Mar. 18, 1964 - Everything came up roses and sunshine for San Francisco’s Warriors tonight as they captured the regular season championship of the NBA’s Western Division with space to spare. The combination of the Warriors’ 89-85 conquest of the Philadelphia 76ers before 4,962 at the University of San Francisco and the St. Louis Hawks’ loss to Detroit earlier in the evening gave the Warriors the crown by a two-game margin.
Up big early but then down in the fourth quarter, the Warriors launched a tremendous counterattack — or more accurately, Wilt Chamberlain launched a counterattack, for it was his two clutch buckets that rocketed San Francisco back on top, and Alex Hannum’s crew never lost the lead again.
Neither did they walk away with the contest, however, as the gunning of ever-dangerous Hal Greer and ex-Stanfordite Paul Neumann kept the invaders within striking distance until the final 30 seconds.
In addition to tallying 36 points, Chamberlain hauled in 33 rebounds and had 8 assists. Greer scored 26 for Philly.
Al Attles bruised his thigh and did not play the second half, but he will be ready to go for the playoffs.
After the game, Chamberlain said that, while he had had his differences with coach Hannum, he considered him the best coach he had played for in his five years of pro basketball.
As things stand now in the West, the Los Angeles Lakers will play the St. Louis Hawks in the best-of-five semifinals, with the winner playing San Francisco in a best-of-seven. In East, the Royals are set to play the 76ers, with the winner playing the Boston Celtics.
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