROC.html Boxscore] | team1 = Minneapolis Lakers | score1 = 73 | team2 = '''Rochester Royals''' | score2 = '''74''' | Q1 = 12–'''16''' | Q2 = 16–'''20''' | Q3 = '''24'''–17 | Q4 = 21–21 | points1 = George Mikan 17 | points2 = Bobby Wanzer 16 | place = Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York | series = Series tied, 1–1 }} {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 28 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195403280MNL.html Boxscore] | team1 = Rochester Royals | score1 = 72 | team2 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score2 = '''82''' | Q1 = 21–'''23''' | Q2 = 16–'''22''' | Q3 = 20–20 | Q4 = 15–'''17''' | points1 = Arnie Risen 24 | points2 = George Mikan 17 | place = Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota | referee = Jocko Collins, Arnie Heft | series = Minneapolis wins series, 2–1 }}
This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams following the round-robin, with the Lakers winning three of the first four meetings. {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |+Previous playoff series<ref name="West repeat"/> |- !Minneapolis leads 3–1 in all-time playoff series |- | {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1949 | team1 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score1 = 2 | team2 = Rochester Royals | score2 = 0 | place = 1949 Western Division Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1951 | team1 = Minneapolis Lakers | score1 = 1 | team2 = '''Rochester Royals''' | score2 = 3 | place = 1951 Western Division Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1952 | team1 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score1 = 3 | team2 = Rochester Royals | score2 = 1 | place = 1952 Western Division Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1954 | team1 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score1 = 1 | team2 = Rochester Royals | score2 = 0 | place = 1954 Western Division Round Robin Semifinals| }} |}
==NBA Finals: (W1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (E1) Syracuse Nationals==
{{main article|1954 NBA Finals}} {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = March 31 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195403310MNL.html Boxscore] | team1 = Syracuse Nationals | score1 = 68 | team2 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score2 = '''79''' | Q1 = '''13'''–10 | Q2 = 18–'''24''' | Q3 = 19–'''22''' | Q4 = 18–'''23''' | points1 = Bob Lavoy 15 | rebounds1 = Wally Osterkorn 8 | assist1 = Paul Seymour 6 | points2 = Clyde Lovellette 16 | rebounds2 = George Mikan 10 | assist2 = Slater Martin 6 | place = Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota | attendance = 4,579 | referee = Charles Eckman, Joe Serafin | series = Minneapolis leads series, 1–0 }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = April 3 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195404030MNL.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Syracuse Nationals''' | score1 = '''62''' | team2 = Minneapolis Lakers | score2 = 60 | Q1 = 15–15 | Q2 = '''13'''–12 | Q3 = '''20'''–11 | Q4 = 14–'''22''' | points1 = Wally Osterkorn 20 | rebounds1 = Wally Osterkorn 17 | assist1 = Lavoy, Seymour 3 each | points2 = George Mikan 15 | rebounds2 = George Mikan 15 | assist2 = Vern Mikkelsen 3 | place = Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota | attendance = 6,277 | referee = Charles Eckman, Joe Serafin | series = Series tied, 1–1 }} * Paul Seymour hits the game-winner from 43 feet with 7 seconds left. {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = April 4 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195404040SYR.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score1 = '''81''' | team2 = Syracuse Nationals | score2 = 67 | Q1 = '''24'''–16 | Q2 = 14–'''17''' | Q3 = '''20'''–11 | Q4 = 23–23 | points1 = George Mikan 30 | rebounds1 = George Mikan 15 | assist1 = Slater Martin 7 | points2 = Bob Lavoy 18 | rebounds2 = Bob Lavoy 15 | assist2 = Paul Seymour 7 | place = Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York | attendance = 8,719 | series = Minneapolis leads series, 2–1 }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = April 8 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195404080SYR.html Boxscore] | team1 = Minneapolis Lakers | score1 = 69 | team2 = '''Syracuse Nationals''' | score2 = '''80''' | Q1 = 14–'''18''' | Q2 = '''20'''–18 | Q3 = 18–'''21''' | Q4 = 17–'''23''' | points1 = Whitey Skoog 16 | rebounds1 = Jim Pollard 9 | assist1 = Slater Martin 6 | points2 = Paul Seymour 25 | rebounds2 = Bob Lavoy 11 | assist2 = Paul Seymour 6 | place = Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York | attendance = 7,655 | series = Series tied, 2–2 }} {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = April 10 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195404100SYR.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score1 = '''84''' | team2 = Syracuse Nationals | score2 = 73 | Q1 = '''22'''–17 | Q2 = '''19'''–14 | Q3 = 21–21 | Q4 = '''22'''–21 | points1 = Vern Mikkelsen 21 | rebounds1 = Mikan, Lovellette 13 each | assist1 = Slater Martin 7 | points2 = Dolph Schayes 17 | rebounds2 = Earl Lloyd 8 | assist2 = Paul Seymour 5 | place = Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York | attendance = 7,283 | series = Minneapolis leads series, 3–2 }} {{basketballbox | bg = | date = April 11 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195404110MNL.html Boxscore] | team1 = '''Syracuse Nationals''' | score1 = '''65''' | team2 = Minneapolis Lakers | score2 = 63 | Q1 = 19–'''27''' | Q2 = '''19'''–16 | Q3 = '''16'''–6 | Q4 = 11–'''14''' | points1 = Paul Seymour 16 | points2 = George Mikan 30 | place = Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota | attendance = 6,776 | referee = Charles Eckman, Joe Serafin | series = Series tied, 3–3 }} {{basketballbox | bg = #eee | date = April 12 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195404120MNL.html Boxscore] | team1 = Syracuse Nationals | score1 = 80 | team2 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score2 = '''87''' | Q1 = 14–'''17''' | Q2 = 18–'''21''' | Q3 = 22–'''27''' | Q4 = '''26'''–22 | points1 = Dolph Schayes 18 | points2 = Jim Pollard 21 | place = Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota | attendance = 7,274 | referee = Charles Eckman, Joe Serafin | series = Minneapolis wins series, 4–3 }}
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting. {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=LAL&opp_id=PHI&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2021}}</ref> |- !Minneapolis leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |- | {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1950 | team1 = '''Minneapolis Lakers''' | score1 = 4 | team2 = Syracuse Nationals | score2 = 2 | place = 1950 NBA Finals| }} |}
==References== <references> <ref name=WP19540316> "NBA Division Playoffs Open Tonight". ''The Washington Post''. March 16, 1954.</ref> </references>
==External links== *[https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1954.html 1954 NBA Playoffs Summary] at Basketball-Reference.com
{{NBA Playoffs}} {{1953–54 NBA season by team}}
Category:NBA playoffs Playoffs