The 1963 NBA Playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1962-63 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Division champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.
The Celtics won their 5th straight and 6th overall, NBA title. Boston defeated L.A. in the NBA Finals for the second straight year, something that happened regularly in the 1960s.
The Cincinnati Royals advanced to the Division Finals for the first time since 1952, extending the Celtics to seven games.
This was the last playoff appearance for the Syracuse Nationals under that name; they moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the following season and became known as the Philadelphia 76ers.
Champion: Los Angeles Lakers
Division Semifinals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers have division semifinals byes.
(2) St. Louis Hawks vs. (3) Detroit Pistons: Hawks win series 3-1
Game 1 @ St. Louis (March 20): St. Louis 118, Detroit 99
Game 2 @ St. Louis (March 22): St. Louis 122, Detroit 108
Game 3 @ Detroit (March 24): Detroit 107, St. Louis 103
Game 4 @ Detroit (March 26): St. Louis 104, Detroit 100
Division Finals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (2) St. Louis Hawks: Lakers win series 4-3
Game 1 @ Los Angeles (March 31): Los Angeles 112, St. Louis 104
Game 2 @ Los Angeles (April 2): Los Angeles 101, St. Louis 99
Game 3 @ St. Louis (April 4): St. Louis 125, Los Angeles 112
Game 4 @ St. Louis (April 6): St. Louis 124, Los Angeles 114
Game 5 @ Los Angeles (April 7): Los Angeles 123, St. Louis 96
Game 6 @ St. Louis (April 9): St. Louis 121, Los Angeles 113
Game 7 @ Los Angeles (April 11): Los Angeles 115, St. Louis 100
Champion: Boston Celtics
Division Semifinals
(1) Boston Celtics have division semifinals byes.
(2) Syracuse Nationals vs. (3) Cincinnati Royals: Royals win series 3-2
Game 1 @ Syracuse (March 19): Syracuse 123, Cincinnati 120
Game 2 @ Cincinnati (March 21): Cincinnati 133, Syracuse 115
Game 3 @ Syracuse (March 23): Syracuse 121, Cincinnati 117
Game 4 @ Cincinnati (March 24): Cincinnati 125, Syracuse 118
Game 5 @ Syracuse (March 26): Cincinnati 131, Syracuse 127 (OT)
Division Finals
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Cincinnati Royals: Celtics win series 4-3
Game 1 @ Boston (March 28): Cincinnati 135, Boston 132
Game 2 @ Cincinnati (March 29): Boston 125, Cincinnati 102
Game 3 @ Boston (March 31): Cincinnati 121, Boston 116
Game 4 @ Cincinnati (April 3): Boston 128, Cincinnati 110
Game 5 @ Boston (April 6): Boston 125, Cincinnati 120
Game 6 @ Cincinnati (April 7): Cincinnati 109, Boston 99
Game 7 @ Boston (April 10): Boston 142, Cincinnati 131
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (1) Los Angeles Lakers: Celtics win series 4-2
Game 1 @ Boston (April 14): Boston 117, Los Angeles 114
Game 2 @ Boston (April 16): Boston 113, Los Angeles 106
Game 3 @ Los Angeles (April 17): Los Angeles 119, Boston 99
Game 4 @ Los Angeles (April 19): Boston 108, Los Angeles 105
Game 5 @ Boston (April 21): Los Angeles 126, Boston 119
Game 6 @ Los Angeles (April 24): Boston 112, Los Angeles 109 (Bob Cousy’s final NBA game)