1956 NBA playoffs

{{6TeamBracket-info

| RD1=Division Semifinals

| RD2=Division Finals

| RD3=NBA Finals

| RD2-text1={{center|Eastern Division}}

| RD2-text2={{center|Western Division}}

| RD1-seed1=E3

| RD1-team1=Syracuse

| RD1-score1=2

| RD1-seed2=E2

| RD1-team2=Boston

| RD1-score2=1

| RD1-seed3=W3

| RD1-team3=St. Louis

| RD1-score3=2

| RD1-seed4=W2

| RD1-team4=Minneapolis

| RD1-score4=1

| RD2-seed1=E1

| RD2-team1=Philadelphia*

| RD2-score1=3

| RD2-seed2=E3

| RD2-team2=Syracuse

| RD2-score2=2

| RD2-seed3=W1

| RD2-team3=Fort Wayne*

| RD2-score3=3

| RD2-seed4=W3

| RD2-team4=St. Louis

| RD2-score4=2

| RD3-seed1=E1

| RD3-team1=Philadelphia*

| RD3-score1=4

| RD3-seed2=W1

| RD3-team2=Fort Wayne*

| RD3-score2=1

}}{{ubl

|* Division winner

|Bold Series winner

|Italic Team with home-court advantage in NBA Finals}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee | date = March 15 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603150SYR.html Boxscore]

| team1 = New York Knicks | score1 = 77

| team2 = Syracuse Nationals | score2 = 82

| Q1 = 19–17 | Q2 = 21–27 | Q3 = 21–20 | Q4 = 16–18

| points1 = Harry Gallatin 19 | rebounds1 = Ray Felix 13 | assist1 = Dick McGuire 9

| points2 = Dolph Schayes 14 | rebounds2 = Dolph Schayes 14 | assist2 = Seymour, King 6 each

| place = Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York | referee = Sid Borgia, Mendy Rudolph

| series = Syracuse finishes as the East's #3 seed, New York fails to qualify

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee | date = March 16 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603160STL.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Minneapolis Lakers | score1 = 103

| team2 = St. Louis Hawks | score2 = 97

| Q1 = 27–33 | Q2 = 25–19 | Q3 = 29–17 | Q4 = 22–28

| points1 = Slater Martin 28 | points2 = Bob Pettit 22

| place = Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri | referee = Mendy Rudolph, Arnie Heft

| series = Minneapolis finishes as the West's #2 seed, St. Louis as the West's #3 seed

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee | date = March 17 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603170BOS.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Syracuse Nationals | score1 = 93

| team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 110

| Q1 = 22–25 | Q2 = 19–26 | Q3 = 31–29 | Q4 = 21–30

| points1 = Ed Conlin 21 | assist1 = Dolph Schayes 6

| points2 = Bob Cousy 29 | assist2 = Bob Cousy 9

| place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

| series = Boston leads series, 1–0

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = | date = March 19 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603190SYR.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 98

| team2 = Syracuse Nationals | score2 = 101

| Q1 = 21–21 | Q2 = 29–32 | Q3 = 20–28 | Q4 = 28–20

| points1 = Bob Cousy 28 | rebounds1 = Arnie Risen 17 | assist1 = Bob Cousy 10

| points2 = Red Kerr 23 | rebounds2 = Red Kerr 14 | assist2 = Seymour, Schayes 5 each

| place = Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York

| series = Series tied, 1–1

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee | date = March 21 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603210BOS.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Syracuse Nationals | score1 = 102

| team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 97

| Q1 = 21–22 | Q2 = 36–23 | Q3 = 21–31 | Q4 = 24–21

| points1 = Dolph Schayes 27 | rebounds1 = Dolph Schayes 17 | assist1 = Dolph Schayes 5

| points2 = Bill Sharman 24 | rebounds2 = Arnie Risen 15 | assist2 = Bob Cousy 7

| place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

| series = Syracuse wins series, 2–1

}}

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Nationals winning three of the first four meetings.

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee | date = March 17 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603170STL.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Minneapolis Lakers | score1 = 115

| team2 = St. Louis Hawks | score2 = 116

| Q1 = 31–25 | Q2 = 29–20 | Q3 = 31–39 | Q4 = 24–32

| points1 = Mikkelsen, Martin 19 each | points2 = Bob Pettit 25

| place = Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri

| series = St. Louis leads series, 1–0

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = | date = March 19 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603190MNL.html Boxscore]

| team1 = St. Louis Hawks | score1 = 75

| team2 = Minneapolis Lakers | score2 = 133

| Q1 = 15–25 | Q2 = 15–36 | Q3 = 24–36 | Q4 = 21–36

| points1 = Bob Pettit 14 | points2 = Slater Martin 19

| place = Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

| series = Series tied, 1–1

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee | date = March 21 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603210MNL.html Boxscore]

| team1 = St. Louis Hawks | score1 = 116

| team2 = Minneapolis Lakers | score2 = 115

| Q1 = 20–27 | Q2 = 32–29 | Q3 = 33–28 | Q4 = 31–31

| points1 = Bob Pettit 41 | points2 = Clyde Lovellette 31

| place = Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

| series = St. Louis wins series, 2–1

}}

• George Mikan’s final NBA game.

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=ATL&opp_id=LAL&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2021}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee | date = March 23 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603230PHW.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Syracuse Nationals | score1 = 87

| team2 = Philadelphia Warriors | score2 = 109

| Q1 = 17–28 | Q2 = 27–23 | Q3 = 25–24 | Q4 = 18–34

| points1 = Dolph Schayes 19 | rebounds1 = Kerr, Schayes 14 each | assist1 = George King 8

| points2 = Paul Arizin 29 | rebounds2 = Neil Johnston 24 | assist2 = Gola, Beck 5 each

| place = Philadelphia Civic Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

| series = Philadelphia leads series, 1–0

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = | date = March 25 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603250SYR.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Philadelphia Warriors | score1 = 118

| team2 = Syracuse Nationals | score2 = 122

| Q1 = 38–35 | Q2 = 19–27 | Q3 = 33–36 | Q4 = 28–24

| points1 = Neil Johnston 43 | rebounds1 = Neil Johnston 16 | assist1 = Neil Johnston 7

| points2 = Dolph Schayes 33 | rebounds2 = Dolph Schayes 16 | assist2 = George King 10

| place = Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York

| series = Series tied, 1–1

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee | date = March 27 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603270PHW.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Syracuse Nationals | score1 = 96

| team2 = Philadelphia Warriors | score2 = 119

| Q1 = 23–32 | Q2 = 24–30 | Q3 = 25–25 | Q4 = 24–32

| points1 = Ed Conlin 19 | rebounds1 = Dolph Schayes 21 | assist1 = George King 6

| points2 = Joe Graboski 20 | rebounds2 = Neil Johnston 18 | assist2 = Tom Gola 10

| place = Philadelphia Civic Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

| series = Philadelphia leads series, 2–1

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = | date = March 28 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603280SYR.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Philadelphia Warriors | score1 = 104

| team2 = Syracuse Nationals | score2 = 108

| Q1 = 31–26 | Q2 = 25–26 | Q3 = 18–30 | Q4 = 30–26

| points1 = Neil Johnston 35 | rebounds1 = Neil Johnston 12 | assist1 = Neil Johnston 7

| points2 = George King 25 | rebounds2 = Red Kerr 9 | assist2 = George King 15

| place = Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, New York

| series = Series tied, 2–2

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee | date = March 29 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603290PHW.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Syracuse Nationals | score1 = 104

| team2 = Philadelphia Warriors | score2 = 109

| Q1 = 28–32 | Q2 = 20–24 | Q3 = 25–22 | Q4 = 31–31

| points1 = Dolph Schayes 28 | rebounds1 = Dolph Schayes 16 | assist1 = George King 13

| points2 = Paul Arizin 35 | rebounds2 = Neil Johnston 18 | assist2 = Neil Johnston 8

| place = Philadelphia Civic Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

| series = Philadelphia wins series, 3–2

}}

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

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee | date = March 22 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603220FTW.html Boxscore]

| team1 = St. Louis Hawks | score1 = 86

| team2 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score2 = 85

| Q1 = 27–25 | Q2 = 23–20 | Q3 = 19–23 | Q4 = 17–17

| points1 = Al Ferrari 17 | points2 = George Yardley 23

| place = War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana

| series = St. Louis leads series, 1–0

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = | date = March 24 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603240STL.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 74

| team2 = St. Louis Hawks | score2 = 84

| Q1 = 12–30 | Q2 = 23–17 | Q3 = 18–19 | Q4 = 21–18

| points1 = Larry Foust 16 | points2 = Al Ferrari 21

| place = Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri | referee = Stan Stutz, Sid Borgia

| series = St. Louis leads series, 2–0

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee | date = March 25 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603250FTW.html Boxscore]

| team1 = St. Louis Hawks | score1 = 84

| team2 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score2 = 107

| Q1 = 19–29 | Q2 = 24–26 | Q3 = 16–22 | Q4 = 25–30

| points1 = Alex Hannum 18 | points2 = Houbregs, Yardley 19 each

| place = War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana

| series = St. Louis leads series, 2–1

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = | date = March 27 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603270STL.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 93

| team2 = St. Louis Hawks | score2 = 84

| Q1 = 24–21 | Q2 = 28–27 | Q3 = 18–18 | Q4 = 23–18

| points1 = George Yardley 30 | points2 = Jack Coleman 19

| place = Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri

| series = Series tied, 2–2

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee | date = March 29 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603290FTW.html Boxscore]

| team1 = St. Louis Hawks | score1 = 97

| team2 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score2 = 102

| Q1 = 19–24 | Q2 = 18–22 | Q3 = 31–21 | Q4 = 29–35

| points1 = Jack Coleman 20 | points2 = Foust, Yardley 20 each

| place = War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana

| series = Fort Wayne wins series, 3–2

}}

• Pistons become first team to come back after from a 2–0 deficit in NBA playoffs.

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=ATL&opp_id=DET&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Detroit Pistons (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2021}}

{{main|1956 NBA Finals}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee | date = March 31 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195603310PHW.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 94

| team2 = Philadelphia Warriors | score2 = 98

| Q1 = 25–20 | Q2 = 24–20 | Q3 = 15–33 | Q4 = 30–25

| points1 = George Yardley 27 | rebounds1 = George Yardley 15 | assist1 = Hutchins, Phillip 6 each

| points2 = Paul Arizin 28 | rebounds2 = Neil Johnston 14 | assist2 = Tom Gola 10

| place = Philadelphia Civic Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | attendance = 4,128

| series = Philadelphia leads series, 1–0

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = | date = April 1 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195604010FTW.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Philadelphia Warriors | score1 = 83

| team2 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score2 = 84

| Q1 = 20–20 | Q2 = 26–22 | Q3 = 19–23 | Q4 = 18–19

| points1 = Paul Arizin 27 | rebounds1 = Arizin, Johnston 9 each | assist1 = Ernie Beck 6

| points2 = George Yardley 30 | rebounds2 = George Yardley 19 | assist2 = Andy Phillip 5

| place = War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana | attendance = 6,976

| series = Series tied, 1–1

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee | date = April 3 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195604030PHW.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 96

| team2 = Philadelphia Warriors | score2 = 100

| Q1 = 26–25 | Q2 = 25–23 | Q3 = 14–25 | Q4 = 31–27

| points1 = Larry Foust 19 | rebounds1 = Larry Foust 14 | assist1 = Chuck Noble 4

| points2 = Paul Arizin 27 | rebounds2 = Neil Johnston 17 | assist2 = Tom Gola 8

| place = Philadelphia Civic Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | attendance = 11,698

| series = Philadelphia leads series, 2–1

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = | date = April 5 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195604050FTW.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Philadelphia Warriors | score1 = 107

| team2 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score2 = 105

| Q1 = 24–24 | Q2 = 26–32 | Q3 = 30–26 | Q4 = 27–23

| points1 = Paul Arizin 30 | rebounds1 = Tom Gola 9 | assist1 = Joe Graboski 7

| points2 = George Yardley 21 | rebounds2 = Larry Foust 14 | assist2 = Andy Phillip 6

| place = War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana | attendance = 7,852

| series = Philadelphia leads series, 3–1

}}

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee | date = April 7 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195604070PHW.html Boxscore]

| team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 88

| team2 = Philadelphia Warriors | score2 = 99

| Q1 = 24–22 | Q2 = 19–22 | Q3 = 20–28 | Q4 = 25–27

| points1 = George Yardley 30 | rebounds1 = George Yardley 20 | assist1 = Corky Devlin 6

| points2 = Joe Graboski 29 | rebounds2 = Joe Graboski 16 | assist2 = Jack George 10

| place = Philadelphia Civic Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | attendance = 11,194

| series = Philadelphia wins series, 4–1

}}

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=CLE&opp_id=WAS&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Golden State Warriors (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2021}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1956.html Basketball-Reference.com's 1956 NBA Playoffs page]

{{NBAPlayoffs}}

{{1955–56 NBA season by team}}

Category:NBA playoffs

Playoffs

fi:NBA-kausi 1955–1956#Pudotuspelit