Overview
The Baltimore Bullets defeated the Philadelphia Warriors four games to two in a best-of-seven series to conclude the 1947-48 season. The league, then known as the Basketball Association of America, held the second-ever Finals series from April 10-21, 1948.
Six teams made the playoffs in 1948, and the two teams with the best regular-season records received byes. The Baltimore Bullets tied with the Washington Capitols and the Chicago Stags for second place in the Western Division. As a result, the Bullets had to win a tiebreaker game to earn a playoff berth.
The Bullets were a new team to the BAA. They joined after four teams (the Cleveland Rebels, Detroit Falcons, Pittsburgh Ironmen and Toronto Huskies) folded following the league's inaugural season. The Bullets previously played in the American Basketball League, where they won four straight titles.
The Philadelphia Warriors had home-court advantage in the Finals by virtue of winning the Eastern Division, even though the Bullets posted a better regular-season record.
The Warriors' Joe Fulks led the BAA in regular-season scoring average for a second straight season by posting 22.1 points per game. Entering the Finals, the Warriors were coming off a victory over the St. Louis Bombers in the first playoff series to go seven games in league playoff history.
Six teams made the playoffs in 1948, and the two teams with the best regular-season records received byes. The Baltimore Bullets tied with the Washington Capitols and the Chicago Stags for second place in the Western Division. As a result, the Bullets had to win a tiebreaker game to earn a playoff berth.
The Bullets were a new team to the BAA. They joined after four teams (the Cleveland Rebels, Detroit Falcons, Pittsburgh Ironmen and Toronto Huskies) folded following the league's inaugural season. The Bullets previously played in the American Basketball League, where they won four straight titles.
The Philadelphia Warriors had home-court advantage in the Finals by virtue of winning the Eastern Division, even though the Bullets posted a better regular-season record.
The Warriors' Joe Fulks led the BAA in regular-season scoring average for a second straight season by posting 22.1 points per game. Entering the Finals, the Warriors were coming off a victory over the St. Louis Bombers in the first playoff series to go seven games in league playoff history.
Road to the Finals
| Team | Bullets | Warriors |
| Regular Season | 28-20, T-2nd in Western Division | 27-21, 1st in Eastern Division |
| Tiebreaker | Def. Chicago Stags | None |
| Quarterfinals | Def. New York Knicks, 2-1 | Bye |
| Semifinals | Def. Chicago Stags, 2-0 | Def. St. Louis Bombers, 4-3 |
Game 1 - Warriors 71, Bullets 60
The defending BAA champion Warriors were in control of Game 1 from the outset, and held Baltimore to just 19 points in the first half.
Philadelphia's 6-foot-9 center, Charles "Chick" Halbert, who was sold by the Chicago Stags in midseason for $7,500, led his team with 19 points. Future Hall of Fame inductee Joe Fulks chipped in 17.
22-year-old Cornelius "Connie" Simmons, who was acquired from the Boston Celtics 13 games before season's end, led the Bullets with 15 points, but other Baltimore player reached double figures.
The Warriors took Game 1 of a Finals Series for the second straight season in front of a home crowd of 7,201.
Philadelphia's 6-foot-9 center, Charles "Chick" Halbert, who was sold by the Chicago Stags in midseason for $7,500, led his team with 19 points. Future Hall of Fame inductee Joe Fulks chipped in 17.
22-year-old Cornelius "Connie" Simmons, who was acquired from the Boston Celtics 13 games before season's end, led the Bullets with 15 points, but other Baltimore player reached double figures.
The Warriors took Game 1 of a Finals Series for the second straight season in front of a home crowd of 7,201.
Game 2 - Bullets 66, Warriors 63
Game 2 of the 1948 Finals featured the largest comeback from a halftime deficit in NBA Finals history. The Bullets only managed 20 points in the first half, and trailed by a seemingly insurmountable 21 points at halftime.
In front of what the New York Times called "a stunned crowd of 6,982," Baltimore outscored Philadelphia 46-22 in the second half of the game to come back for the victory. Baltimore ended up with the 3-point win despite making only 20 of 105 field goal attempts in the game.
Connie Simmons led the way for the Bullets with 25 points, and rookie Paul Hoffman added 12. Warriors star Joe Fulks led all scorers with 27 points, but went cold from the field late, and allowed Baltimore to get back in the game. Up by one with four seconds remaining, Baltimore's Hoffman tipped in a missed free throw to give his team the three-point win.
The 21-point halftime deficit still stands as the largest ever overcome by any team in an NBA Finals series.
In front of what the New York Times called "a stunned crowd of 6,982," Baltimore outscored Philadelphia 46-22 in the second half of the game to come back for the victory. Baltimore ended up with the 3-point win despite making only 20 of 105 field goal attempts in the game.
Connie Simmons led the way for the Bullets with 25 points, and rookie Paul Hoffman added 12. Warriors star Joe Fulks led all scorers with 27 points, but went cold from the field late, and allowed Baltimore to get back in the game. Up by one with four seconds remaining, Baltimore's Hoffman tipped in a missed free throw to give his team the three-point win.
The 21-point halftime deficit still stands as the largest ever overcome by any team in an NBA Finals series.
Game 3 - Bullets 72, Warriors 70
The series shifted to Baltimore where the Bullets took Game 3 in another down-to-the-wire thriller. With 32 seconds remaining, Philadelphia center Howie Dallmar made a free throw to tie the game at 70.
On the next possession, Baltimore player-coach Buddy Jeanette took a pass from center Clarence "Kleggie" Hermsen, and drove for the game-winning layup with less than 10 seconds remaining.
Connie Simmons led the Bullets in scoring for the third straight game by posting 14 points. Despite having four players in double figures, including Joe Fulks with 21, the Warriors went down 2-1 in the Finals.
On the next possession, Baltimore player-coach Buddy Jeanette took a pass from center Clarence "Kleggie" Hermsen, and drove for the game-winning layup with less than 10 seconds remaining.
Connie Simmons led the Bullets in scoring for the third straight game by posting 14 points. Despite having four players in double figures, including Joe Fulks with 21, the Warriors went down 2-1 in the Finals.
Game 4 - Bullets 78, Warriors 75
Philadelphia fell just short of a Game 4 win, despite mounting a furious comeback of its own in the second half. The Warriors trailed the Bullets by a whopping 30 points at halftime.
Led by Joe Fulks and Chick Halbert, who scored 29 and 20 points respectively, Philly marched back to rack up 47 points in the second half, including 30 in the fourth quarter alone, but it wasn't enough. Baltimore held on to its lead and took a 3-1 advantage in the series. Rookie Paul Hoffman led the Bullets with 27 points.
Led by Joe Fulks and Chick Halbert, who scored 29 and 20 points respectively, Philly marched back to rack up 47 points in the second half, including 30 in the fourth quarter alone, but it wasn't enough. Baltimore held on to its lead and took a 3-1 advantage in the series. Rookie Paul Hoffman led the Bullets with 27 points.
Game 5 - Warriors 91, Bullets 82
Back in Philadelphia, the Warriors' hopes of defending their BAA title stayed alive with a Game 5 victory to make the series 3-2.
Warriors' star Joe Fulks suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter and had to leave the game after scoring 19 points, and center Howie Dallmar fouled out after contributing 14. Three Bullets players, Connie Simmons, Kleggie Hermsen and Grady Lewis, fouled out late in the game, and Philadelphia took advantage for the 91-82 win.
Warriors' star Joe Fulks suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter and had to leave the game after scoring 19 points, and center Howie Dallmar fouled out after contributing 14. Three Bullets players, Connie Simmons, Kleggie Hermsen and Grady Lewis, fouled out late in the game, and Philadelphia took advantage for the 91-82 win.
Game 6 - Bullets 88, Warriors 73
The Bullets clinched their first BAA title with a blowout victory over the defending champs.
Early on, it looked like the teams would play another close game with seven lead changes in the second quarter, but Baltimore took the lead with four minutes left in the first half, and didn't relinquish it for the rest of the game. The Bullets built their lead to 15 points after the third quarter, 63-48, and cruised to the win.
Philadelphia got 28 points from Joe Fulks, but no other Warrior managed double figures. Joseph "Chick" Reiser led the way for the newly-crowned champions with 16 points, and Baltimore player-coach Buddy Jeanette added 15 of his own.
The Bullets won $9,385 for winning the BAA Championship, and Philadelphia received $5,700 as the runner-up. Each member of the winning team received a $2,000 individual bonus.
Jeanette also received a television set from one of the team's sponsors, and the rest of the Bullets were given pen and pencil sets. The Bullets held their postgame championship celebration at a neighborhood deli in Baltimore.
The Warriors would later cite the exhausting seven-game semifinal series against St. Louis, which required 24-hour train trips to away games, as having sapped their energy for the Finals.
Early on, it looked like the teams would play another close game with seven lead changes in the second quarter, but Baltimore took the lead with four minutes left in the first half, and didn't relinquish it for the rest of the game. The Bullets built their lead to 15 points after the third quarter, 63-48, and cruised to the win.
Philadelphia got 28 points from Joe Fulks, but no other Warrior managed double figures. Joseph "Chick" Reiser led the way for the newly-crowned champions with 16 points, and Baltimore player-coach Buddy Jeanette added 15 of his own.
The Bullets won $9,385 for winning the BAA Championship, and Philadelphia received $5,700 as the runner-up. Each member of the winning team received a $2,000 individual bonus.
Jeanette also received a television set from one of the team's sponsors, and the rest of the Bullets were given pen and pencil sets. The Bullets held their postgame championship celebration at a neighborhood deli in Baltimore.
The Warriors would later cite the exhausting seven-game semifinal series against St. Louis, which required 24-hour train trips to away games, as having sapped their energy for the Finals.