Bill Bridges is the only Hawks player to surpass 30 rebounds in a playoff game.
There have been 35 instances in Atlanta Hawks history where one of their players has recorded at least 20 rebounds in a playoff game. Bill Bridges is their only player to surpass 30 rebounds in a playoff game. Let’s dig into their record books further and highlight their top five leaders in rebounds for a single playoff game.
Bill Bridges, 36 Rebounds (1971 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 2)
The Hawks lost the first game of the 1971 Eastern Conference Semifinals to the Knicks. Bridges helped them tie things up with a win in Game 2, hauling in 36 rebounds across 48 minutes. He scored 12 points in the game and added two assists. The Hawks eventually lost the series in five games.
Bill Bridges, 32 Rebounds (1967 NBA Western Division Finals, Game 3)
The Hawks lost the first two games of this series but then defeated the Warriors in Game 3. They won with Bridges providing 25 points, 32 rebounds and four assists over 45 minutes. No other player on the Hawks had more than 18 points or nine rebounds. The Hawks also won Game 4 but then lost the next two games to be eliminated from the playoffs.
Bill Bridges, 28 Rebounds (1967 Western Division Semifinals, Game 3)
The Hawks swept this series against the Bulls. Bridges controlled the boards as they completed the sweep, hauling in 28 rebounds in Game 3. He also shot 5-for-13 from the field and made all six of his free-throw attempts on his way to scoring 16 points. During that entire 1967 playoff run, Bridges averaged 15.7 points and 18.8 rebounds across 41 minutes per game.
Bob Pettit, 28 Rebounds (1957 NBA Finals, Game 3)
The Hawks faced the Celtics in the 1957 NBA Finals. The teams split the first two games, then the Hawks took the series lead with a victory in Game 3. Pettit hauled in 28 rebounds in the game as the Celtics only shot 29.3% from the field. Pettit scored 26 points, but shot just 9-for-33 from the field. The series eventually went seven games with the Celtics earning the title. Four of the seven games in the series were decided by just two points. During the Hawks’ entire playoff run that year, Pettit averaged 29.8 points and 16.8 rebounds. Pettit and the Hawks made the playoffs again the next season and won the NBA Championship.
Bill Bridges, 25 Rebounds (1970 Western Division Semifinals, Game 4)
The Hawks won the first three games of this series against the Bulls. Chicago managed to stay alive with a win in Game 4 when they scored 131 points. Despite them shooting 48.6% from the field, Bridges collected 25 rebounds. The Hawks actually had five more rebounds as a team than the Bulls did. The Hawks went on to advance with a win over the Bulls in Game 5.
