Overview
The Boston Celtics defeated the St. Louis Hawks four games to three in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series to conclude the 1956-57 season. This was the first championship for the Celtics, sparking a win streak of 11 championships in 13 seasons.
The Hawks were also making their first Finals appearance. They also started a line of Finals appearances showing up in three of the next four seasons, each time against the Celtics.
This series was heavily impacted by a trade the two teams made before the season. The Hawks drafted center Bill Russell with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1956 NBA Draft, but Celtics coach Red Auerbach coveted Russell. The Hawks agreed to trade Russell's rights to the Celtics in exchange for Ed Macauley and the draft rights to Cliff Hagan. Russell ended up leading the NBA in rebounding average, and Macauley was the Hawks second-leading scorer.
The Celtics had home-court advantage for the Finals, and won seven of the nine regular-season meetings between the teams in 1956-57.
The Hawks were also making their first Finals appearance. They also started a line of Finals appearances showing up in three of the next four seasons, each time against the Celtics.
This series was heavily impacted by a trade the two teams made before the season. The Hawks drafted center Bill Russell with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1956 NBA Draft, but Celtics coach Red Auerbach coveted Russell. The Hawks agreed to trade Russell's rights to the Celtics in exchange for Ed Macauley and the draft rights to Cliff Hagan. Russell ended up leading the NBA in rebounding average, and Macauley was the Hawks second-leading scorer.
The Celtics had home-court advantage for the Finals, and won seven of the nine regular-season meetings between the teams in 1956-57.
Road to the Finals
| Team | Hawks | Celtics |
| Regular Season | 34-38, t-1st in Western Division | 44-28, 1st in Eastern Division |
| Western Division Tiebreaker #1 | Def. Minneapolis Lakers | N/A |
| Western Division Tiebreaker #2 | Def. Fort Wayne Pistons | N/A |
| Division Semifinals | Bye | Bye |
| Division Finals | Def. (2) Minneapolis Lakers, 3-0 | Def. (2) Syracuse Nationals, 3-0 |
Game 1 - Hawks 125, Celtics 123 (2 OT)
In the first multi-overtime game in Finals history, Jack Coleman made a 15-foot jumper with 30 seconds left to account for the game's final points and give the Hawks a two-point win.
The Celtics forced the game into overtime on a tip-in by Rookie of the Year Tom Heinsohn with five seconds left in regulation. Boston was trailing again in overtime, when Bob Cousy hit a set-shot with 15 seconds left to tie the game and send it into double-overtime.
Bob Pettit led all scorers with 37 points, and taking advantage of Boston's foul trouble inside. Rookie center Bill Russell fouled out in the first overtime, and Boston's other center, Arnie Risin, followed Russell to the bench in the second overtime session. Pettit took advantage scoring the tying basket on a lay-up with a minute left in the second overtime. Former Celtic Macauley had 23, as did Slater Martin.
Bill Sharman led Boston with 36 points, and Heinsohn and Cousy each had 26.
Game 2 - Celtics 119, Hawks 99
A day after losing in double-overtime, the Celtics stormed out of the gates. They took a 10-point lead at the end of the first quarter, and extended the deficit to 19 at halftime. Boston's defense and rebounding kept the Hawks from ever mounting a serious comeback.
Bob Cousy and Frank Ramsey each scored 22 points to lead the Celtics. Ramsey scored eight of Boston's last 11 points in the first quarter, and turned a tie game into a blowout. Ed Macauley led the Hawks with 19 points. Bob Pettit was held to 11 points, including just two in the second half.
Bob Cousy and Frank Ramsey each scored 22 points to lead the Celtics. Ramsey scored eight of Boston's last 11 points in the first quarter, and turned a tie game into a blowout. Ed Macauley led the Hawks with 19 points. Bob Pettit was held to 11 points, including just two in the second half.
Game 3 - Hawks 100, Celtics 98
After five days off, the series resumed in St. Louis and tempers flared from the get-go. Celtics coach Red Auerbach punched Hawks owner Ben Kerner before the game began. Auerbach demanded the officials measure the height of the Celtics' basket, and after they found it to be regulation, Kerner began needling Auerbach.
The game itself was tied 18 times, and the Celtics were clinging to a four point lead with 4:13 left before an 8-0 run by the Hawks put St. Louis up 97-93. The Celtics rallied to tie the game at 98 with one minute left, but Bob Pettit made a go-ahead jumper with 44 seconds left to account for the game's final points.
Pettit led the Hawks with 26 points and outrebounded Bill Russell 28-19. Russell suffered a torn back muscle in the game. Bill Sharman was the Celtics leading scorer with 28 points, but fouled out with two minutes left in the game.
The game itself was tied 18 times, and the Celtics were clinging to a four point lead with 4:13 left before an 8-0 run by the Hawks put St. Louis up 97-93. The Celtics rallied to tie the game at 98 with one minute left, but Bob Pettit made a go-ahead jumper with 44 seconds left to account for the game's final points.
Pettit led the Hawks with 26 points and outrebounded Bill Russell 28-19. Russell suffered a torn back muscle in the game. Bill Sharman was the Celtics leading scorer with 28 points, but fouled out with two minutes left in the game.
Game 4 - Celtics 123, Hawks 118
Bob Cousy led the Celtics to a big lead early, and Boston held on for a five-point victory. The Celtics led by 13 points at halftime and were up 85-67 midway through the third quarter before a 29-12 Hawks run cut the lead to one early in the fourth quarter.
The Hawks pulled to within one point of the Celtics four more times in the game, but jumpers by Tom Heinsohn and Jim Loscutoff put the game away for Boston.
Cousy led the Celtics with 31 points, including five long jumpers during the second quarter when the Celtics outscored the Hawks 35-17. Bob Pettit led all scorers with 33 points, but sat out most of the second and third quarters after complaining of being tired. Bill Russell played despite his injury.
The Hawks pulled to within one point of the Celtics four more times in the game, but jumpers by Tom Heinsohn and Jim Loscutoff put the game away for Boston.
Cousy led the Celtics with 31 points, including five long jumpers during the second quarter when the Celtics outscored the Hawks 35-17. Bob Pettit led all scorers with 33 points, but sat out most of the second and third quarters after complaining of being tired. Bill Russell played despite his injury.
Game 5 - Celtics 123, Hawks 109
The Celtics outscored the Hawks 73-55 over the second and third quarters, taking a 3-2 series lead. Bill Sharman, Bob Cousy, Bill Russell and Tom Heinsohn led the surge. Russell, who finished with 14 points, put Boston in front for good with a dunk to make the score 71-70.
Sharman finished with 32 points, Heinsohn had 23 and Cousy had 21 for the Celtics. Boston's dominance offset another 30-point performance by Bob Pettit. Russell kept Pettit off the boards during the Celtics comeback. Pettit had 14 of his 15 rebounds in the first half, and Russell grabbed 14 of his 23 rebounds after halftime.
Sharman finished with 32 points, Heinsohn had 23 and Cousy had 21 for the Celtics. Boston's dominance offset another 30-point performance by Bob Pettit. Russell kept Pettit off the boards during the Celtics comeback. Pettit had 14 of his 15 rebounds in the first half, and Russell grabbed 14 of his 23 rebounds after halftime.
Game 6 - Hawks 96, Celtics 94
Facing elimination, the Hawks forced a Game 7 on a Cliff Hagan putback in the final seconds giving them a two-point victory.
Bob Pettit tied the game on a jump shot with 2:21 left in the game, and neither team scored again until Hagan's game-winning basket, which came after Pettit missed a jumper from the corner. There were 23 lead changes and 20 ties in the game.
Pettit led all scorers with 32 points. Tom Heinsohn led the Celtics with 28 points.
Bob Pettit tied the game on a jump shot with 2:21 left in the game, and neither team scored again until Hagan's game-winning basket, which came after Pettit missed a jumper from the corner. There were 23 lead changes and 20 ties in the game.
Pettit led all scorers with 32 points. Tom Heinsohn led the Celtics with 28 points.
Game 7 - Celtics 125, Hawks 123 (2 OT)
For the second time in the series, two overtimes were required to decide the game. St. Louis nearly sent the game into a third overtime before falling. With only one chance to tie the game in the second overtime, player-coach Alex Hannum, playing for the first time in the series, banked his inbounds pass off the backboard to Bob Pettit. Unfortunately for Hawks, Pettit missed the ensuing jump shot, and handed over the Boston Celtics' first title.
Boston led by six points in the fourth quarter, but St. Louis slowly cut into the lead. The Celtics had a two-point lead near the end of regulation, but Bill Russell fouled Pettit sending him to the line for the game-tying free throws. He hit both and forced the first overtime.
In the first overtime, with the game tied at 111, Frank Ramsey and Jack Coleman both missed a pair of free throws, leaving the game tied. Tom Heinsohn looked to put the Celtics ahead for good by making a lay-up with 15 seconds left. Coleman quickly responded for the Hawks by making a one-handed runner to tie the game at 113.
Ramsey put Boston up by three with a four-point spurt late in the second overtime and the Celtics hung on for the victory despite some poor free throw shooting. Boston went 31 of 52 from the free-throw line, and St. Louis was 45 of 61.
Heinsohn led Boston with 37 points, and Russell had 19 points and a rookie-record 32 rebounds. Pettit led all scorers with 39 points. Cliff Hagan added 24 and Slater Martin had 23 for the Hawks. St. Louis had four players foul out, forcing Hannum to play in the last game of his career.
When the NBA compiled its list of the 60 Greatest Playoff Moments to coincide with the league's 60th anniversary, this game was ranked No. 23 on the list.
Boston led by six points in the fourth quarter, but St. Louis slowly cut into the lead. The Celtics had a two-point lead near the end of regulation, but Bill Russell fouled Pettit sending him to the line for the game-tying free throws. He hit both and forced the first overtime.
In the first overtime, with the game tied at 111, Frank Ramsey and Jack Coleman both missed a pair of free throws, leaving the game tied. Tom Heinsohn looked to put the Celtics ahead for good by making a lay-up with 15 seconds left. Coleman quickly responded for the Hawks by making a one-handed runner to tie the game at 113.
Ramsey put Boston up by three with a four-point spurt late in the second overtime and the Celtics hung on for the victory despite some poor free throw shooting. Boston went 31 of 52 from the free-throw line, and St. Louis was 45 of 61.
Heinsohn led Boston with 37 points, and Russell had 19 points and a rookie-record 32 rebounds. Pettit led all scorers with 39 points. Cliff Hagan added 24 and Slater Martin had 23 for the Hawks. St. Louis had four players foul out, forcing Hannum to play in the last game of his career.
When the NBA compiled its list of the 60 Greatest Playoff Moments to coincide with the league's 60th anniversary, this game was ranked No. 23 on the list.