Overview
The Minneapolis Lakers defeated the New York Knicks four games to three in a best-of-seven series to end the 1951-52 NBA season. The NBA held its sixth Finals series from April 12-25, 1952.
The '51-52 season was marked by unprecedented stability for the NBA. For the first time in its history, all of the teams that completed the previous season returned to the league. The Tri-Cities Blackhawks became the Milwaukee Hawks, but the league stuck to a balanced 10-team, two-division playoff format.
The most notable change for the NBA was on the court. The rules committee decided to widen the lane from six feet to twelve, largely to combat the dominance of Minneapolis big man George Mikan in the paint. The rule was originally introduced on a one-month trial basis, but quickly became permanent.
The Lakers appeared in their third Finals series in four seasons. They won the title in 1949 and 1950. Despite the rule change, Mikan was again among the league's leading scorers during the regular season, averaging 23.8 points per game. Mikan's PPG were second-highest in the league in 1952, behind Paul Arizin's 25.4 average. While the rule change kept Mikan from being as dominant as he had been in the past, he was still capable of taking over a game, as evidenced by his 61-point output on January 30, 1952 against the Rochester Royals. That total was two points shy of what was then the NBA record, held by Joe Fulks.
The Knicks appeared in their second straight Finals. They were narrowly defeated four games to three by the Rochester Royals the previous season.
New York returned all of its key starters from 1951. The team was led by veteran Max Zaslofsky, who made his third career Finals appearance. Zaslofsky, who led the Knicks with 14.1 PPG, was a member of the 1947 Chicago Stags team that finished runner-up in the first-ever NBA Finals. Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, Harry Gallatin and Dick McGuire were also key returners. McGuire's brother Al was added to the roster as a defensive specialist.
The Lakers held home-court advantage in the Finals by virtue of having the better regular-season record. The Rochester Royals finished with the league's best record, but the Lakers defeated them in the Divisional Finals to earn a Finals berth. The Knicks got past Eastern Division winner Syracuse for the right to play for a championship. The Lakers won four of the six games they played against the Knicks in the regular season.
The '51-52 season was marked by unprecedented stability for the NBA. For the first time in its history, all of the teams that completed the previous season returned to the league. The Tri-Cities Blackhawks became the Milwaukee Hawks, but the league stuck to a balanced 10-team, two-division playoff format.
The most notable change for the NBA was on the court. The rules committee decided to widen the lane from six feet to twelve, largely to combat the dominance of Minneapolis big man George Mikan in the paint. The rule was originally introduced on a one-month trial basis, but quickly became permanent.
The Lakers appeared in their third Finals series in four seasons. They won the title in 1949 and 1950. Despite the rule change, Mikan was again among the league's leading scorers during the regular season, averaging 23.8 points per game. Mikan's PPG were second-highest in the league in 1952, behind Paul Arizin's 25.4 average. While the rule change kept Mikan from being as dominant as he had been in the past, he was still capable of taking over a game, as evidenced by his 61-point output on January 30, 1952 against the Rochester Royals. That total was two points shy of what was then the NBA record, held by Joe Fulks.
The Knicks appeared in their second straight Finals. They were narrowly defeated four games to three by the Rochester Royals the previous season.
New York returned all of its key starters from 1951. The team was led by veteran Max Zaslofsky, who made his third career Finals appearance. Zaslofsky, who led the Knicks with 14.1 PPG, was a member of the 1947 Chicago Stags team that finished runner-up in the first-ever NBA Finals. Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, Harry Gallatin and Dick McGuire were also key returners. McGuire's brother Al was added to the roster as a defensive specialist.
The Lakers held home-court advantage in the Finals by virtue of having the better regular-season record. The Rochester Royals finished with the league's best record, but the Lakers defeated them in the Divisional Finals to earn a Finals berth. The Knicks got past Eastern Division winner Syracuse for the right to play for a championship. The Lakers won four of the six games they played against the Knicks in the regular season.
Road to the Finals
| Team | Knicks | Lakers |
| Regular Season | 37-29, 3rd in Eastern Division | 40-26, 2nd in Western Division |
| Div. Semifinals | Def. Boston Celtics, 2-1 | Def. Indianapolis Olympians, 2-1 |
| Div. Finals | Def. Syracuse Nationals, 3-1 | Def. Rochester Royals, 3-1 |
Game 1 -- Lakers 83, Knicks 79 (OT)
As in past seasons, Minneapolis had to play a home game in neighboring St. Paul due to a scheduling conflict with a sportsman's convention. The game got controversial early when New York's Al McGuire was fouled on a drive to the basket by Minneapolis' Pep Saul. McGuire sunk the shot, but lead referee Sid Borgia did not see the ball go through the basket.
He awarded the Knicks a two-shot foul rather than giving them the two points for the basket and an opportunity for a three-point play. McGuire made one of the two free throws, which meant the Knicks were denied at least one point. Knicks coach Joe Lapchick filed a formal protest with league president Maurice Podoloff, who was courtside during the incident along with NBA referee-in-chief Pat Kennedy.
The phantom point came back to haunt New York when the game ended up going to overtime tied at 71. The Knicks got a break when Minneapolis' George Mikan fouled out with 1:52 remaining in the overtime period, but they couldn't take advantage. The Lakers' big man Jim Pollard scored seven points in overtime, including three straight free throws late in the game.
The Knicks regained possession with nine seconds left, but Minneapolis' Slater Martin stole the ball and sealed the Lakers' victory.
Pollard finished with a career-high 34 points in the win, and Mikan contributed 15. The Knicks' protest over the unseen basket was eventually denied by Podoloff.
He awarded the Knicks a two-shot foul rather than giving them the two points for the basket and an opportunity for a three-point play. McGuire made one of the two free throws, which meant the Knicks were denied at least one point. Knicks coach Joe Lapchick filed a formal protest with league president Maurice Podoloff, who was courtside during the incident along with NBA referee-in-chief Pat Kennedy.
The phantom point came back to haunt New York when the game ended up going to overtime tied at 71. The Knicks got a break when Minneapolis' George Mikan fouled out with 1:52 remaining in the overtime period, but they couldn't take advantage. The Lakers' big man Jim Pollard scored seven points in overtime, including three straight free throws late in the game.
The Knicks regained possession with nine seconds left, but Minneapolis' Slater Martin stole the ball and sealed the Lakers' victory.
Pollard finished with a career-high 34 points in the win, and Mikan contributed 15. The Knicks' protest over the unseen basket was eventually denied by Podoloff.
Game 2 -- Knicks 80, Lakers 72
The teams were back in St. Paul for Game 2 with arena scheduling conflicts keeping the Lakers out of Minneapolis once again. The Knicks dominated on defense and stifled the Lakers' big men.
Defenders Al McGuire and Ernie Vandeweghe held Game 1 high scorer Jim Pollard scoreless in the first half, and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton held George Mikan to just four field goals over the course of the game.
New York outscored Minneapolis 30-14 in the second quarter, and led by as many as twelve points early on. The Lakers closed the gap to five points in the fourth quarter, but New York's Connie Simmons scored four straight points and the Knicks' lead was safe.
Harry Gallatin led the Knicks with 18 points, and teammate Ray Lumpp tallied 15. Mikan finished the game with 18 points, and Pollard only managed 13 points after scoring 34 in Game 1. New York evened the series at one game apiece, and negated Minneapolis' home-court advantage.
Defenders Al McGuire and Ernie Vandeweghe held Game 1 high scorer Jim Pollard scoreless in the first half, and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton held George Mikan to just four field goals over the course of the game.
New York outscored Minneapolis 30-14 in the second quarter, and led by as many as twelve points early on. The Lakers closed the gap to five points in the fourth quarter, but New York's Connie Simmons scored four straight points and the Knicks' lead was safe.
Harry Gallatin led the Knicks with 18 points, and teammate Ray Lumpp tallied 15. Mikan finished the game with 18 points, and Pollard only managed 13 points after scoring 34 in Game 1. New York evened the series at one game apiece, and negated Minneapolis' home-court advantage.
Game 3 -- Lakers 82, Knicks 77
The series shifted to New York's 69th Regiment Armory, where the Knicks had won 23 straight home games. Game 3 was scheduled at the same time as the home opener for baseball's New York Giants, harness racing at Yonkers and the televised broadcast of the title fight between boxers Rocky Graziano and Sugar Ray Robinson.
As a result, a less-than-capacity crowd of only 4,500 showed up to watch the Knicks try to take a series lead. The Knicks came out running early in the game, and went on an 11-0 run in the first half. Al McGuire continued his outstanding defense and held the Lakers' big man Jim Pollard scoreless for a 14-minute stretch.
The Lakers chipped away, however, and the game became a back-and-forth contest in with 15 lead changes. The game was tied at 71 with six minutes left, but George Mikan and Jim Pollard led the Lakers on a run that put the game away. The Lakers took the lead in the series, two games to one.
Mikan finally found his scoring touch, and posted 26 points after only managing 33 in Games 1 and 2 combined. He also pulled down 17 rebounds. Max Zaslofsky led the Knicks with 17 points in the losing effort.
As a result, a less-than-capacity crowd of only 4,500 showed up to watch the Knicks try to take a series lead. The Knicks came out running early in the game, and went on an 11-0 run in the first half. Al McGuire continued his outstanding defense and held the Lakers' big man Jim Pollard scoreless for a 14-minute stretch.
The Lakers chipped away, however, and the game became a back-and-forth contest in with 15 lead changes. The game was tied at 71 with six minutes left, but George Mikan and Jim Pollard led the Lakers on a run that put the game away. The Lakers took the lead in the series, two games to one.
Mikan finally found his scoring touch, and posted 26 points after only managing 33 in Games 1 and 2 combined. He also pulled down 17 rebounds. Max Zaslofsky led the Knicks with 17 points in the losing effort.
Game 4 -- Knicks 90, Lakers 89 (OT)
The Knicks avenged their Game 1 overtime loss by taking Game 4 in extra time. The Knicks trailed narrowly at the end of the third quarter, but managed to take a one-point lead with eight seconds remaining in regulation. Lakers' reserve Pep Saul made a free throw to tie the score at 77.
Minneapolis stars George Mikan and Vern Mikkelsen fouled out in the fourth quarter, and the Knicks took advantage of their absence in overtime. With the Laker big men sidelined, it was guard Slater Martin who kept Minneapolis in the game. Martin finished the game with a team-high 32 points.
New York was up 87-81 with 1:15 to go in overtime, but the Lakers scored 5 straight points in less than a minute to come within one point. The Knicks regained possession with five seconds left, and Minneapolis didn't get a chance at a winning shot.
Connie Simmons posted 30 points in the New York victory, and his teammate Al McGuire recorded 10. The Knicks' defensive front of Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, Ernie Vandeweghe and McGuire held the Minneapolis triumvirate of Mikan, Mikkelsen and Jim Pollard to 31 combined points.
Mikan finished with just 11 points in the game, bringing his average to 17.5 points per game for the series. The Knicks and Lakers headed back to Minnesota all square at two games apiece.
Minneapolis stars George Mikan and Vern Mikkelsen fouled out in the fourth quarter, and the Knicks took advantage of their absence in overtime. With the Laker big men sidelined, it was guard Slater Martin who kept Minneapolis in the game. Martin finished the game with a team-high 32 points.
New York was up 87-81 with 1:15 to go in overtime, but the Lakers scored 5 straight points in less than a minute to come within one point. The Knicks regained possession with five seconds left, and Minneapolis didn't get a chance at a winning shot.
Connie Simmons posted 30 points in the New York victory, and his teammate Al McGuire recorded 10. The Knicks' defensive front of Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, Ernie Vandeweghe and McGuire held the Minneapolis triumvirate of Mikan, Mikkelsen and Jim Pollard to 31 combined points.
Mikan finished with just 11 points in the game, bringing his average to 17.5 points per game for the series. The Knicks and Lakers headed back to Minnesota all square at two games apiece.
Game 5 -- Lakers 102, Knicks 89
The Lakers found themselves shorthanded heading into Game 5 in St. Paul. Key frontcourt player Jim Pollard suffered a back injury in Game 4, and was unable to go. Lakers coach John Kundla started 6-foot-1 guard Bob Harrison at forward in place of Pollard. Minneapolis' other two big men, George Mikan and Vern Mikkelsen, stepped up their games in the absence of Pollard and the Lakers took Game 5 going away.
The Knicks were up by three points with 48 seconds remaining in the first half, but the Lakers took a one-point lead going into halftime and never relinquished it. Minneapolis went on a third-quarter run led by Harrison, who went 4 for 4 from the field in the period. Mikan and Mikkelsen scored 32 points apiece, and Harrison added 13 in relief of Pollard.
Pep Saul contributed 15 points, as the Lakers blew out the Knicks to take a 3-2 series lead. Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton led five Knicks in double figures with 17 points. In addition to busting out of his scoring slump, Mikan also recorded his 10,000th professional point in the fourth quarter.
The Knicks were up by three points with 48 seconds remaining in the first half, but the Lakers took a one-point lead going into halftime and never relinquished it. Minneapolis went on a third-quarter run led by Harrison, who went 4 for 4 from the field in the period. Mikan and Mikkelsen scored 32 points apiece, and Harrison added 13 in relief of Pollard.
Pep Saul contributed 15 points, as the Lakers blew out the Knicks to take a 3-2 series lead. Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton led five Knicks in double figures with 17 points. In addition to busting out of his scoring slump, Mikan also recorded his 10,000th professional point in the fourth quarter.
Game 6 -- Knicks 76, Lakers 68
After the Game 5 blowout, only 3,000 fans showed up at the 69th Street Armory to watch the Knicks attempt to salvage the series at home. In an attempt to light a fire under his team, New York coach Joe Lapchick shuffled his starting lineup. He started Connie Simmons over Harry Gallatin at center. Despite coming off the bench in the first five contests, Simmons was the Knicks' leading scorer in the Finals. He averaged 16.2 points per game.
The Lakers were again without key scorer Jim Pollard, who could not return from the back injury he suffered in Game 4. The Knicks' stifling defense kicked in once again, and held the Lakers to just 68 points.
The game was close until the Knicks scored eight straight points with 7:30 remaining in the fourth quarter. Max Zaslofsky, who had only averaged 9.4 PPG in the series to that point, broke out for 17 points in the second half and 23 overall. George Mikan finished with a game-high 28, but the rest of the Lakers only combined for 40 total points.
The Knicks avoided elimination and tied the series at 3, but they had to win in Minnesota if they wanted to take home their first NBA title.
The Lakers were again without key scorer Jim Pollard, who could not return from the back injury he suffered in Game 4. The Knicks' stifling defense kicked in once again, and held the Lakers to just 68 points.
The game was close until the Knicks scored eight straight points with 7:30 remaining in the fourth quarter. Max Zaslofsky, who had only averaged 9.4 PPG in the series to that point, broke out for 17 points in the second half and 23 overall. George Mikan finished with a game-high 28, but the rest of the Lakers only combined for 40 total points.
The Knicks avoided elimination and tied the series at 3, but they had to win in Minnesota if they wanted to take home their first NBA title.
Game 7 -- Lakers 82, Knicks 65
After the Game 5 blowout, only 3,000 fans showed up at the 69th Street Armory to watch the Knicks attempt to salvage the series at home. In an attempt to light a fire under his team, New York coach Joe Lapchick shuffled his starting lineup. He started Connie Simmons over Harry Gallatin at center. Despite coming off the bench in the first five contests, Simmons was the Knicks' leading scorer in the Finals. He averaged 16.2 points per game.
The Lakers were again without key scorer Jim Pollard, who could not return from the back injury he suffered in Game 4. The Knicks' stifling defense kicked in once again, and held the Lakers to just 68 points.
The game was close until the Knicks scored eight straight points with 7:30 remaining in the fourth quarter. Max Zaslofsky, who had only averaged 9.4 PPG in the series to that point, broke out for 17 points in the second half and 23 overall. George Mikan finished with a game-high 28, but the rest of the Lakers only combined for 40 total points.
The Knicks avoided elimination and tied the series at 3, but they had to win in Minnesota if they wanted to take home their first NBA title.
The Lakers finally got to play on their home floor at Minneapolis Auditorium in Game 7, after playing previous Finals home games in St. Paul due to scheduling conflicts with a sportsman's convention. That was bad news for the Knicks, who were 0-11 in Minneapolis over the course of the four previous seasons.
The court in Minneapolis was 2 feet shorter and 5 feet narrower than the one at the Knicks' home arena, which neutralized New York's run-and-gun style. Even worse for the Knicks, Lakers' forward Jim Pollard returned from the back injury that kept him out of Games 5 and 6.
With those factors at hand, the Lakers set about blowing out New York. Minneapolis shot out to a 34-22 lead early in the second quarter and never looked back. This time, it was the Lakers who showed defensive prowess, holding the Knicks to just 10 made field goals in the first three quarters of play.
With the margin so wide early, the game got dicey. New York's Dick McGuire and Minneapolis' Mikan were both assessed technical fouls during the game, and a double foul was called on Vern Mikkelsen and Gallatin.
Zaslofsky led the Knicks with 21 points, and his teammate Simmons added 13, but no other Knick managed double figures. New York finished the game having made just 18 of 64 field goal attempts, a 28 percent success rate.
Pollard added the final straw for Minneapolis when he scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter. The 8,612 fans in attendance rushed the court when the game was over, and the Lakers carried head coach John Kundla off the court on their shoulders.
Minneapolis won a $7,500 bonus as the league champion. For the second straight season, New York lost a Finals series in seven games. The Lakers took home their third title in four seasons, and Mikan was a unanimous All-Star selection in the postseason.
The Lakers were again without key scorer Jim Pollard, who could not return from the back injury he suffered in Game 4. The Knicks' stifling defense kicked in once again, and held the Lakers to just 68 points.
The game was close until the Knicks scored eight straight points with 7:30 remaining in the fourth quarter. Max Zaslofsky, who had only averaged 9.4 PPG in the series to that point, broke out for 17 points in the second half and 23 overall. George Mikan finished with a game-high 28, but the rest of the Lakers only combined for 40 total points.
The Knicks avoided elimination and tied the series at 3, but they had to win in Minnesota if they wanted to take home their first NBA title.
The Lakers finally got to play on their home floor at Minneapolis Auditorium in Game 7, after playing previous Finals home games in St. Paul due to scheduling conflicts with a sportsman's convention. That was bad news for the Knicks, who were 0-11 in Minneapolis over the course of the four previous seasons.
The court in Minneapolis was 2 feet shorter and 5 feet narrower than the one at the Knicks' home arena, which neutralized New York's run-and-gun style. Even worse for the Knicks, Lakers' forward Jim Pollard returned from the back injury that kept him out of Games 5 and 6.
With those factors at hand, the Lakers set about blowing out New York. Minneapolis shot out to a 34-22 lead early in the second quarter and never looked back. This time, it was the Lakers who showed defensive prowess, holding the Knicks to just 10 made field goals in the first three quarters of play.
With the margin so wide early, the game got dicey. New York's Dick McGuire and Minneapolis' Mikan were both assessed technical fouls during the game, and a double foul was called on Vern Mikkelsen and Gallatin.
Zaslofsky led the Knicks with 21 points, and his teammate Simmons added 13, but no other Knick managed double figures. New York finished the game having made just 18 of 64 field goal attempts, a 28 percent success rate.
Pollard added the final straw for Minneapolis when he scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter. The 8,612 fans in attendance rushed the court when the game was over, and the Lakers carried head coach John Kundla off the court on their shoulders.
Minneapolis won a $7,500 bonus as the league champion. For the second straight season, New York lost a Finals series in seven games. The Lakers took home their third title in four seasons, and Mikan was a unanimous All-Star selection in the postseason.