Overview
The Boston Celtics defeated the Minneapolis Lakers four games to none in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series to conclude the 1958-59 season. The victory gave the Celtics their second NBA championship and was the first of eight consecutive championships.
The Lakers made their sixth appearance in the NBA Finals in 1959. It was the first time they lost a NBA Finals series. This was also the last Finals appearance for the team before moving to Los Angeles.
The Celtics had home-court advantage for the Finals, which ended in a sweep for the first time in league history. The Celtics also won all nine regular-season meetings between the teams in 1958-59.
The Lakers made their sixth appearance in the NBA Finals in 1959. It was the first time they lost a NBA Finals series. This was also the last Finals appearance for the team before moving to Los Angeles.
The Celtics had home-court advantage for the Finals, which ended in a sweep for the first time in league history. The Celtics also won all nine regular-season meetings between the teams in 1958-59.
Road to the Finals
| Team | Lakers | Celtics |
| Regular Season | 33-39, 2nd in Western Division | 52-20, 1st in Eastern Division |
| Division Semifinals | Def. (3) Detroit Pistons, 2-1 | Bye |
| Division Finals | Def. (3) Syracuse Nationals, 4-3 | Def. (1) St. Louis Hawks, 4-2 |
Game 1 - Celtics 118, Lakers 115
The Celtics led by 12 points at halftime, but the Lakers used a big game from Rookie of the Year Elgin Baylor to pull close to the Celtics in the second half. The Lakers ended the game on a 12-3 run, but a pair of free throws by Frank Ramsey put Boston up 118-113. After Baylor made a basket to cut the lead to three, Boston's Sam Jones was able to dribble out the clock preserving the Celtics' 19th consecutive win over Minneapolis.
Ramsey led the Celtics with 29 points and Tom Heinsohn added 24. Baylor finished with 34 points, but went just 6 of 13 from the free throw line. Vern Mikkelsen had 23 points, including 15 of the Lakers' 31 points in the third quarter.
Ramsey led the Celtics with 29 points and Tom Heinsohn added 24. Baylor finished with 34 points, but went just 6 of 13 from the free throw line. Vern Mikkelsen had 23 points, including 15 of the Lakers' 31 points in the third quarter.
Game 2 - Celtics 128, Lakers 108
Boston had a three-point lead in the first quarter when Frank Ramsey came off the bench and outscored the Lakers by himself, 13-1, over the next three minutes turning a tight game into a blowout. The Celtics led by 15 points after the first quarter and 24 at halftime. The Lakers pulled to within 15 heading into the fourth quarter, but couldn't get any closer.
Bill Sharman led the Celtics with 28 points, extending his streak of consecutive made free throws to 50 (8 of 8 in Game 2). Tom Heinsohn had 24 points, and Ramsey finished with 20. Vern Mikkelsen led the Lakers with 24 points. Elgin Baylor, hampered by a combination of a strong Celtics defense and foul trouble, had 13 points, and made just two shots from the field.
Bill Sharman led the Celtics with 28 points, extending his streak of consecutive made free throws to 50 (8 of 8 in Game 2). Tom Heinsohn had 24 points, and Ramsey finished with 20. Vern Mikkelsen led the Lakers with 24 points. Elgin Baylor, hampered by a combination of a strong Celtics defense and foul trouble, had 13 points, and made just two shots from the field.
Game 3 - Celtics 123, Lakers 110
With Elgin Baylor struggling with his shot, the Celtics jumped out to a huge first-half lead in route to their third consecutive win in the series and 21st in a row over the Lakers. Baylor shot just 3 of 15 from the field in the first half, and the Celtics took a 14-point lead at the half.
The Lakers cut the lead to 10 in the fourth quarter, but Celtics sub Frank Ramsey came in and scored back-to-back baskets to stop the run.
Tom Heinsohn led Boston with 26 points. Bob Cousy scored 23 points of his own while also driving the Celtics fast-break offense. Larry Foust led the Lakers with 26 points while Baylor finished with just 14 points on 6 of 23 shooting.
The Lakers cut the lead to 10 in the fourth quarter, but Celtics sub Frank Ramsey came in and scored back-to-back baskets to stop the run.
Tom Heinsohn led Boston with 26 points. Bob Cousy scored 23 points of his own while also driving the Celtics fast-break offense. Larry Foust led the Lakers with 26 points while Baylor finished with just 14 points on 6 of 23 shooting.
Game 4 - Celtics 118, Lakers 113
The Lakers led 95-93 early in the fourth quarter, but Frank Ramsey converted a three-point play to put Boston out in front. After Bob Leonard gave the lead back to the Lakers, Bill Sharman made a pair of baskets in a 30-second span to put the Celtics ahead for good. The win clinched the Celtics second championship and was Boston's 22nd victory in a row over Minneapolis.
Sharman led the Celtics with 29 points, Ramsey added 24 points while Bill Russell set a record with his third consecutive game of 30 rebounds or more. Russell, who scored a series-high 15 points in Game 4, finished the series with 118 rebounds, a record for a 4-game NBA Finals series.
Elgin Baylor led the Lakers with 30 points and Leonard finished with 23. Baylor averaged 22.8 PPG during the series to lead the Lakers. The Celtics had three different players average at least 22 PPG, led by Tom Heinsohn's 24.5
Sharman led the Celtics with 29 points, Ramsey added 24 points while Bill Russell set a record with his third consecutive game of 30 rebounds or more. Russell, who scored a series-high 15 points in Game 4, finished the series with 118 rebounds, a record for a 4-game NBA Finals series.
Elgin Baylor led the Lakers with 30 points and Leonard finished with 23. Baylor averaged 22.8 PPG during the series to lead the Lakers. The Celtics had three different players average at least 22 PPG, led by Tom Heinsohn's 24.5