1958 NBA Finals

{{NBA Finals summary

| image =1958 NBA Finals championship banner, St. Louis Hawks.jpg

| caption =1958 NBA champions banner at State Farm Arena

| league = NBA

| year = 1958

| runnerup = Boston Celtics

| runnerup_coach = Red Auerbach

| runnerup_games = 2

| champion = St. Louis Hawks

| champion_coach = Alex Hannum

| champion_games = 4

| date = March 29–April 12

| MVP =

| HOFers = Celtics:
Bill Russell (as a player and coach)
Andy Phillip
Arnie Risen
Tom Heinsohn (as a player and coach)
Bob Cousy
Frank Ramsey
Sam Jones
Bill Sharman (as a player and coach)
Hawks:
Slater Martin
Ed Macauley
Cliff Hagan
Bob Pettit
Coaches:
Alex Hannum
Red Auerbach

| ECF result = Celtics defeated Warriors, 4–1

| WCF result = Hawks defeated Pistons, 4–1

}}

The 1958 NBA World Championship Series was the championship series for the 1957–58 National Basketball Association (NBA) season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs. It pitted the Western Division champion St. Louis Hawks against the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics. The Hawks won the series in six games to win the franchise's first and only NBA title. This was the last Finals until 1967 that was not won by the Celtics, and the last until 1971 that was won by the Western Division or Conference.

Recap

After being defeated by the Celtics in Game 7 of the 1957 NBA Finals, St. Louis survived a sometimes difficult 1957-58 NBA season en route to winning the Western Division crown with a 41–31 record. The Celtics, meanwhile, had dominated the Eastern Division with a 49–23 record.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/history/finals/19571958.html |title=NBA.com: Pettit Drops 50 on Celtics in Game 6 |website=NBA.com |access-date=2007-05-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222184959/http://www.nba.com/history/finals/19571958.html |archive-date=2012-02-22 |url-status=dead }} This was the third meeting between teams from Boston and St. Louis for a major professional sports championship.{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/boston-st-louis-meet-for-11-th-time-only-two-to-meet-in-nfl-mlb-nba-and-nhl-045852356.html|title=Boston & St. Louis meet for 11th time, only two to meet in NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL finals|last=Flores Jr.|first=Johnny|website=Yahoo Sports|date=May 21, 2019|accessdate=December 16, 2024}}

The Hawks upset the Celtics (with a healthy Russell) in Game 1 at the Boston Garden, 104–102.{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195803290BOS.html|title = St. Louis Hawks at Boston Celtics Box Score, March 29, 1958}} Boston struck back with a wipeout in Game 2, 136–112.{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195803300BOS.html|title = St. Louis Hawks at Boston Celtics Box Score, March 30, 1958}} In St. Louis, the Hawks prevailed 111–108 in Game 3 when Russell severely sprained his ankle.{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195804020STL.html|title = Boston Celtics at St. Louis Hawks Box Score, April 2, 1958}}{{r|57-58Finals}} Without Russell, the Celtics evened the series with a 109-98 surprise victory in Game 4.{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195804050STL.html|title = Boston Celtics at St. Louis Hawks Box Score, April 5, 1958}} St. Louis forced a 102–100 win in Game 5 in Boston to take the series lead.{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195804090BOS.html|title = St. Louis Hawks at Boston Celtics Box Score, April 9, 1958}}{{r|57-58Finals}}

Back home in Kiel Auditorium on April 12, the Hawks weren't about to miss their opportunity to defeat the defending champions. Pettit turned in a spectacular performance. He scored 31 points in the first three quarters, then zoomed off in the final period, nailing 19 of his team's last 21 points. His last two points, on a tip-in with 15 seconds remaining, put the Hawks ahead 110–107. The Celtics scored one final bucket but could do no more. The Hawks finally had a title, 110–109.{{r|57-58Finals}} Pettit had scored 50 points, including 18 of the Hawks' final 21 points in propelling the Hawks to the championship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195804120STL.html|title = Boston Celtics at St. Louis Hawks Box Score, April 12, 1958}} Pettit's 50 points set a new Finals record for most scored by a player in a series-clinching game, a record that would finally be tied by Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021

Most observers{{who|date=March 2019}} figured that the Celtics probably would have won the 1958 title if Russell had not suffered his ankle injury in game 3.{{r|57-58Finals}} Auerbach, however, found no comfort in that opinion. "You can always look for excuses," he said. "We just got beat."{{r|57-58Finals}}

Series summary

Game	Date	Home team	Result	Road team
class="wikitable"
Game 1	March 29	Boston Celtics	102–104 (0–1)	St. Louis Hawks
Game 2	March 30	Boston Celtics	136–112 (1–1)	St. Louis Hawks
Game 3	April 2	St. Louis Hawks	111–108 (2–1)	Boston Celtics
Game 4	April 5	St. Louis Hawks	98–109 (2–2)	Boston Celtics
Game 5	April 9	Boston Celtics	100–102 (2–3)	St. Louis Hawks
Game 6	April 12	St. Louis Hawks	110–109 (4–2)	Boston Celtics

Hawks win series 4–2

Team rosters

=St. Louis Hawks=

{{player2 | num = 11| first = Jack| last = Coleman| pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 195 | college = Louisville| dab = basketball | DOB = 1924-05-23 }}

{{player2 | num = 12| first = Walt| last = Davis | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 205 | college = Texas A&M | DOB = 1931-01-05 }}

{{player2 | num = 16| first = Cliff | last = Hagan | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 210 | school = Kentucky | DOB = 1931-12-09 }}

{{player2 | num = 20| first = Ed | last = Macauley | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 185 | school = Saint Louis | DOB = 1928-03-22 }}

{{player2 | num = 22| first = Slater | last = Martin | pos = PG | ft = 5 | in = 10 | lbs = 170 | school = Texas | DOB = 1925-10-22 }}

{{player2 | num = 21| first = Jack | last = McMahon | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 185 | school = St. John's | DOB = 1928-12-03 }}

{{player2 | num = 12 | first = Red | last = Morrison | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 220 | school = Idaho | DOB = 1932-04-26 }}

{{player2 | num = 17 | first = Med | last = Park | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 205 | school = Missouri | DOB = 1933-04-11 }}

{{player2 | num = 9 | first = Bob | last = Pettit | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 205 | school = Louisiana State | DOB = 1932-12-12 }}

{{player2 | num = 19 | first = Frank | last = Selvy | pos = GF | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 180 | school = Furman | DOB = 1932-11-09 }}

{{player2 | num = 13 | first = Chuck | last = Share | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 235 | school = Bowling Green | DOB = 1927-03-14 }}

{{player2 | num = 15 | first = Win | last = Wilfong | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 185 | school = Memphis | DOB = 1933-03-18 }}

{{NBA roster footer

| head_coach = Alex Hannum | roster_url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1958-nba-finals-hawks-vs-celtics.html }}

=Boston Celtics=

{{NBA roster header|team=Boston Celtics|season=1957–58 Eastern Division Champions}}

{{player2 | num = 14 | first = Bob | last = Cousy | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 175 | DOB = 1928-08-09 | college = Holy Cross }}

{{player2 | num = 15 | first = Tom | last = Heinsohn | pos = F/C | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 218 | DOB = 1934-08-26 | college = Holy Cross }}

{{player2 | num =24 | first =Sam | last =Jones |dab=basketball, born 1933|pos=SG| ft =6| in =4 | lbs = 198 | DOB =1933-06-24 | college =North Carolina Central}}

{{player2 | num = 16 | first = Jack | last = Nichols | dab = basketball | pos = F/C | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 222 |DOB = 1926-04-09 | school = Washington }}

{{player2 | num = 17 | first = Andy | last = Phillip | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 195 | DOB = 1922-03-07 | college = Illinois }}

{{player2 | num = 23 | first = Frank | last = Ramsey | dab = basketball | pos = G/F | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 190 | DOB = 1931-07-13 | school = Kentucky }}

{{player2 | num = 19 | first = Arnie | last = Risen | pos = F/C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 200 | DOB = 1924-10-09 | college = Ohio State }}

{{player2 | num = 6 | first = Bill | last = Russell | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 215 | DOB = 1934-02-12 | college = San Francisco }}

{{player2 | num = 21 | first = Bill | last = Sharman | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 175 | DOB = 1926-05-25 | college = USC }}

{{player2 | num = 29 | first = Lou | last = Tsioropoulos | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 190 | DOB = 1930-08-31 | college = Kentucky }}

{{NBA roster footer

| head_coach =

Red Auerbach

|roster_url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1958-nba-finals-hawks-vs-celtics.html }}

Game summaries

=Game 1=

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee

| date = March 29

| report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195803290BOS.html Recap]

|overtime=OT

| team1 = St. Louis Hawks

| score1 = 104

| score2 = 102

| team2 = Boston Celtics

| place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

| TV =

| Q1 = 17–23 | Q2 = 42–30 | Q3 = 21–30 | Q4 = 24–19

| points1 = Cliff Hagan 33 | points2 = Bob Cousy 27

| rebounds1 = Bob Pettit 19 | rebounds2 = Bill Russell 29

| assist1 = Jack McMahon 5 | assist2 = Bob Cousy 5

| referee = Heft, Rudolph

| time =

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

}}

=Game 2=

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee

| date = March 30

| report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195803300BOS.html Recap]

| team1 = St. Louis Hawks

| score1 = 112

| score2 = 136

| team2 = Boston Celtics

| place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

| TV =

| Q1 = 25–33 | Q2 = 35–35 | Q3 = 28–38 | Q4 = 24–30

| points1 = Cliff Hagan 37 | points2 = Bob Cousy 25

| rebounds1 = Cliff Hagan 12 | rebounds2 = Bill Russell 27

| assist1 = Hagan, Pettit, McMahon 3 | assist2 = Bob Cousy 10

| referee = Rudolph, Heft

| time =

|series=Series tied, 1–1

}}

=Game 3=

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee

| date = April 12

| report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195804020STL.html Recap]

| team1 = Boston Celtics

| score1 = 108

| score2 = 111

| team2 = St. Louis Hawks

| place = Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri

| TV =

| Q1 = 25–23 | Q2 = 24–26 | Q3 = 26–34| Q4 = 33–28

| points1 = Frank Ramsey 29 | points2 = Bob Pettit 32

| rebounds1 = Bill Russell 13 | rebounds2 = Bob Pettit 19

| assist1 = Bob Cousy 7 | assist2 = Jack McMahon 7

| referee = Heft, Rudolph

| time =

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

}}

=Game 4=

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee

| date = April 5

| report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195804050STL.html Recap]

| team1 = Boston Celtics

| score1 = 109

| score2 = 98

| team2 = St. Louis Hawks

| place = Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri

| Q1 = 25–16 | Q2 = 32–35 | Q3 = 27–20| Q4 = 25–27

| points1 = Bob Cousy 24 | points2 = Cliff Hagan 27

| rebounds1 = Cousy, Ramsey, Heinsohn 13 each | rebounds2 = Bob Pettit 17

| assist1 = Bob Cousy 10 | assist2 = Wilfong Share 9 each

| referee = Heft, Rudolph

| time =

|series=Series tied, 2–2

}}

=Game 5=

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee

| date = April 9

| report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195804090BOS.html Recap]

| team1 = St. Louis Hawks

| score1 = 102

| score2 = 100

| team2 = Boston Celtics

| place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

| Q1 = 26–18 | Q2 = 32–25 | Q3 = 26–27 | Q4 = 18–30

| points1 = Bob Pettit 33| points2=Frank Ramsey 30

| rebounds1 = Bob Pettit 21 | rebounds2 = Frank Ramsey 20

| assist1 = Slater Martin 5 | assist2 = Bob Cousy 5

| referee = Rudolph, Heft

| time =

|series=St. Louis leads the series, 3–2

}}

=Game 6=

{{basketballbox

| bg = #eee

| date = April 12

| report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195804120STL.html Recap]

| team1 = Boston Celtics

| score1 = 108

| score2 = 111

| team2 = St. Louis Hawks

| place = Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri

| Q1 = 18–22 | Q2 = 34–35 | Q3 = 25–21 | Q4 = 32–32

| points1 = Bill Sharman 26 | points2 = Bob Pettit 50

| rebounds1 = Arnie Risen 13 | rebounds2 = Bob Pettit 19

| assist1 = Bob Cousy 9 | assist2 =

| referee = Rudolph, Heft

| time =

|series=St. Louis wins the NBA Finals, 4–2

}}

References

[https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1958.html 1957-58 NBA Season Summary], basketball-reference.com. Retrieved March 29, 2014.

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20120222184959/http://www.nba.com/history/finals/19571958.html NBA History]

Finals

Category:NBA Finals

NBA Finals

Category:Basketball competitions in Boston

Category:Basketball competitions in St. Louis

NBA Finals, 1958

NBA Finals

1958 NBA Finals

Recap

Series summary

Team rosters

=St. Louis Hawks=

=Boston Celtics=

Game summaries

=Game 1=

=Game 2=

=Game 3=

=Game 4=

=Game 5=

=Game 6=

See also

References

External links