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1961 NBA Finals

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1961 NBA Finals
TeamCoachWins
Boston Celtics Red Auerbach 4
St. Louis Hawks Paul Seymour 1
DatesApril 2–11
Hall of FamersCeltics:
Bob Cousy (1971)
Bill Russell (1975)
Bill Sharman (1976)
Frank Ramsey (1982)
Sam Jones (1984)
Tom Heinsohn (1986 as player, 2015 as coach)
K. C. Jones (1989)
Satch Sanders (2011)
Hawks:
Bob Pettit (1971)
Cliff Hagan (1978)
Clyde Lovellette (1988)
Lenny Wilkens (1989)
Coaches:
Red Auerbach (1969)
Eastern finalsCeltics defeated Nationals, 4–1
Western finalsHawks defeated Lakers, 4–3
← 1960 NBA finals 1962 →

The 1961 NBA World Championship Series was the championship series of the 1961 NBA Playoffs, which concluded the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1960–61 season. The best-of-seven series was played between the Western Division champion St. Louis Hawks and the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics. This was the fourth and final World Championship Series meeting between the two teams. It was also Celtics' fifth straight trip to the championship series, and they won the series against the Hawks, 4–1.

As of the 2022-23 season, this remains the Hawks’[note 1] last appearance in the NBA Finals, the second-longest drought behind the Kings franchise who last played in the NBA Finals in 1951.

Series summary

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Game Date Home team Result Road team
Game 1 April 2 Boston Celtics 129–95 (1–0) St. Louis Hawks
Game 2 April 5 Boston Celtics 116–108 (2–0) St. Louis Hawks
Game 3 April 8 St. Louis Hawks 124–120 (1–2) Boston Celtics
Game 4 April 9 St. Louis Hawks 104–119 (1–3) Boston Celtics
Game 5 April 11 Boston Celtics 121–112 (4–1) St. Louis Hawks

Celtics win series 4–1

Team rosters

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Boston Celtics

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St. Louis Hawks

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The Hawks franchise relocated to Atlanta for the 1968–69 season.

References

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