The 1951 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 1950–51 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Division champion Rochester Royals defeating the Eastern Division champion New York Knicks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.

The eight qualified teams began tournament play on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 20 and 21, and the Finals concluded on Saturday, April 21. Rochester and New York played 14 games in a span of 33 days; their seven final games in fifteen days.

The Rochester Royals (now the Sacramento Kings) were "royalty" in their first nine seasons, from 1945–46 to 1953–54 always one of the strong teams in their league. Rochester had played three seasons in the National Basketball League, winning the 1946 NBL championship and losing the Finals in 1947 and 1948. In one BAA and one NBA season, the team had won 75% of its games before losing in the second round, then first round, of the 1949 and 1950 playoffs. The 1950–51 team won more than 60% of its games, as the Royals would do for three more seasons, and participated in the club's only NBA Finals. That remains true more than 60 years later, covering stints in Rochester, Cincinnati, Kansas City, and Sacramento.

The New York Knicks were an original Basketball Association of America franchise, now in its sixth season and participating in the BAA or NBA Finals for the first time. It would be the first of three consecutive years as the losing finalist.

Another six-year-old, original BAA team, the Boston Celtics had qualified only for the 1948 BAA Playoffs. Now the second-place Eastern Division team, Boston had earned home-court advantage for a first-round series with third-place New York. It was the first playoff meeting in the Celtics–Knicks rivalry and it would be the first of 19 consecutive years in the playoffs.

Bracket

Division SemifinalsDivision FinalsNBA Finals
E1Philadelphia*0
E4Syracuse2
E4Syracuse2
Eastern Division
E3New York3
E3New York2
E2Boston0
E3New York3
W2Rochester4
W1Minneapolis*2
W4Indianapolis1
W1Minneapolis*1
Western Division
W2Rochester3
W3Fort Wayne1
W2Rochester2
  • * Division winner
  • Bold Series winner
  • Italic Team with home-court advantage in NBA Finals

Division Semifinals

Eastern Division Semifinals

(1) Philadelphia Warriors vs. (4) Syracuse Nationals

March 20
Syracuse Nationals 91, Philadelphia Warriors 89 (OT)
Scoring by quarter: 19–27, 29–23, 19–18, 22–21, Overtime: 2–0
Pts: Fred Scolari 23 Rebs: Dolph Schayes 13 Asts: Seymour, Cervi 7 eachPts: Joe Fulks 30 Rebs: Ed Mikan 16 Asts: George Senesky 10
Syracuse leads series, 1–0
Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 22
Philadelphia Warriors 78, Syracuse Nationals 90
Scoring by quarter: 18–24, 11–20, 23–22, 26–24
Pts: Joe Fulks 22 Rebs: Arizin, Phillip 8 each Asts: Andy Phillip 9Pts: Dolph Schayes 24 Rebs: Dolph Schayes 16 Asts: Seymour, Hannum 5 each
Syracuse wins series, 2–0
State Fair Coliseum, Geddes, New York

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers/Nationals winning the first meeting.

Previous playoff series
Philadelphia 76ers/ Syracuse Nationals leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1950 Philadelphia Warriors 0, Syracuse Nationals 2 1950 Eastern Division Semifinals
1950
Philadelphia Warriors 0, Syracuse Nationals 2
1950 Eastern Division Semifinals

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (3) New York Knicks

March 20
New York Knicks 83, Boston Celtics 69
Scoring by quarter: 28–14, 9–17, 19–15, 27–23
Pts: Vince Boryla 20Pts: Ed Macauley 23
New York leads series, 1–0
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
March 22
Boston Celtics 78, New York Knicks 92
Scoring by quarter: 12–20, 15–19, 24–26, 27–27
Pts: Ed Macauley 21 Asts: Bob Cousy 6Pts: Max Zaslofsky 27 Asts: Dick McGuire 9
New York wins series, 2–0
Madison Square Garden III, Manhattan, New York Referees: Pat Kennedy, Arnie Heft

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

Western Division Semifinals

(1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (4) Indianapolis Olympians

March 21
Indianapolis Olympians 81, Minneapolis Lakers 95
Scoring by quarter: 14–29, 19–20, 28–19, 20–27
Pts: Groza, Beard 19 eachPts: George Mikan 41
Minneapolis leads series, 1–0
Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 23
Minneapolis Lakers 88, Indianapolis Olympians 108
Scoring by quarter: 7–28, 29–27, 29–30, 23–23
Pts: Vern Mikkelsen 30Pts: Alex Groza 40
Series tied, 1–1
Butler Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
March 25
Indianapolis Olympians 80, Minneapolis Lakers 85
Scoring by quarter: 22–15, 19–18, 18–29, 21–23
Pts: Alex Groza 38Pts: George Mikan 30
Minneapolis wins series, 2–1
Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

(2) Rochester Royals vs. (3) Fort Wayne Pistons

March 20
Fort Wayne Pistons 81, Rochester Royals 110
Scoring by quarter: 14–30, 29–27, 20–25, 18–28
Pts: Dick Mehen 19Pts: Bob Davies 21
Rochester leads series, 1–0
Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York
March 22
Rochester Royals 78, Fort Wayne Pistons 83
Scoring by quarter: 13–20, 23–24, 18–18, 24–21
Pts: Risen, Davies 16 eachPts: Fred Schaus 21
Series tied, 1–1
North Side High School Gym, Fort Wayne, Indiana
March 24
Fort Wayne Pistons 78, Rochester Royals 97
Scoring by quarter: 22–23, 19–23, 11–27, 26–24
Pts: Fred Schaus 12Pts: Bobby Wanzer 20
Rochester wins series, 2–1
Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pistons winning the first meeting.

Previous playoff series
Fort Wayne leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1950 Fort Wayne Pistons 2, Rochester Royals 0 1950 Central Division Semifinals
1950
Fort Wayne Pistons 2, Rochester Royals 0
1950 Central Division Semifinals

Division Finals

Eastern Division Finals

(3) New York Knicks vs. (4) Syracuse Nationals

March 28
Syracuse Nationals 92, New York Knicks 103
Scoring by quarter: 22–23, 17–25, 19–24, 34–31
Pts: George Ratkovicz 22 Asts: Alex Hannum 7Pts: Vince Boryla 30 Asts: Dick McGuire 13
New York leads series, 1–0
Madison Square Garden III, Manhattan, New York Referees: Julie Meyer, Charles Eckman
March 29
New York Knicks 80, Syracuse Nationals 102
Scoring by quarter: 19–22, 17–21, 17–27, 27–32
Pts: Ray Lumpp 16 Asts: Vandeweghe, McGuire 5 eachPts: Dolph Schayes 21 Asts: Al Cervi 9
Series tied, 1–1
State Fair Coliseum, Geddes, New York Referees: Julie Meyer, Charles Eckman
March 31
Syracuse Nationals 75, New York Knicks 77 (OT)
Scoring by quarter: 20–16, 16–12, 15–22, 19–20, Overtime: 5–7
Pts: Dolph Schayes 17Pts: Harry Gallatin 18
New York leads series, 2–1
Madison Square Garden III, Manhattan, New York Referees: Julie Meyer, Jocko Collins
April 1
New York Knicks 83, Syracuse Nationals 90
Scoring by quarter: 12–25, 22–21, 26–19, 23–25
Pts: Max Zaslofsky 20 Asts: Dick McGuire 9Pts: Dolph Schayes 34 Asts: Al Cervi 8
Series tied, 2–2
State Fair Coliseum, Geddes, New York
April 4
Syracuse Nationals 81, New York Knicks 83
Scoring by quarter: 20–25, 22–17, 22–15, 17–26
Pts: Dolph Schayes 14 Asts: four players 3 eachPts: Vince Boryla 23 Asts: Ernie Vandeweghe 5
New York wins series, 3–2
Madison Square Garden III, Manhattan, New York Referees: Julie Meyer, Sid Borgia

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Nationals winning the first meeting.

Previous playoff series
Syracuse leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1950 New York Knicks 1, Syracuse Nationals 2 1950 Eastern Division Finals
1950
New York Knicks 1, Syracuse Nationals 2
1950 Eastern Division Finals

Western Division Finals

(1) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (2) Rochester Royals

March 29
Rochester Royals 73, Minneapolis Lakers 76
Scoring by quarter: 20–20, 18–18, 10–16, 25–22
Pts: Arnie Risen 24Pts: Vern Mikkelsen 23
Minneapolis leads series, 1–0
Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 31
Rochester Royals 70, Minneapolis Lakers 66
Scoring by quarter: 17–16, 20–14, 16–19, 17–17
Pts: Red Holzman 23Pts: Jim Pollard 20
Series tied, 1–1
Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
April 1
Minneapolis Lakers 70, Rochester Royals 83
Scoring by quarter: 22–31, 17–17, 20–20, 11–15
Pts: George Mikan 23Pts: Johnson, Wanzer 20 each
Rochester leads series, 2–1
Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York
April 3
Minneapolis Lakers 75, Rochester Royals 80
Scoring by quarter: 26–25, 14–16, 16–18, 19–21
Pts: George Mikan 32Pts: Arnie Risen 26
Rochester wins series, 3–1
Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting.

As of 2026, this is the last time the Royals/Kings won a conference championship.

Previous playoff series
Minneapolis leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1949 Minneapolis Lakers 2, Rochester Royals 0 1949 Western Division Finals
1949
Minneapolis Lakers 2, Rochester Royals 0
1949 Western Division Finals

NBA Finals: (W2) Rochester Royals vs. (E3) New York Knicks

April 7
New York Knicks 65, Rochester Royals 92
Scoring by quarter: 18–24, 16–27, 16–21, 15–20
Pts: Vince Boryla 13 Rebs: Simmons, Clifton 10 each Asts: Ernie Vandeweghe 4Pts: Arnie Risen 24 Rebs: Arnie Risen 15 Asts: Bobby Wanzer 9
Rochester leads series, 1–0
Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York Attendance: 4,200
April 8
New York Knicks 84, Rochester Royals 99
Scoring by quarter: 17–26, 21–21, 28–26, 18–26
Pts: Max Zaslofsky 28 Rebs: Harry Gallatin 17 Asts: Vince Boryla 7Pts: Bob Davies 24 Rebs: Jack Coleman 28 Asts: Jack Coleman 8
Rochester leads series, 2–0
Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York Attendance: 4,200
April 11
Rochester Royals 78, New York Knicks 71
Scoring by quarter: 15–17, 20–16, 16–15, 27–23
Pts: Arnie Risen 27 Rebs: Arnie Risen 18 Asts: Bob Davies 8Pts: Vince Boryla 20 Rebs: Nat Clifton 11 Asts: Dick McGuire 7
Rochester leads series, 3–0
69th Regiment Armory, Manhattan, New York Attendance: 5,000
April 13
Rochester Royals 73, New York Knicks 79
Scoring by quarter: 10–21, 18–19, 28–17, 17–22
Pts: Arnie Risen 26 Rebs: Arnie Risen 20 Asts: Jack Coleman 9Pts: Harry Gallatin 22 Rebs: Nat Clifton 17 Asts: Zaslofsky, Clifton 6 each
Rochester leads series, 3–1
69th Regiment Armory, Manhattan, New York Attendance: 4,000
April 15
New York Knicks 92, Rochester Royals 89
Scoring by quarter: 25–28, 19–21, 29–21, 19–19
Pts: Connie Simmons 26 Rebs: Nat Clifton 10 Asts: Nat Clifton 7Pts: Bobby Wanzer 21 Rebs: Arnie Risen 14 Asts: Bob Davies 10
Rochester leads series, 3–2
Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York Attendance: 4,200
April 18
Rochester Royals 73, New York Knicks 80
Scoring by quarter: 21–19, 17–19, 12–15, 23–27
Pts: Arnie Johnson 27 Rebs: Arnie Johnson 15 Asts: Jack Coleman 8Pts: Max Zaslofsky 23 Rebs: Ernie Vandeweghe 8 Asts: Dick McGuire 6
Series tied, 3–3
69th Regiment Armory, Manhattan, New York Attendance: 4,500
April 21
New York Knicks 75, Rochester Royals 79
Scoring by quarter: 16–22, 18–18, 26–22, 15–17
Pts: Zaslofsky, Boryla 16 each Rebs: Harry Gallatin 10 Asts: Ernie Vandeweghe 5Pts: Arnie Risen 24 Rebs: Arnie Risen 13 Asts: Jack Coleman 9
Rochester wins series, 4–3
Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York Attendance: 4,200
  • This was the first time in NBA playoff history a team has forced a seventh game after falling behind 3–0 in the series, and the only time to date in the NBA Finals.

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

External links

  • at NBA.com
  • at Basketball-Reference.com