1960 NBA Finals Game 7 vs St. Louis Hawks
Celtics avenge 1958 loss, claim third title in 1960 Finals.
via Wikipedia: 1986 NBA Finals · see source
The 1960 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 1959–60 NBA season, won by the Boston Celtics over the St. Louis Hawks 4 games to 3.
Quick Facts
- Series outcome
- Boston Celtics win 4-2
- Key player performance
- Larry Bird was named the Finals MVP
- averaging 24 points
- 9.7 rebounds
- 9.7 assi
- Venue
- Boston Garden
Lore & Background
This was the second straight and third overall NBA title for Boston, who got revenge for the Hawks' win over them in 1958. The 1960 Finals was the third Celtics–Hawks Finals in the past four years.
Reader's Guide
The series was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with both teams splitting the first two meetings.
Historical Context and Branding Shifts
The 1986 NBA Finals represented a pivotal transition point for the league's identity and scheduling norms. This series marked the first official adoption of the "NBA Finals" branding, replacing the decades-old "NBA World Championship Series" title that had been used since the league's inception. Beyond nomenclature, this championship set unique temporal precedents; it was the last time the Finals began prior to June until 2011 and remained the final series to conclude before June 10th until 2018. Notably, Game 3 was played on Memorial Day, a holiday occurrence that would not be repeated in the Finals until 1999. The series also highlighted a shift in Western Conference dominance, serving as the second and final championship of the 1980s where the Los Angeles Lakers were absent, having been eliminated by Houston in both occasions.
Boston's Path to Dominance
Following a disappointing 1985 loss to the Lakers that exposed roster deficiencies, Boston president Red Auerbach executed strategic trades to acquire Bill Walton and Jerry Sichting. These moves catalyzed a historic regular season where the Celtics posted a league-best 67–15 record, anchored by an unprecedented 40 home victories at the Boston Garden. Their playoff run was equally formidable, overcoming Michael Jordan's 63-point explosion against Chicago in double overtime before dismantling Atlanta and sweeping Milwaukee. Entering the Finals as heavy favorites, the team leveraged their home-court advantage to secure the first two games. Despite a narrow loss in Game 3, they regained control with a tense victory in Houston, setting the stage for a championship-clinching performance that would eventually earn Larry Bird his third Finals MVP award.
Houston's Twin Towers and Resilience
The Houston Rockets arrived in the Finals as a rebuilt powerhouse featuring the "Twin Towers" of Ralph Sampson and Akeem Olajuwon, a duo formed after consecutive top draft picks following years of rebuilding. Under coach Bill Fitch, they navigated a challenging postseason, most notably stunning the defending champion Lakers by winning four straight games in the conference finals, capped by Sampson's buzzer-beater. In the championship series, Houston managed to break Boston's home dominance with a Game 3 victory and forced a competitive Game 4. However, their momentum was severely disrupted during Game 5 when Sampson instigated a brawl with Jerry Sichting, leading to his ejection. Although Jim Petersen led them to a win that game, the incident galvanized the Celtics, who ultimately overwhelmed Houston in Game 6 to secure the title.
The Infamous Brawl and Series Climax
Game 5 of the 1986 NBA Finals stays in basketball history because of a fiery fight between 7'4" Ralph Sampson and 6-foot Jerry Sichting. The clash started over contact during play, leading to Sampson's ejection and shifting the series momentum decisively toward Boston. While the Rockets won that night, powered by Jim Petersen, the incident shook the young Houston roster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the outcome of the 1960 NBA Finals Game 7 between Boston and St. Louis?
The Celtics secured their second championship by defeating the Hawks in a decisive regulation victory at Boston Garden.
Where was the decisive seventh game played?
The match took place on the floor of Boston Garden, serving as the stage for the franchise's first true Finals test against St. Louis.
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