This Day in 1962: West and Baylor Power Lakers Past Pistons Into NBA Finals
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On April 3, 1962, the Los Angeles Lakers secured their first NBA Finals appearance since relocating from Minneapolis, defeating the Detroit Pistons 123-117 at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena to close out the Western Division Finals, 4-2.
All-NBA stars Jerry West and Elgin Baylor each scored 38 points in the decisive Game 6. Baylor also grabbed 22 rebounds, overpowering a Detroit squad that placed eight players in double figures but lacked an answer for the Lakers’ marquee duo.
Throughout the six-game series, Baylor averaged 36.3 points and 17.5 rebounds, while West contributed 31.8 points per contest. Forwards Frank Selvy and Rudy LaRusso added timely secondary scoring and defensive support, helping Los Angeles outlast the balanced Pistons attack.
The victory propelled the Lakers into a matchup with the Boston Celtics, a series Boston ultimately captured in seven games. Despite the eventual Finals loss, the 1962 run cemented the West-Baylor pairing as one of the most formidable tandems in NBA history.
Source: Lakers Nation
