Overview
The Philadelphia Warriors defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons four games to one in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series to conclude the 1955-56 season. This was the second championship for the Warriors and the first since the inaugural Basketball Association of America Finals in 1947. It was also the last championship the Warriors would win before moving to San Francisco.
The Pistons were making their second consecutive Finals appearance after losing to the Syracuse Nationals in the 1955 Finals. The Pistons moved to Detroit following the 1956-57 season, and did not return to the Finals until 1988.
The Warriors had home-court advantage for the first game of the Finals. The venue then alternated between Fort Wayne and Philadelphia for each game. The Warriors won five of the nine regular-season meetings between the teams in 1955-56.
The Pistons were making their second consecutive Finals appearance after losing to the Syracuse Nationals in the 1955 Finals. The Pistons moved to Detroit following the 1956-57 season, and did not return to the Finals until 1988.
The Warriors had home-court advantage for the first game of the Finals. The venue then alternated between Fort Wayne and Philadelphia for each game. The Warriors won five of the nine regular-season meetings between the teams in 1955-56.
Road to the Finals
| Team | Pistons | Warriors |
| Regular Season | 34-38, t-1st in Western Division | 44-28, 1st in Eastern Division |
| Division Semifinals | Bye | Bye |
| Division Finals | Def. (3) St. Louis Hawks, 3-2 | Def. (3) Syracuse Nationals, 3-2 |
Game 1 - Warriors 98, Pistons 94
The Warriors were down by 15 points in the second quarter when Ernie Beck came off the bench, and sparked a game 1 victory comeback.
After Fort Wayne held Philadelphia to just one field goal in the first eight and a half minutes of the second quarter, Beck came in and pulled Philadelphia to within nine at halftime.
He then scored 11 of his 23 points in the third quarter, as the Warriors outscored the Pistons 33-15 to take control of the game. The Pistons kept things close, in part thanks to their 28 of 30 shooting from the free throw line.
Paul Arizin led the Warriors with 28 points. Beck scored his 23 on 10 of 13 shooting from the field. George Yardley led the Pistons with 27 points.
After Fort Wayne held Philadelphia to just one field goal in the first eight and a half minutes of the second quarter, Beck came in and pulled Philadelphia to within nine at halftime.
He then scored 11 of his 23 points in the third quarter, as the Warriors outscored the Pistons 33-15 to take control of the game. The Pistons kept things close, in part thanks to their 28 of 30 shooting from the free throw line.
Paul Arizin led the Warriors with 28 points. Beck scored his 23 on 10 of 13 shooting from the field. George Yardley led the Pistons with 27 points.
Game 2 - Pistons 84, Warriors 83
George Yardley made a pair of free-throws with 43 seconds left and blocked a potential game-winning shot by Paul Arizin to give the Pistons the win in game 2 and even the series at one game apiece. Unlike game 1, the game was a tight throughout with multiple lead changes in the fourth quarter.
Yardley led all scorers with 30 points, and held game 1 star, Ernie Beck, to just nine. Arizin led the Warriors with 27 points.
Yardley led all scorers with 30 points, and held game 1 star, Ernie Beck, to just nine. Arizin led the Warriors with 27 points.
Game 3 - Warriors 100, Pistons 96
After a tight first half, the Warriors held the Pistons to just 14 points in the third quarter, and turned a three-point deficit into an eight-point lead. The Pistons held on for a game 3 victory.
The Pistons shot just 4 of 21 from the field in the third quarter, and the Warriors went 10 of 23, outscoring Fort Wayne 25-14.
Paul Arizin scored 27 points to lead all scorers and Neil Johnston chipped in with 20. Fort Wayne was led by Larry Foust, who finished with 19 points.
The Pistons shot just 4 of 21 from the field in the third quarter, and the Warriors went 10 of 23, outscoring Fort Wayne 25-14.
Paul Arizin scored 27 points to lead all scorers and Neil Johnston chipped in with 20. Fort Wayne was led by Larry Foust, who finished with 19 points.
Game 4 - Warriors 107, Pistons 105
The Warriors were up by six with 1:53 to play, but the Pistons went on a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to one.
After George Dempsey made a free throw to give Philadelphia a two-point cushion, the Pistons missed their first shot at tying the game. They got the rebound and Corky Devlin made a desperation shot, but it was just after time expired.
The Warriors won in Fort Wayne for the first time since February of 1952. Paul Arizin was again the star scoring a game-high 30 points. George Yardley bounced back from a disappointed game 3 to lead the Pistons with 21 points, including the basket that pulled the Pistons within one with 40 seconds left.
After George Dempsey made a free throw to give Philadelphia a two-point cushion, the Pistons missed their first shot at tying the game. They got the rebound and Corky Devlin made a desperation shot, but it was just after time expired.
The Warriors won in Fort Wayne for the first time since February of 1952. Paul Arizin was again the star scoring a game-high 30 points. George Yardley bounced back from a disappointed game 3 to lead the Pistons with 21 points, including the basket that pulled the Pistons within one with 40 seconds left.
Game 5 - Warriors 99, Pistons 88
The Warriors closed the third quarter on an 8-3 run, and stretched a four-point lead to nine and take control of the game for good.
Fort Wayne never got closer than seven points in the fourth quarter. Rookie Tom Gola scored four of the eight points in the run, and he and Paul Arizin each had 10 points in the third quarter to lead the Pistons to the win.
Joe Graboski led the Warriors with 29 points and Arizin added 26. He finished the postseason with 289 points in 10 games, the fourth-best total in NBA history at the time behind a trio of postseasons by Lakers' star George Mikan.
George Yardley led the Pistons with 30 points in the loss.
Fort Wayne never got closer than seven points in the fourth quarter. Rookie Tom Gola scored four of the eight points in the run, and he and Paul Arizin each had 10 points in the third quarter to lead the Pistons to the win.
Joe Graboski led the Warriors with 29 points and Arizin added 26. He finished the postseason with 289 points in 10 games, the fourth-best total in NBA history at the time behind a trio of postseasons by Lakers' star George Mikan.
George Yardley led the Pistons with 30 points in the loss.