1991 NBA playoffs

The 1991 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1990–91 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. Michael Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP.

1991 NBA playoffs
DatesApril 25–June 12, 1991
Season1990–91
Teams16
ChampionsChicago Bulls (1st title)
Runners-upLos Angeles Lakers (24th finals appearance)
Semifinalists
← 1990 1992 →
A ticket for Game 2 of the 1991 Western Conference First Round at the Great Western Forum.

The Lakers reached the Finals despite not being the top seed in the Western Conference for the first time since 1981, and for just the second time since drafting Magic Johnson first overall in 1979.

After the Pistons had ended their season the last three years, the Bulls got revenge in the Eastern Conference Finals by sweeping the two-time defending NBA champions. It was the first time the Bulls won a playoff series over the Pistons since 1974, when both teams were still part of the Western Conference. Game 4 ended with some of the Pistons walking off the court before time expired, refusing to shake the Bulls' hands. The Pistons were vilified for this. In the 1989 NBA Finals, the Pistons themselves had swept the two-time defending champion Lakers. Detroit did not reach the conference finals again until 2003.

The seventh seeded Golden State Warriors stunned the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs, defeating them 3 games to 1. It would be Golden State's last playoff series win until 2007.

The 76ers and the Bucks met in the first round of the playoffs where the 76ers swept the series. It would be both teams last playoff appearance until 1999.

Game 4 of the Blazers–Jazz series was the last game ever played at the Salt Palace.

The Spectrum hosted its final NBA playoff game in Game 4 of the Bulls–76ers series. When the 76ers returned to the playoffs in 1999, they had moved to the CoreStates Center, their home since the 1996–97 season.

This was the first year that NBC aired the NBA Playoffs.

Bracket
  First Round Conference Semifinals Conference Finals NBA Finals
                                     
1 Chicago 3  
8 New York 0  
  1 Chicago 4  
  5 Philadelphia 1  
4 Milwaukee 0
5 Philadelphia 3  
  1 Chicago 4  
Eastern Conference
  3 Detroit 0  
3 Detroit 3  
6 Atlanta 2  
  3 Detroit 4
  2 Boston 2  
2 Boston 3
7 Indiana 2  
  E1 Chicago 4
  W3 LA Lakers 1
1 Portland 3  
8 Seattle 2  
  1 Portland 4
  5 Utah 1  
4 Phoenix 1
5 Utah 3  
  1 Portland 2
Western Conference
  3 LA Lakers 4  
3 LA Lakers 3  
6 Houston 0  
  3 LA Lakers 4
  7 Golden State 1  
2 San Antonio 1
7 Golden State 3  

Western Conference

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers

1st Round

(1) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (8) Seattle SuperSonics: Blazers win series 3-2

  • Game 1 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (April 26): Portland 110, Seattle 102
  • Game 2 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (April 28): Portland 115, Seattle 106
  • Game 3 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (April 30): Seattle 102, Portland 99
  • Game 4 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (May 2): Seattle 101, Portland 89
  • Game 5 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 4): Portland 119, Seattle 107

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning two of the first three meetings.

(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Golden State Warriors: Warriors win series 3-1

  • Game 1 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio (April 25): San Antonio 130, Golden State 121
  • Game 2 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio (April 27): Golden State 111, San Antonio 98
  • Game 3 @ Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland (May 1): Golden State 109, San Antonio 106
  • Game 4 @ Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland (May 3): Golden State 110, San Antonio 97

This was the first playoff meeting between the Warriors and the Spurs.[2]

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Houston Rockets: Lakers win series 3-0

  • Game 1 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (April 25): Los Angeles 94, Houston 92
  • Game 2 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (April 27): Los Angeles 109, Houston 98
  • Game 3 @ The Summit, Houston (April 30): Los Angeles 94, Houston 90 (Byron Scott hits the clutch shot with 15 seconds left)

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

(4) Phoenix Suns vs. (5) Utah Jazz: Jazz win series 3-1

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning the first two meetings.

Conference Semifinals

(1) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (5) Utah Jazz: Blazers win series 4-1

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

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) Golden State Warriors: Lakers win series 4-1

  • Game 1 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 5): Los Angeles 126, Golden State 116
  • Game 2 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 8): Golden State 125, Los Angeles 124
  • Game 3 @ Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland (May 10): Los Angeles 115, Golden State 112
  • Game 4 @ Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland (May 12): Los Angeles 123, Golden State 107
  • Game 5 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 14): Los Angeles 124, Golden State 119 (OT; Sam Perkins hits the game-tying lay-up with 2.4 seconds left to force OT)

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

Conference Finals

(1) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (3) Los Angeles Lakers: Lakers win series 4-2

  • Game 1 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 18): Los Angeles 111, Portland 106
  • Game 2 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 21): Portland 109, Los Angeles 98
  • Game 3 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 24): Los Angeles 106, Portland 92
  • Game 4 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 26): Los Angeles 116, Portland 95
  • Game 5 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 28): Portland 95, Los Angeles 84
  • Game 6 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 30): Los Angeles 91, Portland 90

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

Eastern Conference

Champion: Chicago Bulls

1st Round

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) New York Knicks: Bulls win series 3-0

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first two meetings.

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Indiana Pacers: Celtics win series 3-2

This was the first playoff meeting between the Celtics and the Pacers.[9]

(3) Detroit Pistons vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks: Pistons win series 3-2

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

(4) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (5) Philadelphia 76ers: 76ers win series 3-0

This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning four of the first seven meetings.

Conference Semifinals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (5) Philadelphia 76ers: Bulls win series 4-1

  • Game 1 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 4): Chicago 105, Philadelphia 92
  • Game 2 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 6): Chicago 112, Philadelphia 100
  • Game 3 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (May 10): Philadelphia 99, Chicago 97
  • Game 4 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (May 12): Chicago 101, Philadelphia 85 (76ers final playoff game at The Spectrum)
  • Game 5 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 14): Chicago 100, Philadelphia 95

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

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Detroit Pistons: Pistons win series 4-2

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

Conference Finals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (3) Detroit Pistons: Bulls win series 4-0

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pistons winning three of the first four meetings.

NBA Finals
Main article: 1991 NBA Finals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (3) Los Angeles Lakers: Bulls win series 4-1

  • Game 1 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (June 2): Los Angeles 93, Chicago 91 (Sam Perkins hits the game-winning 3 with 14 seconds left)
  • Game 2 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (June 5): Chicago 107, Los Angeles 86 (Michael Jordan does "The Move")
  • Game 3 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (June 7): Chicago 104, Los Angeles 96 (OT; Michael Jordan hits the game-tying shot with 3.4 seconds left to force OT)
  • Game 4 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (June 9): Chicago 97, Los Angeles 82
  • Game 5 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (June 12): Chicago 108, Los Angeles 101

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

References
  1. "Team Rivalry Finder — Oklahoma City Thunder versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  2. "Team Rivalry Finder — Golden State Warriors versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  3. "Team Rivalry Finder — Houston Rockets versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  4. "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  5. "Team Rivalry Finder — Portland Trail Blazers versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  6. "Team Rivalry Finder — Golden State Warriors versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  7. "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  8. "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  9. "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Indiana Pacers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  10. "Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Detroit Pistons (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  11. "Team Rivalry Finder — Milwaukee Bucks versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  12. "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  13. "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Detroit Pistons (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  14. "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Detroit Pistons (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  15. "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
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