Overview
The Minneapolis Lakers defeated the Washington Capitols four games to two in a best-of-seven series to conclude the 1948-49 season. The league, then known as the Basketball Association of America, held the third-ever Finals series from April 4-13, 1949.
For the first time in league history, the playoff field was expanded to eight teams, and eliminated the need for first-round byes. The expansion of the playoff field was made possible by an invitation to four National Basketball League franchises (the Fort Wayne Pistons, the Indianapolis Jets, the Rochester Royals and the Minneapolis Lakers) to join the BAA's Western Division.
The Baltimore Bullets and the Washington Capitols moved to the Eastern Division, and gave the BAA six teams in each division. This change allowed for the first playoff seeding system in which the top team could play the fourth-best, and the second-best team could play the third.
The Lakers received home court advantage by virtue of having the better regular-season record, even though the Capitols won the Eastern Division. Minneapolis did not lose a game on its way to the Finals. They swept Chicago and Rochester in the earlier rounds.
The Lakers also boasted regular-season scoring leader George Mikan, who averaged 28.3 points per game. The Washington Capitols were helmed by future Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach. The Caps came into the Finals undermanned because they lost captain and leading scorer Bob Feerick to injury during the playoffs.
For the first time in league history, the playoff field was expanded to eight teams, and eliminated the need for first-round byes. The expansion of the playoff field was made possible by an invitation to four National Basketball League franchises (the Fort Wayne Pistons, the Indianapolis Jets, the Rochester Royals and the Minneapolis Lakers) to join the BAA's Western Division.
The Baltimore Bullets and the Washington Capitols moved to the Eastern Division, and gave the BAA six teams in each division. This change allowed for the first playoff seeding system in which the top team could play the fourth-best, and the second-best team could play the third.
The Lakers received home court advantage by virtue of having the better regular-season record, even though the Capitols won the Eastern Division. Minneapolis did not lose a game on its way to the Finals. They swept Chicago and Rochester in the earlier rounds.
The Lakers also boasted regular-season scoring leader George Mikan, who averaged 28.3 points per game. The Washington Capitols were helmed by future Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach. The Caps came into the Finals undermanned because they lost captain and leading scorer Bob Feerick to injury during the playoffs.
Road to the Finals
| Team | Capitols | Lakers |
| Regular Season | 38-22, 1st in Eastern Division | 44-16, 2nd in Western Division |
| Div. Semifinals | Def. Philadelphia Warriors, 2-0 | Def. Chicago Stags, 2-0 |
| Div. Finals | Def. New York Knicks, 2-1 | Def. Rochester Royals, 2-0 |
Game 1 - Lakers 88, Capitols 84
8,201 fans filled the Minneapolis Auditorium to watch their team's first-ever BAA playoff game.
Thanks to 42 points from George Mikan, the Lakers led Game 1 by as many as 14 points early on, but the Capitols chipped away at the lead. Fred Scolari racked up 11 points in the second quarter.
Washington's Jack Nichols made a shot with 1:04 remaining that tied the game at 84. On the following play, Washington center Bones McKinney fouled Laker guard Don Carlson on a drive to the basket. Carlson's free throws put Minneapolis up for good.
Mikan's teammates Herm Schaefer and Jim Pollard contributed 13 points apiece.
Thanks to 42 points from George Mikan, the Lakers led Game 1 by as many as 14 points early on, but the Capitols chipped away at the lead. Fred Scolari racked up 11 points in the second quarter.
Washington's Jack Nichols made a shot with 1:04 remaining that tied the game at 84. On the following play, Washington center Bones McKinney fouled Laker guard Don Carlson on a drive to the basket. Carlson's free throws put Minneapolis up for good.
Mikan's teammates Herm Schaefer and Jim Pollard contributed 13 points apiece.
Game 2 - Lakers 76, Capitols 62
Red Auerbach adjusted his strategy and focused on denying George Mikan the ball for Game 2. Washington big men Jack Nichols and Kleggie Hermsen formed what the New York Times called "a human wall" around Mikan, and limited his shots.
Auerbach's strategy worked because Mikan didn't even make his first shot until 18:30 into the game, and finished the first half with only 2 points. He finished the game with his lowest scoring output of the year, and only managed 10 points on 3 for 9 shooting.
Despite Washington's efforts, Minneapolis came away with the victory because Mikan's teammates picked up the slack on offense while simultaneously holding the Caps to shooting 21.8 percent from the field (21 of 96).
Don Carlson led the way for the Lakers with 16 points, and teammate Herm Schaefer contributed 13 before fouling out of the game. The Lakers drew their largest-ever crowd in Minneapolis to that point with 10,212 Minnesotans coming out to see their team take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Auerbach's strategy worked because Mikan didn't even make his first shot until 18:30 into the game, and finished the first half with only 2 points. He finished the game with his lowest scoring output of the year, and only managed 10 points on 3 for 9 shooting.
Despite Washington's efforts, Minneapolis came away with the victory because Mikan's teammates picked up the slack on offense while simultaneously holding the Caps to shooting 21.8 percent from the field (21 of 96).
Don Carlson led the way for the Lakers with 16 points, and teammate Herm Schaefer contributed 13 before fouling out of the game. The Lakers drew their largest-ever crowd in Minneapolis to that point with 10,212 Minnesotans coming out to see their team take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Game 3 - Lakers 94, Capitols 74
George Mikan's scoring touch returned with a vengeance in Game 3, which was played at Washington's Uline Arena. Mikan scored 25 points in the first half alone and Minneapolis shot out to a 43-29 halftime lead. Mikan racked up 35 total points before fouling out of the game with nine minutes remaining.
Along with Mikan's 35, the Lakers also got 18 points from Jim Pollard and 15 from Herm Schaefer.
The Capitols were missing a big part of their front line for Game 3 because forward Bones McKinney missed the game to his wife's illness. Jack Nichols and Matt Zunic led Washington with 12 points apiece.
Minneapolis stood one victory away from clinching its first BAA title.
Along with Mikan's 35, the Lakers also got 18 points from Jim Pollard and 15 from Herm Schaefer.
The Capitols were missing a big part of their front line for Game 3 because forward Bones McKinney missed the game to his wife's illness. Jack Nichols and Matt Zunic led Washington with 12 points apiece.
Minneapolis stood one victory away from clinching its first BAA title.
Game 4 - Capitols 83, Lakers 71
The Lakers entered the game as a 15-point favorite to win the game and sweep the Capitols, but the 4,471 fans at Uline arena in Washington got a very different game.
Washington guard Sonny Hertzberg and Minneapolis center Whitey Kachan were ejected for fighting in the first half, and Lakers star George Mikan was ineffective late after suffering an injury.
While on a fast break, Mikan was hit from behind by Washington big man Kleggie Hermsen and knocked into the first row of seats. It was revealed the next day that Mikan had broken his wrist in the collision.
Mikan continued to play after the injury, but missed his next 13 shots from the field. He finished with 27 points in a losing effort for the Lakers. Caps center Jack Nichols got 27 points of his own, and Hermsen finished with 17 to help his squad stay alive in the series.
Washington guard Sonny Hertzberg and Minneapolis center Whitey Kachan were ejected for fighting in the first half, and Lakers star George Mikan was ineffective late after suffering an injury.
While on a fast break, Mikan was hit from behind by Washington big man Kleggie Hermsen and knocked into the first row of seats. It was revealed the next day that Mikan had broken his wrist in the collision.
Mikan continued to play after the injury, but missed his next 13 shots from the field. He finished with 27 points in a losing effort for the Lakers. Caps center Jack Nichols got 27 points of his own, and Hermsen finished with 17 to help his squad stay alive in the series.
Game 5 - Capitols 74, Lakers 65
The Capitols held off a late Lakers rally and avoided elimination once again with a victory in Game 5.
Washington jumped out to an early lead, but Minneapolis went on an 18-2 run in the second half to cut the score to 56-54. Capitols center Bones McKinney made back-to-back shots to quell the comeback, and Washington went on to victory.
Lakers star George Mikan played the game with a hard cast on his fractured right wrist, but still managed 22 points. Jim Pollard added 15 for Minneapolis, but no other Laker scored more than eight points. Five Capitols scored in double figures, led by Kleggie Hermsen and Jack Nichols with 13 apiece. The series stood at 3-2, and was heading back to Minnesota.
Washington jumped out to an early lead, but Minneapolis went on an 18-2 run in the second half to cut the score to 56-54. Capitols center Bones McKinney made back-to-back shots to quell the comeback, and Washington went on to victory.
Lakers star George Mikan played the game with a hard cast on his fractured right wrist, but still managed 22 points. Jim Pollard added 15 for Minneapolis, but no other Laker scored more than eight points. Five Capitols scored in double figures, led by Kleggie Hermsen and Jack Nichols with 13 apiece. The series stood at 3-2, and was heading back to Minnesota.
Game 6 - Lakers 77, Capitols 56
An annual sportsman's show meant that the Game 6 could not be played at Minneapolis Auditorium. Instead, the game was played in nearby St. Paul. Still, 10,482 spectators crammed into St. Paul Auditorium to watch the hometown Lakers blow out the Capitols and clinch their first-ever BAA title.
Washington led out of the gate. They went up 12-3 early in the game, but the Lakers rebounded and built up a 16-point lead at halftime, 40-24. Minneapolis led by as many as 24 points in the third quarter.
Still playing with a fractured wrist, George Mikan scored 29 points. Teammates Herm Schaefer and rookie Arnie Ferrin chipped in 17 and 11 points respectively. Kleggie Hermsen was the leading scorer in the losing effort for Washington with 12 points.
Mikan averaged 30.3 points per game over the course of the postseason and 27.5 PPG in the Finals alone. The win actually marked the second straight championship for the Lakers, prior to joining the BAA. Minneapolis took the 1948 National Basketball League title.
When the NBA compiled its list of the 60 Greatest Playoff Moments to coincide with the league's 60th anniversary, Mikan's performance with his broken hand ranked No. 44 on the list.
Washington led out of the gate. They went up 12-3 early in the game, but the Lakers rebounded and built up a 16-point lead at halftime, 40-24. Minneapolis led by as many as 24 points in the third quarter.
Still playing with a fractured wrist, George Mikan scored 29 points. Teammates Herm Schaefer and rookie Arnie Ferrin chipped in 17 and 11 points respectively. Kleggie Hermsen was the leading scorer in the losing effort for Washington with 12 points.
Mikan averaged 30.3 points per game over the course of the postseason and 27.5 PPG in the Finals alone. The win actually marked the second straight championship for the Lakers, prior to joining the BAA. Minneapolis took the 1948 National Basketball League title.
When the NBA compiled its list of the 60 Greatest Playoff Moments to coincide with the league's 60th anniversary, Mikan's performance with his broken hand ranked No. 44 on the list.