Overview
The Syracuse Nationals defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons four games to three in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series to conclude the 1954-55 season. The series was the first championship for the Nationals who were making their second consecutive appearance in the NBA Finals.
The Nationals lost to the Minneapolis Lakers in seven games in the 1954 Finals. The 1955 championship was the Nationals only title while based in Syracuse. They did not reach the Finals again until 1967 as the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Pistons made their first of two consecutive Finals appearances in 1955. Prior to this season, they had just two postseason series wins in franchise history.
Years later, some Pistons players were accused of conspiring with gamblers to throw the 1955 Finals, and intentionally lose to Syracuse. Pistons star George Yardley told author Charlie Rosen he believed Andy Phillip, who committed a key turnover with 3 seconds left in Game 7, threw the game.
The 1955 series was also the first NBA Finals played in the shot-clock era. The difference was noticeable in the final scores. The two teams averaged a combined 179 points in the series compared to an average of 145 the previous year.
The Nationals had home-court advantage for the Finals, which were played under the 2-3-2 format for the last time until 1985. The Nationals won seven of the nine regular-season meetings between the two teams in 1954-55.
The Nationals lost to the Minneapolis Lakers in seven games in the 1954 Finals. The 1955 championship was the Nationals only title while based in Syracuse. They did not reach the Finals again until 1967 as the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Pistons made their first of two consecutive Finals appearances in 1955. Prior to this season, they had just two postseason series wins in franchise history.
Years later, some Pistons players were accused of conspiring with gamblers to throw the 1955 Finals, and intentionally lose to Syracuse. Pistons star George Yardley told author Charlie Rosen he believed Andy Phillip, who committed a key turnover with 3 seconds left in Game 7, threw the game.
The 1955 series was also the first NBA Finals played in the shot-clock era. The difference was noticeable in the final scores. The two teams averaged a combined 179 points in the series compared to an average of 145 the previous year.
The Nationals had home-court advantage for the Finals, which were played under the 2-3-2 format for the last time until 1985. The Nationals won seven of the nine regular-season meetings between the two teams in 1954-55.
Road to the Finals
| Team | Pistons | Nationals |
| Regular Season | 43-29, 1st in Western Division | 43-29, 1st in Eastern Division |
| Division Semifinals | Bye | Bye |
| Division Finals | Def. (2) Minneapolis Lakers, 3-1 | Def. (3) Boston Celtics, 3-1 |
Game 1 - Nationals 86, Pistons 82
Dick Farley came off the bench, with the Nationals trailing by four, and quickly scored four points and assisted on a Red Rocha basket. The shot put Syracuse ahead for good, and gave the Nationals a 1-0 series lead.
The Nationals led by as many as 12 points in the first half, but Fort Wayne stepped up its defense in the second half, and held Syracuse to 38 points after halftime.
Rocha led the Nationals with 19 points. Center Larry Foust had 26 points for the Pistons, leading all scorers.
The Nationals led by as many as 12 points in the first half, but Fort Wayne stepped up its defense in the second half, and held Syracuse to 38 points after halftime.
Rocha led the Nationals with 19 points. Center Larry Foust had 26 points for the Pistons, leading all scorers.
Game 2 - Nationals 87, Pistons 84
The Nationals led by 11 at halftime, but were outscored 27-14 in the third quarter, and blew a double-digit lead for the second consecutive game.
Dolph Schayes, who struggled in game 1 and for the first three quarters of game 2, exploded for eight quick points at the beginning of the fourth quarter, and put the Nationals ahead for good.
The Pistons cut the lead to one with 30 seconds left, but Red Rocha hit a 25-foot shot with the shot clock expiring to clinch the game.
The Nationals improved to 26-0 all-time at home against the Pistons. Schayes led all scorers with 24 points. George Yardley led the Pistons with 21 points.
Dolph Schayes, who struggled in game 1 and for the first three quarters of game 2, exploded for eight quick points at the beginning of the fourth quarter, and put the Nationals ahead for good.
The Pistons cut the lead to one with 30 seconds left, but Red Rocha hit a 25-foot shot with the shot clock expiring to clinch the game.
The Nationals improved to 26-0 all-time at home against the Pistons. Schayes led all scorers with 24 points. George Yardley led the Pistons with 21 points.
Game 3 - Pistons 96, Nationals 89
In front of a crowd that was less than half of capacity, the Pistons outscored the Nationals 26-14 in the third quarter, and held off a Syracuse comeback to earn their first win of the series.
The Pistons, who led by as many as 15 points, clung to a four-point lead with a minute to go. They sealed the game on free throws by Larry Foust and Dick Rosenthal, and a field goal by Andy Phillip.
Mel Hutchins led all scorers with 22 points for Fort Wayne. Dolph Schayes and Red Rocha each had 15 for Syracuse.
The Pistons, who led by as many as 15 points, clung to a four-point lead with a minute to go. They sealed the game on free throws by Larry Foust and Dick Rosenthal, and a field goal by Andy Phillip.
Mel Hutchins led all scorers with 22 points for Fort Wayne. Dolph Schayes and Red Rocha each had 15 for Syracuse.
Game 4 - Pistons 109, Nationals 102
The Pistons again broke open a tight game in the third quarter, and led by as many as 18 points before cruising to a seven-point win.
Fort Wayne led by three points after the first quarter despite 14 points by Syracuse's Dolph Schayes. For the game, the Pistons shot 45.2 percent from the field (38 of 84), and held the Nationals to 31.1 percent shooting (32 of 103).
Fort Wayne used a balanced attack with seven players scoring between 10 and 18 points. Schayes led Syracuse with 28 points.
Fort Wayne led by three points after the first quarter despite 14 points by Syracuse's Dolph Schayes. For the game, the Pistons shot 45.2 percent from the field (38 of 84), and held the Nationals to 31.1 percent shooting (32 of 103).
Fort Wayne used a balanced attack with seven players scoring between 10 and 18 points. Schayes led Syracuse with 28 points.
Game 5 - Pistons 74, Nationals 71
The Pistons took a 13-12 lead in the first quarter, stretched it to as much as 15 points and nearly gave it away before holding on for a three-point victory.
Syracuse outscored Fort Wayne 26-16 in the final quarter, but Red Rocha missed a potential go-ahead shot for Syracuse with under a minute left.
Syracuse coach Al Cervi got into a scuffle with a fan over a foul, which led to a five-minute delay before Frank Brian could attempt his free throws.
George Yardley had 16 points for the Pistons to lead all scorers. Bill Kenville had 15 points for Syracuse, most of them coming in the fourth quarter.
Syracuse outscored Fort Wayne 26-16 in the final quarter, but Red Rocha missed a potential go-ahead shot for Syracuse with under a minute left.
Syracuse coach Al Cervi got into a scuffle with a fan over a foul, which led to a five-minute delay before Frank Brian could attempt his free throws.
George Yardley had 16 points for the Pistons to lead all scorers. Bill Kenville had 15 points for Syracuse, most of them coming in the fourth quarter.
Game 6 - Nationals 109, Pistons 104
Syracuse continued to be a house of horrors for the Pistons, who blew a six-point lead in the fourth quarter to force a seventh game.
The game was tied at 103 with 90 seconds left, when John Kerr put the Nationals in front for good with a jumper. Dick Farley scored a tap-in on Syracuse's next possession, and gave them a four-point cushion and clinched the win.
The two teams combined for 64 fouls, and each team had one starter foul out.
Dolph Schayes led Syracuse with 28 points, including 14 from the free-throw line. George Yardley scored 31 points for the Pistons to lead all scorers.
In the second quarter, the Nationals Wally Osterkorn and the Pistons Don Mieneke got into a fight that resulted in fans spilling onto the court. Police were brought in to break up the brawl. No one was seriously injured, and the game continued without further incident.
The game was tied at 103 with 90 seconds left, when John Kerr put the Nationals in front for good with a jumper. Dick Farley scored a tap-in on Syracuse's next possession, and gave them a four-point cushion and clinched the win.
The two teams combined for 64 fouls, and each team had one starter foul out.
Dolph Schayes led Syracuse with 28 points, including 14 from the free-throw line. George Yardley scored 31 points for the Pistons to lead all scorers.
In the second quarter, the Nationals Wally Osterkorn and the Pistons Don Mieneke got into a fight that resulted in fans spilling onto the court. Police were brought in to break up the brawl. No one was seriously injured, and the game continued without further incident.
Game 7 - Nationals 92, Pistons 91
The Pistons took a 10-point lead in the first quarter, and led by as many as 17 early in the second quarter, but the game was tied entering the fourth quarter.
The two teams went back and forth in the final 12 minutes, which led to a 91-91 tie with under a minute remaining.
George Yardley, the Pistons leading scorer for the series, turned the ball over with a traveling violation. Frank Brian committed a foul on the ensuing possession, and sent George King to the free throw line.
King made one free throw to put Syracuse ahead then stole the ball from Andy Phillip with three seconds left. The theft clinched the win and the title for Syracuse.
King and Billy Kenville led seven Nationals in double figures with 15 points each. Larry Foust led the Pistons with 24 points, and Yardley was held to just nine.
When the NBA ranked the 60 Greatest Playoff Moments in conjunction with the league's 60th anniversary, King's steal ranked No. 51 on the list.
The two teams went back and forth in the final 12 minutes, which led to a 91-91 tie with under a minute remaining.
George Yardley, the Pistons leading scorer for the series, turned the ball over with a traveling violation. Frank Brian committed a foul on the ensuing possession, and sent George King to the free throw line.
King made one free throw to put Syracuse ahead then stole the ball from Andy Phillip with three seconds left. The theft clinched the win and the title for Syracuse.
King and Billy Kenville led seven Nationals in double figures with 15 points each. Larry Foust led the Pistons with 24 points, and Yardley was held to just nine.
When the NBA ranked the 60 Greatest Playoff Moments in conjunction with the league's 60th anniversary, King's steal ranked No. 51 on the list.