1958 NBA playoffs
Tournament details
Dates March 15 – April 12, 1958
Teams 6
Final positions
Champions St. Louis Hawks (1st title)←1957 1959 →
St. Louis, champions The 1958 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1957–58 season . The tournament concluded with the Western Division champion St. Louis Hawks defeating the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals .
It was the second straight year the Celtics and Hawks met in the Finals; they met four out of five years, with the Celtics winning three series and the Hawks one.
This was the first (and as of 2026, only) title in Hawks franchise history. St. Louis made it to the NBA Finals four times in five years between 1957 –1961 , but since moving to Atlanta in 1968 , they have had considerably less success in the playoffs.
Bracket * Division winner Bold Series winnerItalic Team with home-court advantage in NBA FinalsDivision Semifinals Eastern Division Semifinals (2) Syracuse Nationals vs. (3) Philadelphia Warriors Philadelphia Warriors 82, Syracuse Nationals 86 Scoring by quarter: 20–31 , 24 –18, 22 –18, 16–19 Pts :Paul Arizin 24 Rebs :Graboski , Gola 13 each Asts :Jack George 5Pts: Dolph Schayes 22 Rebs: Red Kerr 22 Asts: Schayes , Costello 4 eachSyracuse leads series, 1–0
Philadelphia Warriors 101 , Syracuse Nationals 88Scoring by quarter: 26–27 , 25 –19, 24–27 , 26 –15Pts :Paul Arizin 25 Rebs :Joe Graboski 15 Asts :Joe Graboski 7Pts: Dolph Schayes 26 Rebs: Red Kerr 19 Asts: Larry Costello 7Philadelphia wins series, 2–1
This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers/Nationals winning four of the first five meetings.
Previous playoff series Philadelphia 76ers/ Syracuse Nationals leads 4–1 in all-time playoff series 1950 Philadelphia Warriors 0, Syracuse Nationals 1950 Eastern Division Semifinals 1951 Philadelphia Warriors 0, Syracuse Nationals 1951 Eastern Division Semifinals 1952 Philadelphia Warriors 1, Syracuse Nationals 1952 Eastern Division Semifinals 1956 Philadelphia Warriors Syracuse Nationals 2 1956 Eastern Division Finals 1957 Philadelphia Warriors 0, Syracuse Nationals 1957 Eastern Division Semifinals 1950 Philadelphia Warriors 0, Syracuse Nationals 1950 Eastern Division Semifinals 1951 Philadelphia Warriors 0, Syracuse Nationals 1951 Eastern Division Semifinals 1952 Philadelphia Warriors 1, Syracuse Nationals 1952 Eastern Division Semifinals 1956 Philadelphia Warriors Syracuse Nationals 21956 Eastern Division Finals 1957 Philadelphia Warriors 0, Syracuse Nationals 1957 Eastern Division Semifinals
Western Division Semifinals (2) Detroit Pistons vs. (3) Cincinnati Royals Cincinnati Royals 83, Detroit Pistons 100 Scoring by quarter: 18–32 , 18–24 , 29 –19, 18–25 Pts :Clyde Lovellette 15Pts: George Yardley 29Detroit leads series, 1–0
Detroit Pistons 124 , Cincinnati Royals 104Scoring by quarter: 29 –20, 28 –27, 28 –27, 39 –30Pts :Yardley , Dukes 24 eachPts: Jack Twyman 24Detroit wins series, 2–0
This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Royals winning three of the first five meetings while the Pistons were based in Fort Wayne and the Royals were based in Rochester.
Previous playoff series Cincinnati/ Rochester leads 3–2 in all-time playoff series 1950 Fort Wayne Pistons Rochester Royals 0 1950 Central Division Semifinals 1951 Fort Wayne Pistons 1, Rochester Royals 1951 Western Division Semifinals 1952 Fort Wayne Pistons 0, Rochester Royals 1952 Western Division Semifinals 1953 Fort Wayne Pistons Rochester Royals 0 1953 Western Division Semifinals 1954 Fort Wayne Pistons 0, Rochester Royals 1954 Western Division Round Robin Semifinals 1950 Fort Wayne Pistons Rochester Royals 01950 Central Division Semifinals 1951 Fort Wayne Pistons 1, Rochester Royals 1951 Western Division Semifinals 1952 Fort Wayne Pistons 0, Rochester Royals 1952 Western Division Semifinals 1953 Fort Wayne Pistons Rochester Royals 01953 Western Division Semifinals 1954 Fort Wayne Pistons 0, Rochester Royals 1954 Western Division Round Robin Semifinals
Division Finals Eastern Division Finals (1) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Philadelphia Warriors Philadelphia Warriors 98, Boston Celtics 107 Scoring by quarter: 20–33 , 25–26 , 24–25 , 29 –23Pts :Woody Sauldsberry 25 Rebs :Woody Sauldsberry 12 Asts :Paul Arizin 5Pts: Bob Cousy 29 Rebs: Bill Russell 25 Asts: Bob Cousy 8Boston leads series, 1–0
Boston Celtics 109 , Philadelphia Warriors 87Scoring by quarter: 18–21 , 30 –28, 30 –21, 31 –17Pts :Bill Sharman 32 Rebs :Bill Russell 28 Asts :Sharman , Cousy 4 eachPts: Paul Arizin 25 Rebs: Joe Graboski 15 Asts: George , Beck 4 eachBoston leads series, 2–0
Philadelphia Warriors 92, Boston Celtics 106 Scoring by quarter: 28 –26, 20–22 , 20–28 , 24–30 Pts :Paul Arizin 25 Rebs :Joe Graboski 15 Asts :Joe Graboski 8Pts: Bill Sharman 27 Rebs: Bill Russell 40 Asts: Bob Cousy 14Boston leads series, 3–0
Boston Celtics 97, Philadelphia Warriors 112 Scoring by quarter: 16–23 , 25 –22, 29–34 , 27–33 Pts :Tom Heinsohn 20 Rebs :Bill Russell 21 Asts :Cousy , Ramsey 5 eachPts: Gola , Arizin 31 each Rebs: Neil Johnston 17 Asts: Neil Johnston 7Boston leads series, 3–1
Philadelphia Warriors 88, Boston Celtics 93 Scoring by quarter: 15–20 , 29 –21, 23–25 , 21–27 Pts :Paul Arizin 28 Rebs :Woody Sauldsberry 18 Asts :Tom Gola 6Pts: Heinsohn , Ramsey 22 each Rebs: Bill Russell 30 Asts: Bob Cousy 5Boston wins series, 4–1
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.
Western Division Finals (1) St. Louis Hawks vs. (2) Detroit Pistons Detroit Pistons 111, St. Louis Hawks 114 Scoring by quarter: 30 –23, 32–35 , 28 –26, 21–30 Pts :Gene Shue 29Pts: Cliff Hagan 38St. Louis leads series, 1–0
Kiel Auditorium , St. Louis , Missouri Attendance: 7,328 Referees: Mendy Rudolph, Jim Duffy
St. Louis Hawks 99 , Detroit Pistons 96Scoring by quarter: 29 –28, 32 –22, 13–27 , 25 –19Pts :Cliff Hagan 27Pts: George Yardley 26St. Louis leads series, 2–0
Detroit Pistons 109 , St. Louis Hawks 89Scoring by quarter: 35 –21, 20–23 , 23 –15, 31 –30Pts :George Yardley 31Pts: Cliff Hagan 29St. Louis leads series, 2–1
Kiel Auditorium , St. Louis , Missouri Attendance: 9,321 Referees: Mendy Rudolph, Jim Duffy
St. Louis Hawks 145 , Detroit Pistons 101Scoring by quarter: 40 –20, 32 –24, 31 –26, 42 –31Pts :Cliff Hagan 28Pts: Yardley , Dukes 16 eachSt. Louis leads series, 3–1
Detroit Pistons 96, St. Louis Hawks 120 Scoring by quarter: 20 –18, 22–31 , 26–39 , 28–32 Pts :Yardley , Dukes 18 eachPts: Cliff Hagan 32St. Louis wins series, 4–1
Kiel Auditorium , St. Louis , Missouri Attendance: 7,661 Referees: Mendy Rudolph, Jim Duffy
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pistons winning the first meeting while being based in Fort Wayne.
NBA Finals: (E1) Boston Celtics vs. (W1) St. Louis Hawks St. Louis Hawks 104 , Boston Celtics 102Scoring by quarter: 17–23 , 42 –30, 21–30 , 24 –19Pts :Cliff Hagan 33 Rebs :Bob Pettit 19Pts: Bob Cousy 27 Rebs: Bill Russell 29St. Louis leads series, 1–0
Boston Garden , Boston , Massachusetts Attendance: 3,652 Referees: Arnie Heft, Mendy Rudolph
St. Louis Hawks 112, Boston Celtics 136 Scoring by quarter: 25–33 , 35–35, 28–38 , 24–30 Pts :Cliff Hagan 37 Rebs :Cliff Hagan 12Pts: Bob Cousy 25 Rebs: Bill Russell 27Series tied, 1–1
Boston Celtics 108, St. Louis Hawks 111 Scoring by quarter: 25 –23, 24–26 , 26–34 , 33 –28Pts :Frank Ramsey 29 Rebs :Bill Russell 13Pts: Bob Pettit 32 Rebs: Bob Pettit 19St. Louis leads series, 2–1
Boston Celtics 109 , St. Louis Hawks 98Scoring by quarter: 25 –16, 32–35 , 27 –20, 25–27 Pts :Bob Cousy 24 Rebs :three players 13 eachPts: Cliff Hagan 27 Rebs: Bob Pettit 17Series tied, 2–2
St. Louis Hawks 102 , Boston Celtics 100Scoring by quarter: 26 –18, 32 –25, 26–27 , 18–30 Pts :Bob Pettit 33 Rebs :Bob Pettit 21Pts: Frank Ramsey 30 Rebs: Tom Heinsohn 20St. Louis leads series, 3–2
Boston Celtics 109, St. Louis Hawks 110 Scoring by quarter: 18–22 , 34–35 , 25 –21, 32–32Pts :Bill Sharman 26 Rebs :Arnie Risen 13Pts: Bob Pettit 50 Rebs: Bob Pettit 19St. Louis wins series, 4–2
Andy Phillip and Arnie Risen ’s final NBA game.Bob Pettit 's 50 points tied the then-NBA playoff record at the time.This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first meeting.
Previous playoff series Boston leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series 1957 Boston Celtics St. Louis Hawks 3 1957 NBA Finals 1957 Boston Celtics St. Louis Hawks 31957 NBA Finals
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