1953–54 Syracuse Nationals season

The 1953–54 Syracuse Nationals season was the 5th season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the Eastern Division Finals, the Nationals swept the Boston Celtics 2-0 to make it to the NBA Finals. The Nationals would go on to lose the Finals in 7 games to the Minneapolis Lakers.

Season standings

 * x – clinched playoff spot

Playoffs

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * March 17
 * @ Boston
 * W 96–95 (OT)
 * Dolph Schayes (20)
 * Dolph Schayes (13)
 * Earl Lloyd (8)
 * Boston Garden
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * March 18
 * New York
 * W 75–68
 * Dolph Schayes (23)
 * Dolph Schayes (16)
 * Paul Seymour (6)
 * Onondaga War Memorial
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * March 21
 * @ New York
 * W 103–99
 * Dolph Schayes (36)
 * Dolph Schayes (21)
 * Paul Seymour (6)
 * Madison Square Garden III
 * 3–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * March 22
 * Boston
 * W 98–85
 * Dolph Schayes (25)
 * Dolph Schayes (16)
 * Paul Seymour (7)
 * Onondaga War Memorial
 * 4–0


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * March 25
 * Boston
 * W 109–94
 * Dolph Schayes (27)
 * Dolph Schayes (21)
 * Bill Gabor (6)
 * Onondaga War Memorial
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * March 27
 * @ Boston
 * W 83–76
 * Wally Osterkorn (16)
 * George King (8)
 * Boston Garden
 * 2–0
 * 2–0


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * March 31
 * @ Minneapolis
 * L 68–79
 * Bob Lavoy (15)
 * Wally Osterkorn (8)
 * Paul Seymour (6)
 * Minneapolis Auditorium 4,579
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * April 3
 * @ Minneapolis
 * W 62–60
 * Wally Osterkorn (20)
 * Wally Osterkorn (17)
 * Lavoy, Seymour (3)
 * Minneapolis Auditorium 6,277
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * April 4
 * Minneapolis
 * L 67–81
 * Bob Lavoy (18)
 * Bob Lavoy (15)
 * Paul Seymour (7)
 * Onondaga War Memorial 8,719
 * 1–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * April 8
 * Minneapolis
 * W 80–69
 * Paul Seymour (25)
 * Bob Lavoy (11)
 * Paul Seymour (6)
 * Onondaga War Memorial 7,655
 * 2–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 5
 * April 10
 * Minneapolis
 * L 73–84
 * Dolph Schayes (17)
 * Earl Lloyd (8)
 * Wally Osterkorn (5)
 * Onondaga War Memorial 7,283
 * 2–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 6
 * April 11
 * @ Minneapolis
 * W 65–63
 * Paul Seymour (16)
 * Minneapolis Auditorium 6,776
 * 3–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 7
 * April 12
 * @ Minneapolis
 * L 80–87
 * Dolph Schayes (18)
 * Minneapolis Auditorium 7,274
 * 3–4
 * Minneapolis Auditorium 7,274
 * 3–4
 * Minneapolis Auditorium 7,274
 * 3–4

Awards and records

 * Dolph Schayes, All-NBA First Team
 * Paul Seymour, All-NBA Second Team