1999 NBA Playoffs

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. This was also the first time that two teams played each other on consecutive nights in playoff history. It also featured the Philadelphia 76ers' and Milwaukee Bucks' first trip to the playoffs since 1991 (ironically 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 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 12 straight games, and finished 15-2.

After losing their Eastern Conference Semifinal series to the Knicks, the 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 seven games.

After spending their first 13 seasons in mediocrity (two playoff appearances in 1986 and 1996), the Sacramento Kings made the first of eight consecutive playoff appearances (in eight seasons six of which they won 27 to 44 to 55 plus games), 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.

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
• Game 2 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (May 11): Minnesota 80, San Antonio 71
• Game 3 @ Target Center, Minneapolis (May 13): San Antonio 85, Minnesota 71
• Game 4 @ Target Center, Minneapolis (May 15): San Antonio 92, Minnesota 85

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, Portland (May 8): Portland 95, Phoenix 85
• Game 2 @ Rose Garden, Portland (May 10): Portland 110, Phoenix 99
• Game 3 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (May 12): Portland 103, Phoenix 93

This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning three of the first five meetings.

(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
• Game 2 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 10): Sacramento 101, Utah 90
• Game 3 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento (May 12): Sacramento 84, Utah 81 (OT)
• Game 4 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento (May 14): Utah 90, Sacramento 89
• Game 5 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 16): Utah 99, Sacramento 92 (OT)

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, and Shaquille O'Neal blocks Cuttino Mobley at the buzzer)
• Game 2 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 11): Los Angeles 110, Houston 98
• Game 3 @ Compaq Center, Houston (May 13): Houston 102, Los Angeles 88
• Game 4 @ Compaq Center, Houston (May 15): Los Angeles 98, Houston 88

This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning three of the first five meetings.

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
• Game 2 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (May 19): San Antonio 79, Los Angeles 76
• Game 3 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 22): San Antonio 103, Los Angeles 91
• Game 4 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 23): San Antonio 118, Los Angeles 107

This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning four of the first five meetings.

(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
• Game 2 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 20): Portland 84, Utah 81
• Game 3 @ Rose Garden, Portland (May 22): Portland 97, Utah 87
• Game 4 @ Rose Garden, Portland (May 23): Portland 81, Utah 75
• Game 5 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 25): Utah 88, Portland 71
• Game 6 @ Rose Garden, Portland (May 27): Portland 92, Utah 80

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning two series apiece.

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
• Game 2 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (May 31): San Antonio 86, Portland 85 (The Memorial Day Miracle: Sean Elliott makes the game-winning 3-pointer with 9 seconds left.^[7])
• Game 3 @ Rose Garden, Portland (June 4): San Antonio 85, Portland 63
• Game 4 @ Rose Garden, Portland (June 6): San Antonio 94, Portland 80

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece

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
• Game 2 @ Miami Arena, Miami (May 10): Miami 83, New York 73
• Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 12): New York 97, Miami 73
• Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 14): Miami 87, New York 72
• Game 5 @ Miami Arena, Miami (May 16): New York 78, Miami 77 (Allan Houston makes the series-winning jumper with 0.8 on the clock.^[9])

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.

(2) Indiana Pacers vs. (7) Milwaukee Bucks: Pacers win series 3-0

• Game 1 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 9): Indiana 110, Milwaukee 88
• Game 2 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 11): Indiana 108, Milwaukee 107 (OT)
• Game 3 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee (May 13): Indiana 99, Milwaukee 91

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
• Game 2 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (May 11): Orlando 79, Philadelphia 68
• Game 3 @ First Union Center, Philadelphia (May 13): Philadelphia 97, Orlando 85
• Game 4 @ First Union Center, Philadelphia (May 15): Philadelphia 101, Orlando 91

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
• Game 2 @ Georgia Dome, Atlanta (May 10): Atlanta 89, Detroit 69
• Game 3 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 12): Detroit 79, Atlanta 63
• Game 4 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 14): Detroit 103, Atlanta 82
• Game 5 @ Alexander Memorial Coliseum, Atlanta (May 16): Atlanta 87, Detroit 75 (Joe Dumars's final NBA game)

This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning four of the first seven meetings.

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
• Game 2 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 19): Indiana 85, Philadelphia 82
• Game 3 @ First Union Center, Philadelphia (May 21): Indiana 97, Philadelphia 86
• Game 4 @ First Union Center, Philadelphia (May 23): Indiana 89, Philadelphia 86

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning the first meeting.

(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
• Game 2 @ Georgia Dome, Atlanta (May 20): New York 77, Atlanta 70
• Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 23): New York 90, Atlanta 78
• Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 24): New York 79, Atlanta 66

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first meeting.

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
• Game 2 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (June 1): Indiana 88, New York 86
• Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 5): New York 92, Indiana 91 (Larry Johnson made a 3, and drew a foul with 5.7 seconds left. The 3 ties the game and his following free throw gives New York the 92-91 lead.^[16])
• Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 7): Indiana 90, New York 78
• Game 5 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (June 9): New York 101, Indiana 94
• Game 6 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 11): New York 90, Indiana 82

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning two series apiece.

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
• Game 2 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (June 18): San Antonio 80, New York 67
• Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 21): New York 89, San Antonio 81
• Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 23): San Antonio 96, New York 89
• Game 5 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 25): San Antonio 78, New York 77

Neither team met in the regular season.

This was the first playoff meeting between the Knicks and the Spurs.^[18]

References