Overview
The Minneapolis Lakers defeated the Syracuse Nationals four games to two in a best-of-seven series to conclude the 1949-50 season. The newly-formed National Basketball Association held its Finals series from April 8-23, 1950.
The NBA was formed when the National Basketball League merged with the Basketball Association of America. Six NBL teams (the Anderson Packers, Denver Nuggets, Sheboygan Redskins, Syracuse Nationals, Tri-Cities Blackhawks and Waterloo Hawks) joined the BAA, along with the Indianapolis Olympians, a new franchise. The expansion gave the NBA a 17-team league with Eastern, Central and Western divisions.
Syracuse finished with the league's best record at 51-13, and earned home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. They also received a bye into the Finals. The Lakers had to defeat the Western Division champion Anderson Packers to see who would face Syracuse.
Minneapolis did not lose a game on the way to the Finals, sweeping every series. The Lakers boasted the league's leading scorer, George Mikan, who averaged 27.4 points per game in the regular season. Along with Mikan, the Lakers started three rookies they acquired in the 1949 draft (Slater Martin, Vern Mikkelsen and Bob Harrison).
The Nationals were led by rookie Dolph Schayes, a future member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
The NBA was formed when the National Basketball League merged with the Basketball Association of America. Six NBL teams (the Anderson Packers, Denver Nuggets, Sheboygan Redskins, Syracuse Nationals, Tri-Cities Blackhawks and Waterloo Hawks) joined the BAA, along with the Indianapolis Olympians, a new franchise. The expansion gave the NBA a 17-team league with Eastern, Central and Western divisions.
Syracuse finished with the league's best record at 51-13, and earned home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. They also received a bye into the Finals. The Lakers had to defeat the Western Division champion Anderson Packers to see who would face Syracuse.
Minneapolis did not lose a game on the way to the Finals, sweeping every series. The Lakers boasted the league's leading scorer, George Mikan, who averaged 27.4 points per game in the regular season. Along with Mikan, the Lakers started three rookies they acquired in the 1949 draft (Slater Martin, Vern Mikkelsen and Bob Harrison).
The Nationals were led by rookie Dolph Schayes, a future member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Road to the Finals
| Lakers | Nationals | |
| Regular Season | 51-17, T-1st in Central Division | 51-13, 1st in Eastern Division |
| Tiebreaker | Def. Rochester Royals | None |
| Div. Semifinals | Def. Chicago Stags, 2-0 | Def. Philadelphia Warriors, 2-0 |
| Div. Finals | Def. Fort Wayne Pistons, 2-0 | Def. New York Knicks, 2-0 |
| Semifinals | Def. Anderson Packers, 2-0 | Bye |
Game 1 -- Lakers 68, Nationals 66
Syracuse's State Fair Coliseum was packed with 7,552 fans that saw their hometown Nationals lose a close one to the Lakers in the final seconds of the game.
Minneapolis led at the half, 34-30, but Syracuse charged back to take a 5-point lead in the fourth quarter. With less than a minute left, Syracuse was up 66-64 when the Lakers' forward (and future head coach of the Minnesota Vikings) Bud Grant made his only field goal of the game to tie the game at 66.
On the ensuing play, Nationals player-coach Al Cervi drove to the basket, but his shot was blocked by George Mikan. Minneapolis got the ball, and rookie Bob Harrison swished a 40-footer for the first buzzer-beater in Finals history.
Mikan finished the game with 37 points, the most ever scored by any player at State Fair Coliseum to that point. Dolph Schayes led the Nats with 19 points, and George Ratkovicz added 13 for Syracuse.
Minneapolis led at the half, 34-30, but Syracuse charged back to take a 5-point lead in the fourth quarter. With less than a minute left, Syracuse was up 66-64 when the Lakers' forward (and future head coach of the Minnesota Vikings) Bud Grant made his only field goal of the game to tie the game at 66.
On the ensuing play, Nationals player-coach Al Cervi drove to the basket, but his shot was blocked by George Mikan. Minneapolis got the ball, and rookie Bob Harrison swished a 40-footer for the first buzzer-beater in Finals history.
Mikan finished the game with 37 points, the most ever scored by any player at State Fair Coliseum to that point. Dolph Schayes led the Nats with 19 points, and George Ratkovicz added 13 for Syracuse.
Game 2 -- Nationals 91, Lakers 85
It was reported in the Syracuse newspapers that George Mikan was allergic to all of the cigar smoke that permeated State Fair Coliseum during Game 1. The 8,280 Syracuse fans who attended Game 2 the next day took notice, and came out with cigars blazing in an effort to unnerve the Lakers star.
Mikan only scored 10 points in the first half, and the Nationals jumped out to a 44-31 lead at halftime. The Lakers recovered in the second half, scoring 32 points in the fourth quarter alone.
Mikan led the charge with 22 points in the second half to bring his total up to 32. Six Nationals scored in double figures, and Syracuse's lead was too much for Minneapolis, who lost by 6. George Ratkovicz was the scoring leader for Syracuse with 17 points, as the Nationals tied up the series at one game apiece.
Mikan only scored 10 points in the first half, and the Nationals jumped out to a 44-31 lead at halftime. The Lakers recovered in the second half, scoring 32 points in the fourth quarter alone.
Mikan led the charge with 22 points in the second half to bring his total up to 32. Six Nationals scored in double figures, and Syracuse's lead was too much for Minneapolis, who lost by 6. George Ratkovicz was the scoring leader for Syracuse with 17 points, as the Nationals tied up the series at one game apiece.
Game 3 -- Lakers 91, Nationals 77
The series shifted to Minnesota, but Game 3 was played at St. Paul Auditorium after a scheduling conflict arose with Minneapolis Auditorium. 10,288 fans made up what was, at that point, the largest crowd to witness a professional basketball game in the state of Minnesota.
Illness depleted the Nationals' roster. Syracuse's second-leading scorer Bill Gabor traveled with the team, but had to remain at the team hotel due to tonsillitis. Nats star Dolph Schayes played in the game, but was battling a severe cold.
The Nationals were led by Johnny Macknowski, who scored 25. Schayes added 12 before fouling out late in the game. Syracuse hung in with the defending champs, and trailed by a single point with 8:10 remaining in the third quarter. Minneapolis went on a run, extending the lead to 22 points before the end of the third.
George Mikan scored 28 points, and his rookie teammate, Vern Mikkelsen, posted 27 as the Lakers went up 2-1 in the series.
Illness depleted the Nationals' roster. Syracuse's second-leading scorer Bill Gabor traveled with the team, but had to remain at the team hotel due to tonsillitis. Nats star Dolph Schayes played in the game, but was battling a severe cold.
The Nationals were led by Johnny Macknowski, who scored 25. Schayes added 12 before fouling out late in the game. Syracuse hung in with the defending champs, and trailed by a single point with 8:10 remaining in the third quarter. Minneapolis went on a run, extending the lead to 22 points before the end of the third.
George Mikan scored 28 points, and his rookie teammate, Vern Mikkelsen, posted 27 as the Lakers went up 2-1 in the series.
Game 4 -- Lakers 77, Nationals 69
Game 4 outdrew even Game 3's record crowd with 10,512 fans filling the arena to watch the Lakers try to go up 3-1 in the series.
George Mikan scored the first basket of the game, and then was held scoreless for the next 19 minutes. Mikan's cold spell allowed Syracuse plenty of opportunity to get in the game early, and the halftime score was tied at 38.
The Lakers big men stepped up in the second half. Mikan, Vern Mikkelsen and Jim Pollard combined to account for 59 of the Lakers' 77 total points in the game. Syracuse got Billy Gabor back in the starting lineup after his bout with tonsillitis, but Gabor only managed one point.
Dolph Schayes and Alex Hannum led Syracuse with 18 points each. The Nationals actually outshot the Lakers from the field, 34 percent to 31 percent, but Minneapolis' big men were too much to overcome, and Syracuse was one game away from elimination.
George Mikan scored the first basket of the game, and then was held scoreless for the next 19 minutes. Mikan's cold spell allowed Syracuse plenty of opportunity to get in the game early, and the halftime score was tied at 38.
The Lakers big men stepped up in the second half. Mikan, Vern Mikkelsen and Jim Pollard combined to account for 59 of the Lakers' 77 total points in the game. Syracuse got Billy Gabor back in the starting lineup after his bout with tonsillitis, but Gabor only managed one point.
Dolph Schayes and Alex Hannum led Syracuse with 18 points each. The Nationals actually outshot the Lakers from the field, 34 percent to 31 percent, but Minneapolis' big men were too much to overcome, and Syracuse was one game away from elimination.
Game 5 -- Nationals 83, Lakers 76
Syracuse avoided elimination in the series' return to State Fair Coliseum in Syracuse in front of 9,024 fans.
The Nationals jumped out to a big lead due to a huge second quarter. They outscored the Lakers 26-8, and led by as many as 20 points. The Lakers' big man Jim Pollard was held to just two field goals because of the stifling defense of Syracuse's Paul Seymour.
The Nats had their usual balanced attack with five players in double figures, led by Dolph Schayes with 19. George Mikan posted 28 points in the losing effort. His teammate Vern Mikkelsen contributed 17, but no other Laker managed double figures and Minneapolis' series lead was cut to 3-2.
The Nationals jumped out to a big lead due to a huge second quarter. They outscored the Lakers 26-8, and led by as many as 20 points. The Lakers' big man Jim Pollard was held to just two field goals because of the stifling defense of Syracuse's Paul Seymour.
The Nats had their usual balanced attack with five players in double figures, led by Dolph Schayes with 19. George Mikan posted 28 points in the losing effort. His teammate Vern Mikkelsen contributed 17, but no other Laker managed double figures and Minneapolis' series lead was cut to 3-2.
Game 6 -- Lakers 110, Nationals 95
The defending champs sealed the title with a blowout of the Nationals at Minneapolis Auditorium in front of an audience of 9,812.
The Lakers had a unique home-court advantage in Minneapolis because the court was a few feet narrower than usual. This advantage allowed the Lakers' big men to clog the lane more effectively. The Lakers had never lost a playoff game at Minneapolis Auditorium and Game 6 was no different.
As the game got out of hand, tempers flared and fights broke out. Much as he had in Game 5, the Nats' Paul Seymour tried to hold down Minneapolis' Jim Pollard, but Pollard took umbrage and police had to be called in to break up an ensuing fight between the two in the first quarter.
Syracuse's Bill Gabor was later involved in two separate incidents with Lakers Swede Carlson and Slater Martin.
Minneapolis led 51-39 at the half, and things didn't get any better for Syracuse thereafter. Nationals' player-coach Al Cervi was ejected in the third quarter for complaining about a foul call too loudly.
George Mikan exploded for 40 points, bringing his average for the series to 32.2 points per game. Dolph Schayes led Syracuse with 23 points, but couldn't bring the Nats back.
The Lakers led by 25 at the start of the third quarter, and despite having four players foul out in the fourth, held on to a big lead. The 15-point victory marked the franchise's third straight league title, and second straight in the BAA/NBA.
The 110 points scored in the 1650 Finals marked the eighth time in the '49-50 season that the Lakers reached 100 points. Each player on the winning team received a bonus of $2,027.27.
The Lakers had a unique home-court advantage in Minneapolis because the court was a few feet narrower than usual. This advantage allowed the Lakers' big men to clog the lane more effectively. The Lakers had never lost a playoff game at Minneapolis Auditorium and Game 6 was no different.
As the game got out of hand, tempers flared and fights broke out. Much as he had in Game 5, the Nats' Paul Seymour tried to hold down Minneapolis' Jim Pollard, but Pollard took umbrage and police had to be called in to break up an ensuing fight between the two in the first quarter.
Syracuse's Bill Gabor was later involved in two separate incidents with Lakers Swede Carlson and Slater Martin.
Minneapolis led 51-39 at the half, and things didn't get any better for Syracuse thereafter. Nationals' player-coach Al Cervi was ejected in the third quarter for complaining about a foul call too loudly.
George Mikan exploded for 40 points, bringing his average for the series to 32.2 points per game. Dolph Schayes led Syracuse with 23 points, but couldn't bring the Nats back.
The Lakers led by 25 at the start of the third quarter, and despite having four players foul out in the fourth, held on to a big lead. The 15-point victory marked the franchise's third straight league title, and second straight in the BAA/NBA.
The 110 points scored in the 1650 Finals marked the eighth time in the '49-50 season that the Lakers reached 100 points. Each player on the winning team received a bonus of $2,027.27.