1999 NBA playoffs
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| Dates | May 8–June 25, 1999 |
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The 1999 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association’s 1998-99 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks 4 games to 1. Tim Duncan was named NBA Finals MVP.
The 1999 Playoffs are memorable in that a #8 seed (the Knicks) made it to the Finals for the only time in history, and that it came after a lockout-shortened 50-game season. It also featured the Philadelphia 76ers’ and Milwaukee Bucks’ first trip to the playoffs since 1991 (coincidentally they faced each other in the opening round that year), and it was also the 76ers’ first appearance since drafting Allen Iverson with the #1 overall pick in 1996. Iverson later led the Sixers to the 2001 NBA Finals. The Bulls, despite being defending champions, missed the playoffs for the first time since 1984 (mostly due to the second retirement of Michael Jordan and the departures of Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman). They also became the first defending champion since the 1969–70 Boston Celtics to miss the playoffs.
Although the Spurs had home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, they played more road games (9) than home games (8), as all their series were won on the road, which included back-to-back sweeps of the Lakers and Blazers (who would meet in next year's West Finals). They won twelve straight games, and finished 15–2 for a postseason record previously equalled by the 1991 Chicago Bulls and beaten only by a 15–1 playoff record with the only loss in overtime from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2001, and by a 16–1 playoff record from the Golden State Warriors in 2017.
After losing their Eastern Conference Semifinal series to the Knicks, the Atlanta Hawks did not return to the playoffs until 2008.
Game 4 of the Spurs–Lakers series was the last NBA game ever played in the Great Western Forum.
Game 5 of the Knicks–Pacers series was the last NBA game ever played at Market Square Arena.
For the first time since 1991, no series went to seven games.
After spending their first thirteen seasons in Sacramento in mediocrity, with no winning record and two playoff appearances in 1986 and 1996, the Kings franchise made the first of eight consecutive playoff appearances, which included a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2002.
Game 4 of the Lakers–Rockets series turned out to be the final postseason appearance in Charles Barkley’s Hall of Fame career.
This was the last NBA postseason to feature back-to-backs in the conference semifinals.
Bracket
Western Conference
Champion: San Antonio Spurs
1st Round
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Minnesota Timberwolves: Spurs win series 3-1
- Game 1 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (May 9): San Antonio 99, Minnesota 86 NBC
- Game 2 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (May 11): Minnesota 80, San Antonio 71 TNT
- Game 3 @ Target Center, Minneapolis (May 13): San Antonio 85, Minnesota 71 TNT
- Game 4 @ Target Center, Minneapolis (May 15): San Antonio 92, Minnesota 85 NBC
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
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This was the first playoff meeting between the Timberwolves and the Spurs.[1]
(2) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (7) Phoenix Suns: Blazers win series 3-0
- Game 1 @ Rose Garden Arena, Portland (May 8): Portland 95, Phoenix 85 NBC
- Game 2 @ Rose Garden Arena, Portland (May 10): Portland 110, Phoenix 99 TNT
- Game 3 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (May 12): Portland 103, Phoenix 93 TBS
| Portland won 3–0 in the regular-season series |
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This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning three of the first five meetings.
| Phoenix leads 3–2 in all-time playoff series |
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(3) Utah Jazz vs. (6) Sacramento Kings: Jazz win series 3-2
- Game 1 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 8): Utah 117, Sacramento 87 NBC
- Game 2 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 10): Sacramento 101, Utah 90 TBS
- Game 3 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento (May 12): Sacramento 84, Utah 81 (OT) TNT
- Game 4 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento (May 14): Utah 90, Sacramento 89 (John Stockton hits the game winner with 7 tenths left.)TNT
- Game 5 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 16): Utah 99, Sacramento 92 (OT)NBC
| Utah won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
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This was the first playoff meeting between the Kings and the Jazz.[3]
(4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets: Lakers win series 3-1
- Game 1 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 9): Los Angeles 101, Houston 100 (Kobe Bryant makes the game-winning free-throws with 5 seconds left; Shaquille O'Neal blocks Cuttino Mobley at the buzzer)NBC
- Game 2 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 11): Los Angeles 110, Houston 98 TNT
- Game 3 @ Compaq Center, Houston (May 13): Houston 102, Los Angeles 88 TNT
- Game 4 @ Compaq Center, Houston (May 15): Los Angeles 98, Houston 88 NBC (Rockets final playoff game played in the Compaq Center)
| Los Angeles won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
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This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning three of the first five meetings.
| Houston leads 3–2 in all-time playoff series |
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Conference Semifinals
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (4) Los Angeles Lakers: Spurs win series 4-0
- Game 1 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (May 17): San Antonio 87, Los Angeles 81 TBS
- Game 2 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (May 19): San Antonio 79, Los Angeles 76 TNT
- Game 3 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 22): San Antonio 103, Los Angeles 91 NBC
- Game 4 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 23): San Antonio 118, Los Angeles 107 NBC (Lakers final NBA game played in the Great Western Forum)
| Los Angeles won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
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This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning four of the first five meetings.
| Los Angeles leads 4–1 in all-time playoff series |
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(2) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (3) Utah Jazz: Blazers win series 4-2
- Game 1 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 18): Utah 93, Portland 83 TNT
- Game 2 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 20): Portland 84, Utah 81 TNT
- Game 3 @ Rose Garden Arena, Portland (May 22): Portland 97, Utah 87 NBC
- Game 4 @ Rose Garden Arena, Portland (May 23): Portland 81, Utah 75 TNT
- Game 5 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 25): Utah 88, Portland 71 TNT
- Game 6 @ Rose Garden Arena, Portland (May 27): Portland 92, Utah 80 TNT
| Utah won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
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This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning two series apiece.
| Tied 2–2 in all-time playoff series |
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Conference Finals
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (2) Portland Trail Blazers: Spurs win series 4-0
- Game 1 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (May 29): San Antonio 80, Portland 76 NBC
- Game 2 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (May 31): San Antonio 86, Portland 85 (The Memorial Day Miracle: Sean Elliott makes the game-winning 3 with 9 seconds left.[7])NBC
- Game 3 @ Rose Garden Arena, Portland (June 4): San Antonio 85, Portland 63 NBC
- Game 4 @ Rose Garden Arena, Portland (June 6): San Antonio 94, Portland 80 NBC
| San Antonio won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
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This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece
| Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series |
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Eastern Conference
Champion: New York Knicks
1st Round
(1) Miami Heat vs. (8) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 3-2
- Game 1 @ Miami Arena, Miami (May 8): New York 95, Miami 75 NBC
- Game 2 @ Miami Arena, Miami (May 10): Miami 83, New York 73 TBS
- Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 12): New York 97, Miami 73 TNT
- Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 14): Miami 87, New York 72 TNT
- Game 5 @ Miami Arena, Miami (May 16): New York 78, Miami 77 (Allan Houston hits the series-winning jumper with 0.8 left[9]) NBC
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
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This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.
| Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series |
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(2) Indiana Pacers vs. (7) Milwaukee Bucks: Pacers win series 3-0
- Game 1 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 9): Indiana 110, Milwaukee 88 TBS
- Game 2 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 11): Indiana 108, Milwaukee 107 (OT) (Dale Davis tips in the game winner with 5 tenths left in OT) TBS
- Game 3 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee (May 13): Indiana 99, Milwaukee 91 TBS
| Indiana won 3–0 in the regular-season series |
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This was the first playoff meeting between the Pacers and the Bucks.[11]
(3) Orlando Magic vs. (6) Philadelphia 76ers: 76ers win series 3-1
- Game 1 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (May 9): Philadelphia 104, Orlando 90 NBC
- Game 2 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (May 11): Orlando 79, Philadelphia 68 TBS
- Game 3 @ First Union Center, Philadelphia (May 13): Philadelphia 97, Orlando 85 (Dominique Wilkins's final NBA game; Allen Iverson gets a playoff record 10 steals)TBS
- Game 4 @ First Union Center, Philadelphia (May 15): Philadelphia 101, Orlando 91 NBC
| Philadelphia won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
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This was the first playoff meeting between the Magic and the 76ers.[12]
(4) Atlanta Hawks vs. (5) Detroit Pistons: Hawks win series 3-2
- Game 1 @ Georgia Dome, Atlanta (May 8): Atlanta 90, Detroit 70 TNT
- Game 2 @ Georgia Dome, Atlanta (May 10): Atlanta 89, Detroit 69 TNT
- Game 3 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 12): Detroit 79, Atlanta 63 TBS
- Game 4 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 14): Detroit 103, Atlanta 82 TBS
- Game 5 @ Alexander Memorial Coliseum, Atlanta (May 16): Atlanta 87, Detroit 75 (Joe Dumars' final NBA game)TNT
| Detroit won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
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This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning four of the first seven meetings.
| Atlanta leads 4–3 in all-time playoff series |
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Conference Semifinals
(2) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Philadelphia 76ers: Pacers win series 4-0
- Game 1 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 17): Indiana 94, Philadelphia 90 TBS
- Game 2 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 19): Indiana 85, Philadelphia 82 TNT
- Game 3 @ First Union Center, Philadelphia (May 21): Indiana 97, Philadelphia 86 TNT
- Game 4 @ First Union Center, Philadelphia (May 23): Indiana 89, Philadelphia 86 NBC
| Philadelphia won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
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This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning the first meeting.
| Philadelphia leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
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(4) Atlanta Hawks vs. (8) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 4-0
- Game 1 @ Georgia Dome, Atlanta (May 18): New York 100, Atlanta 92 TNT
- Game 2 @ Georgia Dome, Atlanta (May 20): New York 77, Atlanta 70 TNT
- Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 23): New York 90, Atlanta 78 NBC
- Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 24): New York 79, Atlanta 66 TBS
| Atlanta won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
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This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first meeting.
| New York leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
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Conference Finals
(2) Indiana Pacers vs. (8) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 4-2
- Game 1 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 30): New York 93, Indiana 90 NBC
- Game 2 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (June 1): Indiana 88, New York 86 (Reggie Miller hits the game winning free throws with 4 seconds left).TNT
- Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 5): New York 92, Indiana 91 (Larry Johnson's game-winning 4-point play with 5.7 seconds left.[16])NBC
- Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 7): Indiana 90, New York 78 NBC
- Game 5 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (June 9): New York 101, Indiana 94 (Pacers final NBA game played in Market Square Arena) NBC
- Game 6 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 11): New York 90, Indiana 82 NBC
| Indiana won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
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This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning two series apiece.
| Tied 2–2 in all-time playoff series |
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NBA Finals
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) New York Knicks: Spurs win series 4-1
- Game 1 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (June 16): San Antonio 89, New York 77 NBC
- Game 2 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (June 18): San Antonio 80, New York 67 NBC
- Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 21): New York 89, San Antonio 81 NBC
- Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 23): San Antonio 96, New York 89NBC
- Game 5 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 25): San Antonio 78, New York 77 (Avery Johnson hits the title-winning shot with 47 seconds left.)NBC
Neither team met in the regular season.
This was the first playoff meeting between the Knicks and the Spurs.[18]
References
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Minnesota Timberwolves versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Sacramento Kings versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Houston Rockets versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Portland Trail Blazers versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
- ^ http://www.nba.com/encyclopedia/moments/60moments_51-60.html
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Portland Trail Blazers versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
- ^ http://www.nba.com/encyclopedia/moments/60moments_41-50.html
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Miami Heat versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Indiana Pacers versus Milwaukee Bucks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Orlando Magic versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Detroit Pistons (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Indiana Pacers versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
- ^ http://www.nba.com/encyclopedia/moments/60moments_hm_21-31.html
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Indiana Pacers versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
- ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — New York Knicks versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.