Coming off their NBA Championship the Nationals struggled during the 1955–56 season, needing a tiebreaker over the Knickerbockers to avoid finishing in last place and make the playoffs with a 35–37 record. However, in the playoffs the Nationals would stun the Celtics winning the first round series in three games by taking the final two games. In the Eastern Finals the Nationals played solid basketball again as they pushed the Warriors to a decisive fifth game. However, the Nationals' reign as defending champions would end with a 109–104 loss in Philadelphia.