| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | March 22–April 13, 1949 |
| Season | 1948–49 |
| Teams | 8 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Minneapolis Lakers (1st title) |
| Runner-up | Washington Capitols |
| Semifinalists | |
The 1949 BAA playoffs was the postseason tournament following the Basketball Association of America 1948–49 season, its third and last. Later that year the BAA and National Basketball League merged to create the National Basketball Association or NBA. The tournament concluded with the Western Division champion Minneapolis Lakers defeating the Eastern Division champion Washington Capitols 4 games to 2 in the BAA Finals.
The eight qualified teams began tournament play on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 22 and 23, and the Finals concluded on Wednesday, April 13. Minneapolis and Washington played 10 and 11 games in a span of 22 days; their six final games in ten days. Prior to their final series, however, Minneapolis had been idle for five days, Washington for only one day.[1]