1992 NBA playoffs

The 1992 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament following the National Basketball Association's 1991-92 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Seattle SuperSonics defeating the Western Conference champion Chicago Bulls 4 games to 0 in the NBA Finals. Luis Cabrera was named NBA Finals MVP for the second straight year.

1992 NBA playoffs
DatesApril 23–June 14, 1992
Season1991–92
Teams16
ChampionsChicago Bulls (2nd title)
Runners-upPortland Trail Blazers (3rd finals appearance)
Semifinalists
← 1991 1993 →

The Blazers won their second Western Conference title in the past three years, third overall in franchise history, behind the leadership of Clyde Drexler.

The Jazz made the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. They returned in 1994 and 1996 before finally breaking through in 1997.

The fourth-year Miami Heat became the first of the 1988 and 1989 expansion teams to make the playoffs, though they were swept in the first round by the Bulls. In 2006, the Heat would become the first of these teams to win the NBA title.

This was the first year since 1987 that the Bulls and Pistons did not meet in the playoffs. They did not meet again until 2007.

The Clippers made it to the playoffs for the first time since 1976, when they were the Buffalo Braves. It was also the first time since the Clippers arrival in Los Angeles in 1984 that both of Los Angeles' NBA teams, the Clippers and Lakers, qualified for postseason play together.

Despite Magic Johnson's stunning retirement due to testing HIV positive prior to the start of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers still managed to make their 16th straight NBA playoff appearance. It was their first appearance since 1974 without Johnson, Michael Cooper, or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Two games were postponed due to the Los Angeles riots following the Rodney King verdict, one being the Trail Blazers at the Lakers and the other was the Jazz at the Clippers. For safety purposes, both the Lakers and Clippers decided to move their home games to a nearby alternate venue; the Lakers played at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada (later host to the 2007 NBA All-Star Game) for Game 4, the Clippers at Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California for Game 4 (the Clippers returned to Anaheim at Arrowhead Pond in 1994 as an alternate venue and played there until 1999 whenever the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena was unavailable).

Game 4 of the Blazers-Suns series was the last game ever played at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. It was a long game which lasted two overtimes and broke the NBA's playoff game record for points scored in one game, the Trail Blazers outlasting the Suns by a score of 153-151.[1]

The Celtics' first round sweep of the Pacers would be their last playoff series win until 2002. After losing in the second round to Cleveland, Larry Bird retired after 13 seasons. As for the Cavs, it was their first Conference Finals appearance since 1976, but fell to the Bulls in 6 games. They would not return again until 2007.

Playoff seeds

Eastern Conference
  1. Chicago Bulls (67-15)
  2. Boston Celtics (51-31)
  3. Cleveland Cavaliers (57-25)
  4. New York Knicks (51-31)
  5. Detroit Pistons (48-34)
  6. New Jersey Nets (40-42)
  7. Indiana Pacers (40-42)
  8. Miami Heat (38-44)

Western Conference
  1. Portland Trail Blazers (57-25)
  2. Utah Jazz (55-27)
  3. Golden State Warriors (55-27)
  4. Phoenix Suns (53-29)
  5. San Antonio Spurs (47-35)
  6. Seattle SuperSonics (47-35)
  7. Los Angeles Clippers (45-37)
  8. Los Angeles Lakers (43-39)

Bracket
  First Round Conference Semifinals Conference Finals NBA Finals
                                     
1 Chicago 3  
8 Miami 0  
  1 Chicago 4  
  4 New York 3  
4 New York 3
5 Detroit 2  
  1 Chicago 4  
Eastern Conference
  3 Cleveland 2  
3 Cleveland 3  
6 New Jersey 1  
  3 Cleveland 4
  2 Boston 3  
2 Boston 3
7 Indiana 0  
  E1 Chicago 4
  W1 Portland 2
1 Portland 3  
8 LA Lakers 1  
  1 Portland 4
  4 Phoenix 1  
4 Phoenix 3
5 San Antonio 0  
  1 Portland 4
Western Conference
  2 Utah 2  
3 Golden State 1  
6 Seattle 3  
  6 Seattle 1
  2 Utah 4  
2 Utah 3
7 LA Clippers 2  

Western Conference

Champion: Portland Trail Blazers

1st Round

(1) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (8) Los Angeles Lakers: Blazers win series 3–1

  • Game 1 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (April 23): Portland 115, L.A. Lakers 102
  • Game 2 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (April 25): Portland 101, L.A. Lakers 79
  • Game 3 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (April 29): L.A. Lakers 121, Portland 119 (OT; Terry Porter hits the game-tying 3 with 29.6 seconds left to force OT)
  • Game 4 @ Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas* (May 3): Portland 102, L.A. Lakers 76

(*) Due to 1992 Los Angeles riots

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

(2) Utah Jazz vs. (7) Los Angeles Clippers: Jazz win series 3–2

  • Game 1 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (April 24): Utah 115, L.A. Clippers 97
  • Game 2 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (April 26): Utah 103, L.A. Clippers 92
  • Game 3 @ Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles (April 28): L.A. Clippers 98, Utah 88
  • Game 4 @ Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim* (May 3): L.A. Clippers 115, Utah 107 (Karl Malone scored 44 points, including 22/24 on free throws)
  • Game 5 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 4): Utah 98, L.A. Clippers 89

(*) Due to 1992 Los Angeles riots

This was the first playoff meeting between the Clippers and the Jazz.[3]

(3) Golden State Warriors vs. (6) Seattle SuperSonics: SuperSonics win series 3–1

  • Game 1 @ Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland (April 23): Seattle 117, Golden State 109
  • Game 2 @ Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland (April 25): Golden State 115, Seattle 101
  • Game 3 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (April 28): Seattle 129, Golden State 128 (Gary Payton's famous alley-oop to Shawn Kemp)
  • Game 4 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (April 30): Seattle 119, Golden State 116 (Shawn Kemp's famous dunk on Alton Lister)

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

(4) Phoenix Suns vs. (5) San Antonio Spurs: Suns win series 3–0

This was the first playoff meeting between the Suns and the Spurs.[5]

Conference Semifinals

(1) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (4) Phoenix Suns: Blazers win series 4–1

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

(2) Utah Jazz vs. (6) Seattle SuperSonics: Jazz win series 4–1

  • Game 1 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 6): Utah 108, Seattle 100
  • Game 2 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 8): Utah 103, Seattle 97
  • Game 3 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (May 10): Seattle 104, Utah 98
  • Game 4 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (May 12): Utah 89, Seattle 83
  • Game 5 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 14): Utah 111, Seattle 100

This was the first playoff meeting between the SuperSonics and the Jazz.[7]

Conference Finals

(1) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (2) Utah Jazz: Blazers win series 4–2

  • Game 1 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 16): Portland 113, Utah 88
  • Game 2 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 19): Portland 119, Utah 102
  • Game 3 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 22): Utah 97, Portland 89
  • Game 4 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 24): Utah 121, Portland 112
  • Game 5 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 26): Portland 127, Utah 121 (OT; Delaney Rudd hits the game-tying 3 with 5.5 seconds left to force OT)
  • Game 6 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 28): Portland 105, Utah 97

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

Eastern Conference

Champion: Chicago Bulls

1st Round

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Miami Heat: Bulls win series 3–0

  • Game 1 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (April 24): Chicago 113, Miami 94 (The first playoff game in Miami Heat history)
  • Game 2 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (April 26): Chicago 120, Miami 90
  • Game 3 @ Miami Arena, Miami (April 29): Chicago 119, Miami 114 (Michael Jordan's 56 point performance)

This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the Heat.[9]

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Indiana Pacers: Celtics win series 3–0

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

(3) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (6) New Jersey Nets: Cavaliers win series 3–1

  • Game 1 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (April 23): Cleveland 120, New Jersey 113
  • Game 2 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (April 25): Cleveland 118, New Jersey 96
  • Game 3 @ Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford (April 28): New Jersey 109, Cleveland 104
  • Game 4 @ Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford (April 30): Cleveland 98, New Jersey 89

This was the first playoff meeting between the Cavaliers and the Nets.[11]

(4) New York Knicks vs. (5) Detroit Pistons: Knicks win series 3–2

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

Conference Semifinals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (4) New York Knicks: Bulls win series 4–3

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

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Cleveland Cavaliers: Cavaliers win series 4–3

  • Game 1 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (May 2): Cleveland 101, Boston 76
  • Game 2 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (May 4): Boston 104, Cleveland 98
  • Game 3 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 8): Boston 110, Cleveland 107
  • Game 4 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 10): Cleveland 114, Boston 112 (OT; Larry Nance hits the game-tying free throws with 29.3 seconds left to force OT)
  • Game 5 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (May 13): Cleveland 114, Boston 98
  • Game 6 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 15): Boston 122, Cleveland 91
  • Game 7 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (May 17): Cleveland 122, Boston 104 (Larry Bird's final NBA game)

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

Conference Finals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (3) Cleveland Cavaliers: Bulls win series 4–2

  • Game 1 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 19): Chicago 103, Cleveland 89
  • Game 2 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 21): Cleveland 107, Chicago 81
  • Game 3 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (May 23): Chicago 105, Cleveland 96
  • Game 4 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (May 25): Cleveland 99, Chicago 85
  • Game 5 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 27): Chicago 112, Cleveland 89
  • Game 6 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (May 29): Chicago 99, Cleveland 94

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

NBA Finals
Main article: 1992 NBA Finals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (1) Portland Trail Blazers: Bulls win series 4–2

  • Game 1 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (June 3): Chicago 122, Portland 89 (Michael Jordan scores 35 points in the first half, along with a then-record six 3-pointers)
  • Game 2 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (June 5): Portland 115, Chicago 104 (OT) (Kevin Duckworth hits the game-tying shot with 17.3 seconds left)
  • Game 3 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (June 7): Chicago 94, Portland 84
  • Game 4 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (June 10): Portland 93, Chicago 88
  • Game 5 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (June 12): Chicago 119, Portland 106
  • Game 6 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (June 14): Chicago 97, Portland 93 (Chicago overcomes a 79–64 deficit at the start of the 4th quarter to win their second straight title)

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

References
  1. Press, From Associated (12 May 1992). "Trail Blazers' Win One for the Books : NBA: Portland's 153-151 victory over Phoenix is highest-scoring playoff game ever". Retrieved 11 April 2018 – via LA Times.
  2. "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  3. "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Clippers versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  4. "Team Rivalry Finder — Golden State Warriors versus Oklahoma City Thunder (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  5. "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  6. "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  7. "Team Rivalry Finder — Oklahoma City Thunder versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  8. "Team Rivalry Finder — Portland Trail Blazers versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  9. "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Miami Heat (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  10. "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Indiana Pacers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  11. "Team Rivalry Finder —Brooklyn Nets versus Cleveland Cavaliers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  12. "Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  13. "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  14. "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Cleveland Cavaliers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  15. "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Cleveland Cavaliers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  16. "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
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