Overview
The Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers four games to three in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series to conclude the 1968-69 NBA season. The victory gave the Celtics their second consecutive NBA championship and 11th in the past 13th seasons.
This was the seventh meeting between the Lakers and the Celtics in the NBA Finals, with the Celtics having won all of them, including in both 1968 and 1969.
Jerry West of the Lakers won the first NBA Finals MVP Award. As of 2008, this is the only time the award has gone to a player on the losing team.
The Lakers had home-court advantage for the Finals, which were played under the 2-2-1-1-1 format. The Lakers won four of the six regular-season meetings between the teams in the 1968-69 season.
This was the seventh meeting between the Lakers and the Celtics in the NBA Finals, with the Celtics having won all of them, including in both 1968 and 1969.
Jerry West of the Lakers won the first NBA Finals MVP Award. As of 2008, this is the only time the award has gone to a player on the losing team.
The Lakers had home-court advantage for the Finals, which were played under the 2-2-1-1-1 format. The Lakers won four of the six regular-season meetings between the teams in the 1968-69 season.
Road to the Finals
| Team | Celtics | Lakers |
| Regular Season | 48-34, 4th in Eastern Division | 55-27, 1st in Western Division |
| Division Semifinals | Def. (2) Philadelphia 76ers, 4-1 | Def. (3) San Francisco Warriors, 4-2 |
| Division Finals | Def. (3) New York Knicks, 4-2 | Def. (2) Atlanta Hawks, 4-1 |
Game 1 - Lakers 120, Celtics 118
The Lakers were happy to start a Finals series at home. A record crowd of 17,554 at The Forum enjoyed a close game. Jerry West felt comfortable, scoring a playoff career-high 53 points.
West made 21 of 41 field goal attempts, and shot 11-of-13 from the foul line while dishing out 10 assists in the win. Elgin Baylor had 24 points while Wilt Chamberlain added 15.
John Havlicek led the Celtics with 37 points.
West made 21 of 41 field goal attempts, and shot 11-of-13 from the foul line while dishing out 10 assists in the win. Elgin Baylor had 24 points while Wilt Chamberlain added 15.
John Havlicek led the Celtics with 37 points.
Game 2 - Lakers 118, Celtics 112
John Havlicek (43) and Jerry West (41) virtually offset each other. Elgin Baylor became a difference-maker with 32 points.
Baylor scored 18 points during the pivotal final period. He scored Los Angeles' final 12 points.
A surprising performance came from Johnny Egan, who scored 26 points; he had just 10 in the first game of the series.
Boston attempted 33 more shots than its opponent (112-79).
Baylor scored 18 points during the pivotal final period. He scored Los Angeles' final 12 points.
A surprising performance came from Johnny Egan, who scored 26 points; he had just 10 in the first game of the series.
Boston attempted 33 more shots than its opponent (112-79).
Game 3 - Celtics 111, Lakers 105
This was a see-saw battle. Boston built a 57-40 halftime lead, only to see Los Angeles even the score at 78 after three quarters.
A key stretch came in the final quarter, as John Havlicek and Larry Siegfried combined for 10 points and Boston built up a 107-95 lead.
Havlicek scored 34 points but suffered an eye injury during a scramble for a rebound in the final moments. He claimed to have blurred vision and went to the hospital.
Siegfried added 28 points. Bill Russell was limited to 11 points.
Jerry West had 24 points while Johnny Egan chipped in with 22.
A key stretch came in the final quarter, as John Havlicek and Larry Siegfried combined for 10 points and Boston built up a 107-95 lead.
Havlicek scored 34 points but suffered an eye injury during a scramble for a rebound in the final moments. He claimed to have blurred vision and went to the hospital.
Siegfried added 28 points. Bill Russell was limited to 11 points.
Jerry West had 24 points while Johnny Egan chipped in with 22.
Game 4 - Celtics 89, Lakers 88
Sam Jones described his game-winning basket with two seconds left as "a lucky shot."
Just when it appeared the Lakers would enjoy a commanding 3-1 series advantage, Jones hit a shot from the top of the key that hit the front of the rim and landed in.
Jerry West scored 40 points, including 25 in the second half. He scored the last five points for the Lakers, including a basket which gave Los Angeles an 87-86 lead.
The game was a bit sloppy as the Lakers committed 27 turnovers and the Celtics had 23.
John Havlicek had 21 points while Larry Siegfried scored 20.
When the NBA compilied its list of the 60 Greatest Playoff Moments to coincide with the league's 60th anniversary, Jones's game-winner ranked No. 46 on the list.
Just when it appeared the Lakers would enjoy a commanding 3-1 series advantage, Jones hit a shot from the top of the key that hit the front of the rim and landed in.
Jerry West scored 40 points, including 25 in the second half. He scored the last five points for the Lakers, including a basket which gave Los Angeles an 87-86 lead.
The game was a bit sloppy as the Lakers committed 27 turnovers and the Celtics had 23.
John Havlicek had 21 points while Larry Siegfried scored 20.
When the NBA compilied its list of the 60 Greatest Playoff Moments to coincide with the league's 60th anniversary, Jones's game-winner ranked No. 46 on the list.
Game 5 - Lakers 117, Celtics 104
Jerry West dominated once again, scoring 39 points to put the Celtics on the brink of elimination.
West made 16 of 31 shots from the floor, and was 7-of-8 from the foul line while dishing out nine assists.
Wilt Chamberlain controlled the boards against Bill Russell, enjoying a 31-13 rebounding edge.
Sam Jones had 25 points while Larry Siegfried added 20.
West made 16 of 31 shots from the floor, and was 7-of-8 from the foul line while dishing out nine assists.
Wilt Chamberlain controlled the boards against Bill Russell, enjoying a 31-13 rebounding edge.
Sam Jones had 25 points while Larry Siegfried added 20.
Game 6 - Celtics 99, Lakers 90
Knowing that a loss would end the series, Boston fought hard to force a seventh game.
The Celtics built up a 55-39 halftime lead and held on for the victory.
Jerry West played despite a painful hamstring injury, scoring 26 points in 39 minutes. Elgin Baylor also scored 26 for the losing squad.
Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain offset each other. Russell had nine points and 19 rebounds while Chamberlain scored eight points while grabbing 18 rebounds.
Don Nelson came off the bench to lead the Celtics with 25 points.
The Celtics built up a 55-39 halftime lead and held on for the victory.
Jerry West played despite a painful hamstring injury, scoring 26 points in 39 minutes. Elgin Baylor also scored 26 for the losing squad.
Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain offset each other. Russell had nine points and 19 rebounds while Chamberlain scored eight points while grabbing 18 rebounds.
Don Nelson came off the bench to lead the Celtics with 25 points.
Game 7 - Celtics 108, Lakers 106
The Celtics won the championship on the road. It was Boston's 11th crown in 13 seasons. Boston became the first team ever to overcome a two-games to none deficit to win the series. They would later be joined by the 1977 Trail Blazers and the 2006 Heat.
Boston built up a 17-point lead and held off a furious Lakers rally. Both Bill Russell and John Havlicek got into foul trouble in the final period, aiding the Los Angeles run. Havlicek scored 26 points while Sam Jones called it a career with 24. Russell, playing his final game, had six points and 21 rebounds. One surprising performance came from Boston's Emmette Bryant, who scored 20 points.
Jerry West, still bothered by a hamstring injury, put up 42 points, giving him an average of 37.9 points per game for the series. Wilt Chamberlain injured his knee with five minutes left in the game, finishing with 18 points and 27 rebounds.
The Lakers had put thousands of balloons in the rafters in anticipation of a win on their home court, motivating the Celtics. This marked the last Finals meeting between the Celtics and Lakers until 1984.
When the NBA compilied its list of the 60 Greatest Playoff Moments to coincide with the league's 60th anniversary, this game was ranked No. 21 on the list.
Boston built up a 17-point lead and held off a furious Lakers rally. Both Bill Russell and John Havlicek got into foul trouble in the final period, aiding the Los Angeles run. Havlicek scored 26 points while Sam Jones called it a career with 24. Russell, playing his final game, had six points and 21 rebounds. One surprising performance came from Boston's Emmette Bryant, who scored 20 points.
Jerry West, still bothered by a hamstring injury, put up 42 points, giving him an average of 37.9 points per game for the series. Wilt Chamberlain injured his knee with five minutes left in the game, finishing with 18 points and 27 rebounds.
The Lakers had put thousands of balloons in the rafters in anticipation of a win on their home court, motivating the Celtics. This marked the last Finals meeting between the Celtics and Lakers until 1984.
When the NBA compilied its list of the 60 Greatest Playoff Moments to coincide with the league's 60th anniversary, this game was ranked No. 21 on the list.