2004 NBA playoffs
The 2004 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2003-04 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. Chauncey Billups was named NBA Finals MVP.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, after missing the playoffs their first 7 seasons and losing in the first round the next 7, won their first two playoff series in 2004 before losing to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. As of 2012, the Timberwolves hold the longest active streak without a playoff berth, having missed the playoffs 8 straight years since.
The Indiana Pacers made the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since their NBA Finals run in 2000, after which they significantly changed the makeup of their team (yet still made the playoffs every year). Game 2 of the series with the Pistons was pivotal, as Tayshaun Prince blocked a lay-up by Miller late in the game to preserve the victory; the Pistons won 4–2.
The 2004 playoffs was the first appearance for the Memphis Grizzlies in their 9-year history which began in Vancouver. However, they failed to win a single game in their first 3 playoff appearances (2004, 2005, 2006) until 2011, they got their first playoff victory.
This was the last playoff appearance for the New York Knicks until 2011, when they would be swept in the first round.
The Portland Trail Blazers missed the playoffs for the first time since 1982, while the Utah Jazz missed the playoffs for the first time since 1983.
This was the Denver Nuggets' first playoff appearance since 1995.
The New Orleans Hornets made their final postseason appearance as a member of the East. They would not make the playoffs again until 2008, as a member of the West (the result of a realignment with the addition of the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2004–05 NBA season). Their playoff series with the Miami Heat, led by Dwyane Wade, was the last playoff series where the home team won all 7 games until 2008's Boston-Atlanta and Boston-Cleveland playoff series.
2004 was the first time in 14 years that all Texas teams made the playoffs, and the second time (first in 10 years) that all former ABA teams made the playoffs.
Bracket
| First Round | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | NBA Finals | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Indiana | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Boston | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Indiana | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Miami | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Miami | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | New Orleans | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Indiana | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Milwaukee | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | New Jersey | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | New Jersey | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | New York | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | L.A. Lakers | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Minnesota | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Denver | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Minnesota | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Sacramento | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Sacramento | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Dallas | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Minnesota | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | L.A. Lakers | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | San Antonio | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Memphis | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | San Antonio | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | L.A. Lakers | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | L.A. Lakers | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Houston | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
Playoff qualifying
Eastern Conference
Best record in NBA
The Indiana Pacers clinched the best record in the NBA, and had earned court advantage throughout the entire playoffs. However, when the Indiana lost to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, home court advantage for the NBA Finals switched to the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers, who had posted a better regular season record at 56-26 than the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons at 54-28.
Clinched a playoff berth
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:
- Indiana Pacers (clinched Central division)
- New Jersey Nets (clinched Atlantic division)
- Detroit Pistons
- Miami Heat
- New Orleans Hornets
- Milwaukee Bucks
- New York Knicks
- Boston Celtics
Western Conference
Best record in conference
The Minnesota Timberwolves clinched the best record in the Western Conference, and had home court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs. However, when Minnesota lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers gained home court advantage for the NBA Finals because the Lakers posted a better regular season record at 56-26 than the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons at 54-28.
Clinched a playoff berth
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:
- Minnesota Timberwolves (clinched Midwest division)
- Los Angeles Lakers (clinched Pacific division)
- San Antonio Spurs
- Sacramento Kings
- Dallas Mavericks
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Houston Rockets
- Denver Nuggets
Eastern Conference
Champion: Detroit Pistons
First Round
(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (8) Boston Celtics: Pacers win series 4–0
- Game 1 @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis: Indiana 104, Boston 88
- Game 2 @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis: Indiana 103, Boston 90
- Game 3 @ FleetCenter, Boston: Indiana 108, Boston 85
- Game 4 @ FleetCenter, Boston: Indiana 90, Boston 75
Last Playoff Meeting: 2003 Eastern Conference First Round (Boston won 4-2)
(2) New Jersey Nets vs. (7) New York Knicks:Nets win series 4–0
- Game 1 @ Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey: New Jersey 107, New York 83
- Game 2 @ Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey: New Jersey 99, New York 81
- Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York: New Jersey 81, New York 78
- Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York: New Jersey 100, New York 94
Last Playoff Meeting: 1994 Eastern Conference First Round (New York won 3-1)
(3) Detroit Pistons vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks: Pistons win series 4–1
- Game 1 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: Detroit 108, Milwaukee 82
- Game 2 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: Milwaukee 92, Detroit 88
- Game 3 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee: Detroit 95, Milwaukee 85
- Game 4 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee: Detroit 109, Milwaukee 92
- Game 5 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: Detroit 91, Milwaukee 77
Last Playoff Meeting: 1989 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Detroit won 4-1)
(4) Miami Heat vs. (5) New Orleans Hornets: Heat win series 4–3
- Game 1 @ American Airlines Arena, Miami: Miami 81, New Orleans 79 (Dwyane Wade hits the game-winner)
- Game 2 @ American Airlines Arena, Miami: Miami 93, New Orleans 63
- Game 3 @ New Orleans Arena, New Orleans: New Orleans 77, Miami 71
- Game 4 @ New Orleans Arena, New Orleans: New Orleans 96, Miami 85
- Game 5 @ American Airlines Arena, Miami: Miami 87, New Orleans 83
- Game 6 @ New Orleans Arena, New Orleans: New Orleans 89, Miami 83
- Game 7 @ American Airlines Arena, Miami: Miami 85, New Orleans 77
Last Playoff Meeting: 2001 Eastern Conference First Round (Hornets won 3-0, while still in Charlotte)
Conference Semifinals
(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (4) Miami Heat: Pacers win series 4–2
- Game 1 @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis: Indiana 94, Miami 81
- Game 2 @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis: Indiana 91, Miami 80
- Game 3 @ American Airlines Arena, Miami: Miami 94, Indiana 87
- Game 4 @ American Airlines Arena, Miami: Miami 100, Indiana 88
- Game 5 @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis: Indiana 94, Miami 83
- Game 6 @ American Airlines Arena, Miami: Indiana 73, Miami 70
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Pacers and Heat.
(2) New Jersey Nets vs. (3) Detroit Pistons: Pistons win series 4–3
- Game 1 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: Detroit 78, New Jersey 56
- Game 2 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: Detroit 95, New Jersey 80
- Game 3 @ Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford: New Jersey 82, Detroit 64
- Game 4 @ Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford: New Jersey 94, Detroit 79
- Game 5 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: New Jersey 127, Detroit 120 (3OT) (Chauncey Billups banks in a 45-footer at the buzzer to force the 1st overtime)
- Game 6 @ Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford: Detroit 81, New Jersey 75
- Game 7 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: Detroit 90, New Jersey 69
Last Playoff Meeting: 2003 Eastern Conference Finals (New Jersey won 4-0)
Conference Finals
(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (3) Detroit Pistons: Pistons win series 4–2
- Game 1 @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indiana: Indiana 78, Detroit 74 ESPN 8:00pm/7:00ct
- Game 2 @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indiana: Detroit 72, Indiana 67 ESPN 8:00pm/7:00ct (Tayshaun Prince makes a chase-down block on Reggie Miller's game-tying layup in the closing seconds)
- Game 3 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: Detroit 85, Indiana 78 ESPN 8:00pm
- Game 4 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: Indiana 83, Detroit 68 ESPN 8:00pm
- Game 5 @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indiana: Detroit 83, Indiana 65 ESPN 8:00pm/7:00ct
- Game 6 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: Detroit 69, Indiana 65 ESPN 8:00pm
Last Playoff Meeting: 1990 Eastern Conference First Round (Detroit won 3-0)
Western Conference
Champion: Los Angeles Lakers
First Round
(1) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (8) Denver Nuggets: Timberwolves win series 4–1
- Game 1 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Minnesota 106, Denver 92 TNT 9:30et
- Game 2 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Minnesota 95, Denver 81
- Game 3 @ Pepsi Center, Denver: Denver 107, Minnesota 86 ESPN 10:30et
- Game 4 @ Pepsi Center, Denver: Minnesota 84, Denver 82 TNT 10:30et
- Game 5 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Minnesota 102, Denver 91 ESPN 9:30et
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Timberwolves and Nuggets.
(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) Houston Rockets: Lakers win series 4–1
- Game 1 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 72, Houston 71 ESPN 10:30et (Shaquille O'Neal dunks the game-winner with 17.4 seconds left)
- Game 2 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 98, Houston 84 TNT 10:30et
- Game 3 @ Toyota Center, Houston: Houston 102, Los Angeles 91 ESPN 9:30et
- Game 4 @ Toyota Center, Houston: Los Angeles 92, Houston 88 (OT) ABC 3:30et
- Game 5 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 97, Houston 78 TNT 10:30et
Last Playoff Meeting: 1999 Western Conference First Round (Los Angeles won 3-1)
(3) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Memphis Grizzlies: Spurs win series 4–0
- Game 1 @ SBC Center, San Antonio: San Antonio 98, Memphis 74 ESPN 8:00et
- Game 2 @ SBC Center, San Antonio: San Antonio 87, Memphis 70 TNT 8:00et
- Game 3 @ The Pyramid, Memphis: San Antonio 95, Memphis 93
- Game 4 @ The Pyramid, Memphis: San Antonio 110, Memphis 97 TNT 9:30et
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Spurs and Grizzlies.
(4) Sacramento Kings vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks: Kings win series 4–1
- Game 1 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento: Sacramento 116, Dallas 105 ABC 3:30et
- Game 2 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento: Sacramento 83, Dallas 79 TNT 10:30et
- Game 3 @ American Airlines Center, Dallas: Dallas 104, Sacramento 79 ESPN 9:30et
- Game 4 @ American Airlines Center, Dallas: Sacramento 94, Dallas 92 TNT 9:30et
- Game 5 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento: Sacramento 119, Dallas 118 TNT 10:30et
Last Playoff Meeting: 2003 Western Conference Semifinals (Dallas won 4-3)
Conference Semifinals
(1) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (4) Sacramento Kings: Timberwolves win series 4–3
- Game 1 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Sacramento 104, Minnesota 98 TNT 9:30et
- Game 2 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Minnesota 94, Sacramento 89 ESPN 9:30et
- Game 3 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento: Minnesota 114, Sacramento 113 (OT) TNT 10:30et
- Game 4 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento: Sacramento 87, Minnesota 81 TNT 10:30et
- Game 5 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Minnesota 86, Sacramento 74 TNT 9:30et
- Game 6 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento: Sacramento 104, Minnesota 87 ABC 3:30et
- Game 7 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Minnesota 83, Sacramento 80 TNT 9:00et
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Timberwolves and Kings.
(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) San Antonio Spurs: Lakers win series 4–2
- Game 1 @ SBC Center, San Antonio: San Antonio 88, Los Angeles 78 ABC 3:30pm/2:30ct
- Game 2 @ SBC Center, San Antonio: San Antonio 95, Los Angeles 85 TNT 9:30pm/8:30ct
- Game 3 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 105, San Antonio 81 ABC 3:30pm/12:30pt
- Game 4 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 98, San Antonio 90 TNT 10:30pm/7:30pt
- Game 5 @ SBC Center, San Antonio: Los Angeles 74, San Antonio 73 ABC 8:00pm/7:00ct (Derek Fisher hits The 0.4 shot).
- Game 6 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 88, San Antonio 76 TNT 10:30pm/7:30pt
Last Playoff Meeting: 2003 Western Conference Semifinals (San Antonio won 4-2)
Conference Finals
(1) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers: Lakers win series 4–2
- Game 1 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Los Angeles 97, Minnesota 88 TNT 9:00pm/8:00ct
- Game 2 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Minnesota 89, Los Angeles 71 TNT 9:00pm/8:00ct
- Game 3 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 100, Minnesota 89 TNT 9:00pm/6:00pt
- Game 4 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 92, Minnesota 85 TNT 9:00pm/6:00pt
- Game 5 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Minnesota 98, Los Angeles 96 TNT 9:00pm/8:00ct
- Game 6 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 96, Minnesota 90 TNT 9:00pm/6:00pt
Last Playoff Meeting: 2003 Western Conference First Round (Los Angeles won 4-2)
NBA Finals
(W2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (E3) Detroit Pistons: Pistons win series 4–1
- Game 1 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: Detroit 87, Los Angeles 75 ABC 9:00pm/6:00pt
- Game 2 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 99, Detroit 91 (OT) (Kobe Bryant hits the game-tying 3 with 2.1 seconds left to force OT) ABC 9:00pm/6:00pt
- Game 3 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: Detroit 88, Los Angeles 68 ABC 9:00pm
- Game 4 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: Detroit 88, Los Angeles 80 ABC 9:00pm
- Game 5 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: Detroit 100, Los Angeles 87 ABC 9:00pm
Last Playoff Meeting: 1989 NBA Finals (Detroit won 4-0)