2000 NBA Playoffs
The 2000 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1999-2000 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers 4 games to 2. Shaquille O'Neal was named NBA Finals MVP.
The San Antonio Spurs were the champions going into the playoffs, but were eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in the first round, marking the first time since 1987 that a title-winning team did not repeat.
The Lakers' win was the first title for Shaq and Kobe Bryant, both considered future first-ballot Hall of Famers, and first in the post-Magic Johnson-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar-James Worthy era. A. C. Green, the only player left from the Lakers' Showtime era, was in the starting lineup for this team as well. These playoffs are also noted for the Game 7 collapse of the Portland Trail Blazers. An explanation for this collapse due to referee manipulation is given in Tim Donaghy's book Personal Foul.
For the Pacers, it was their first Eastern Conference title after four previous appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals; however, after this season, the team was radically altered with key players Rik Smits, Dale Davis, Derrick McKey and Mark Jackson moving to other teams (or in Smits' case, retiring). Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals was the last game Patrick Ewing ever played as a Knick.
The Trail Blazers defeated the Timberwolves and the Jazz in the first two rounds before falling to the Lakers in the conference final. As of 2012, this was the last time the Trail Blazers won a playoff series.
The 2000 playoffs was the debut of the 5-year-old expansion Toronto Raptors. For the 3rd straight year, New York eliminated Miami.
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Playoff qualifying [edit]
Eastern Conference [edit]
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:
- Indiana Pacers (56–26, clinched Central division and home court advantage for the Eastern Conference playoffs)
- Miami Heat (52–30, clinched Atlantic division)
- New York Knicks (50–32)
- Charlotte Hornets (49–33)
- Philadelphia 76ers (49–33)
- Toronto Raptors (45–37)
- Detroit Pistons (42–40)
- Milwaukee Bucks (42–40)
Western Conference [edit]
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:
- Los Angeles Lakers (67–15, clinched Pacific division title and home court advantage throughout the playoffs)
- Utah Jazz (55–27, clinched Midwest division)
- Portland Trail Blazers (59–23)
- San Antonio Spurs (53–29)
- Phoenix Suns (53–29)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (50–32)
- Seattle SuperSonics (45–37)
- Sacramento Kings (44–38)
Bracket [edit]
This was the outlook for the playoffs. Teams in italics have home court advantage. Teams in bold advance to the next round. Numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's original playoffs seeding in their respective conferences. Numbers to the right of each team indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions possess an asterisk (*)
| First Round | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | NBA Finals | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | L.A. Lakers | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Sacramento | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | L.A. Lakers | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Phoenix | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | San Antonio | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Phoenix | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | L.A. Lakers | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Portland | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Portland | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Minnesota | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Portland | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Utah | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Utah | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Seattle | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| W1 | L.A. Lakers | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Indiana | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Milwaukee | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Indiana | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Philadelphia | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Charlotte | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Philadelphia | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Indiana | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | New York | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | New York | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Toronto | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | New York | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Miami | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Miami | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Detroit | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
Western Conference [edit]
First Round [edit]
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) Sacramento Kings [edit]
Last Playoff Meeting: 1984 Western Conference First Round (Los Angeles won 3-0; Kings were in Kansas City, Missouri)
| April 23 | Sacramento Kings 107, Los Angeles Lakers 117 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | ||||
| April 27 | Sacramento Kings 89, Los Angeles Lakers 113 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | ||||
| April 30 | Los Angeles Lakers 91, Sacramento Kings 99 | ARCO Arena, Sacramento | ||||
| May 2 | Los Angeles Lakers 88, Sacramento Kings 101 | ARCO Arena, Sacramento | ||||
| May 5 | Sacramento Kings 86, Los Angeles Lakers 113 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | ||||
| Los Angeles wins series, 3-2 | ||||||
(3) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves [edit]
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first playoff meeting between the Timberwolves and Trail Blazers.
| April 23 | Minnesota Timberwolves 88, Portland Trail Blazers 91 | Rose Garden, Portland | ||||
| April 26 | Minnesota Timberwolves 82, Portland Trail Blazers 86 | Rose Garden, Portland | ||||
| April 30 | Portland Trail Blazers 87, Minnesota Timberwolves 94 | Target Center, Minnesota | ||||
| May 2 | Portland Trail Blazers 85, Minnesota Timberwolves 77 | Target Center, Minnesota | ||||
| Portland wins series, 3-1 | ||||||
(2) Utah Jazz vs. (7) Seattle SuperSonics [edit]
Last Playoff Meeting: 1996 Western Conference Finals (Seattle won 4-3)
| April 22 | Seattle SuperSonics 93, Utah Jazz 104 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City | ||||
| April 24 | Seattle SuperSonics 87, Utah Jazz 101 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City | ||||
| April 29 | Utah Jazz 78, Seattle SuperSonics 89 | KeyArena, Seattle | ||||
| May 3 | Utah Jazz 93, Seattle SuperSonics 104 | KeyArena, Seattle | ||||
| May 5 | Seattle SuperSonics 93, Utah Jazz 96 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City | ||||
| Utah wins series, 3-2 | ||||||
(4) San Antonio Spurs vs. (5) Phoenix Suns [edit]
Last Playoff Meeting: 1998 Western Conference First Round (San Antonio won 3-1)
| April 22 | Phoenix Suns 72, San Antonio Spurs 70 | Alamodome, San Antonio | ||||
| April 25 | Phoenix Suns 70, San Antonio Spurs 85 | Alamodome, San Antonio | ||||
| April 29 | San Antonio Spurs 94, Phoenix Suns 101 | America West Arena, Phoenix | ||||
| May 2 | San Antonio Spurs 78, Phoenix Suns 89 | America West Arena, Phoenix | ||||
| Phoenix wins series, 3-1 | ||||||
Conference Semifinals [edit]
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Phoenix Suns [edit]
Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Western Conference First Round (Phoenix won 3-2)
| May 7 | Phoenix Suns 77, Los Angeles Lakers 105 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | ||||
| May 10 | Phoenix Suns 96, Los Angeles Lakers 97 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | ||||
| May 12 | Los Angeles Lakers 105, Phoenix Suns 99 | America West Arena, Phoenix | ||||
| May 14 | Los Angeles Lakers 98, Phoenix Suns 117 | America West Arena, Phoenix | ||||
| May 16 | Phoenix Suns 65, Los Angeles Lakers 87 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | ||||
| Los Angeles wins series, 4-1 | ||||||
- Kobe Bryant hits the game-winner with 2.6 seconds left in Game 2.
(2) Utah Jazz vs. (3) Portland Trail Blazers [edit]
Last Playoff Meeting: 1999 Western Conference Semifinals (Portland won 4-2)
| May 7 | Utah Jazz 75, Portland Trail Blazers 94 | Rose Garden, Portland | ||||
| May 9 | Utah Jazz 85, Portland Trail Blazers 103 | Rose Garden, Portland | ||||
| May 11 | Portland Trail Blazers 103, Utah Jazz 84 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City | ||||
| May 14 | Portland Trail Blazers 85, Utah Jazz 88 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City | ||||
| May 16 | Utah Jazz 79, Portland Trail Blazers 81 | Rose Garden, Portland | ||||
| Portland wins series, 4-1 | ||||||
Conference Finals [edit]
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Portland Trail Blazers [edit]
Last Playoff Meeting: 1998 Western Conference First Round (Los Angeles won 3-1)
| May 20 | Portland Trail Blazers 94, Los Angeles Lakers 109 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | ||||
| May 22 | Portland Trail Blazers 106, Los Angeles Lakers 77 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | ||||
| May 26 | Los Angeles Lakers 93, Portland Trail Blazers 91 | Rose Garden, Portland | ||||
| May 28 | Los Angeles Lakers 103, Portland Trail Blazers 91 | Rose Garden, Portland | ||||
| May 30 | Portland Trail Blazers 96, Los Angeles Lakers 88 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | ||||
| June 2 | Los Angeles Lakers 93, Portland Trail Blazers 103 | Rose Garden, Portland | ||||
| June 4 | Portland Trail Blazers 84, Los Angeles Lakers 89 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | ||||
| Los Angeles wins series, 4-3 | ||||||
- In Game 3, Arvydas Sabonis' potential game-tying shot was blocked by Kobe Bryant.
- In Game 7, the Lakers overcame a 15-point deficit (75-60) and sealed the victory with Kobe Bryant delivering an alley-oop to Shaquille O'Neal.
Eastern Conference [edit]
First Round [edit]
(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (8) Milwaukee Bucks [edit]
Last Playoff Meeting: 1999 Eastern Conference First Round (Indiana won 3-0)
| April 23 | Milwaukee Bucks 85, Indiana Pacers 88 | Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis | ||||
| April 27 | Milwaukee Bucks 104, Indiana Pacers 91 | Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis | ||||
| April 29 | Indiana Pacers 109, Milwaukee Bucks 96 | Bradley Center, Milwaukee | ||||
| May 1 | Indiana Pacers 87, Milwaukee Bucks 100 | Bradley Center, Milwaukee | ||||
| May 4 | Milwaukee Bucks 95, Indiana Pacers 96 | Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis | ||||
| Indiana wins series, 3-2 | ||||||
(4) Charlotte Hornets vs. (5) Philadelphia 76ers [edit]
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first playoff meeting between the 76ers and Hornets.
| April 22 | Philadelphia 76ers 92, Charlotte Hornets 82 | Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte | ||||
| April 24 | Philadelphia 76ers 98, Charlotte Hornets 108 | OT | Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte | |||
| April 28 | Charlotte Hornets 76, Philadelphia 76ers 81 | First Union Center, Philadelphia | ||||
| May 1 | Charlotte Hornets 99, Philadelphia 76ers 105 | First Union Center, Philadelphia | ||||
| Philadelphia wins series, 3-1 | ||||||
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Toronto Raptors [edit]
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first playoff meeting between the Raptors and Knicks.
| April 23 | Toronto Raptors 88, New York Knicks 92 | Madison Square Garden, New York | ||||
| April 26 | Toronto Raptors 83, New York Knicks 84 | Madison Square Garden, New York | ||||
| April 30 | New York Knicks 87, Toronto Raptors 80 | Air Canada Centre, Toronto | ||||
| New York wins series, 3-0 | ||||||
(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) Detroit Pistons [edit]
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first playoff meeting between the Pistons and Heat.
| April 22 | Detroit Pistons 85, Miami Heat 95 | American Airlines Arena, Miami | ||||
| April 25 | Detroit Pistons 82, Miami Heat 84 | American Airlines Arena, Miami | ||||
| April 29 | Miami Heat 91, Detroit Pistons 72 | The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills | ||||
| Miami wins series, 3-0 | ||||||
Conference Semifinals [edit]
(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Philadelphia 76ers [edit]
Last Playoff Meeting: 1999 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Indiana won 4-0)
| May 6 | Philadelphia 76ers 91, Indiana Pacers 108 | Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis | ||||
| May 8 | Philadelphia 76ers 97, Indiana Pacers 103 | Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis | ||||
| May 10 | Indiana Pacers 97, Philadelphia 76ers 89 | First Union Center, Philadelphia | ||||
| May 13 | Indiana Pacers 90, Philadelphia 76ers 92 | First Union Center, Philadelphia | ||||
| May 15 | Philadelphia 76ers 107, Indiana Pacers 86 | Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis | ||||
| May 19 | Indiana Pacers 106, Philadelphia 76ers 90 | First Union Center, Philadelphia | ||||
| Indiana wins series, 4-2 | ||||||
Jalen Rose and Reggie Miller both scored 40 points to lead the Pacers to the series-opening victory.
(2) Miami Heat vs. (3) New York Knicks [edit]
Last Playoff Meeting: 1999 Eastern Conference First Round (New York won 3-2)
| May 7 | New York Knicks 83, Miami Heat 87 | American Airlines Arena, Miami | ||||
| May 9 | New York Knicks 82, Miami Heat 76 | American Airlines Arena, Miami | ||||
| May 12 | Miami Heat 77, New York Knicks 76 | Madison Square Garden, New York | ||||
| May 14 | Miami Heat 83, New York Knicks 91 | Madison Square Garden, New York | ||||
| May 17 | New York Knicks 81, Miami Heat 87 | American Airlines Arena, Miami | ||||
| May 19 | Miami Heat 70, New York Knicks 72 | Madison Square Garden, New York | ||||
| May 21 | New York Knicks 83, Miami Heat 82 | American Airlines Arena, Miami | ||||
| New York wins series, 4-3 | ||||||
Conference Finals [edit]
(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (3) New York Knicks [edit]
Last Playoff Meeting: 1999 Eastern Conference Finals (New York won 4-2)
| May 23 | New York Knicks 88, Indiana Pacers 102 | Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis | ||||
| May 25 | New York Knicks 84, Indiana Pacers 88 | Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis | ||||
| May 27 | Indiana Pacers 95, New York Knicks 98 | Madison Square Garden, New York | ||||
| May 29 | Indiana Pacers 89, New York Knicks 91 | Madison Square Garden, New York | ||||
| May 31 | New York Knicks 79, Indiana Pacers 88 | Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis | ||||
| June 2 | Indiana Pacers 93, New York Knicks 80 | Madison Square Garden, New York | ||||
| Indiana wins series, 4-2 | ||||||
NBA Finals [edit]
| June 7 | Indiana Pacers 87, Los Angeles Lakers 104 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | ||||
| June 9 | Indiana Pacers 104, Los Angeles Lakers 111 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | ||||
| June 11 | Los Angeles Lakers 91, Indiana Pacers 100 | Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis | ||||
| June 14 | Los Angeles Lakers 120, Indiana Pacers 118 | Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis | ||||
| June 16 | Los Angeles Lakers 87, Indiana Pacers 120 | Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis | ||||
| June 19 | Indiana Pacers 111, Los Angeles Lakers 116 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | ||||
External links [edit]
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