1993 NBA playoffs

The 1993 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1992–93 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls defeating the Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Michael Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP for the third straight year. This was the Suns' second Western Conference title; they made their first NBA Finals appearance since 1976, losing to the Boston Celtics.

1993 NBA Playoffs
DatesApril 29–June 20, 1993
Season1992–93
Teams16
ChampionsChicago Bulls (3rd title)
Runners-upPhoenix Suns (2nd finals appearance)
Semifinalists
← 1992 1994 →

The Knicks–Pacers rivalry started in their first-round encounter, which New York won, 3–1. But it wasn't until the next two meetings (1994 and 1995) that the rivalry became even more intense, particularly due to Reggie Miller's heroics in the Garden that made him a household name and Indiana legitimate contenders in the East.

The Charlotte Hornets made their playoff debut. Their opening-round series versus Boston was also last time the Celtics made the playoffs with Kevin McHale, who retired after the series, and Robert Parish, who left as a free agent. Game 1 of the series was the final game of Reggie Lewis' career, as he collapsed during the first quarter and did not play for the rest of the series; he died in July of a heart attack.

Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals saw the Suns attempt sixty-four free throws while connecting on fifty-seven of them, both NBA postseason records.[1]

Sportswriter Bill Simmons called the 1993 post-season the best in NBA history.[2][3][4]

Bracket
  First Round Conference Semifinals Conference Finals NBA Finals
                                     
1 New York 3  
8 Indiana 1  
  1 New York 4  
  5 Charlotte 1  
4 Boston 1
5 Charlotte 3  
  1 New York 2  
Eastern Conference
  2 Chicago 4  
3 Cleveland 3  
6 New Jersey 2  
  3 Cleveland 0
  2 Chicago 4  
2 Chicago 3
7 Atlanta 0  
  E2 Chicago 4
  W1 Phoenix 2
1 Phoenix 3  
8 LA Lakers 2  
  1 Phoenix 4
  5 San Antonio 2  
4 Portland 1
5 San Antonio 3  
  1 Phoenix 4
Western Conference
  3 Seattle 3  
3 Seattle 3  
6 Utah 2  
  3 Seattle 4
  2 Houston 3  
2 Houston 3
7 LA Clippers 2  

Western Conference

Champion: Phoenix Suns

First Round

(1) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) Los Angeles Lakers: Suns win series 3–2

  • Game 1 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (April 30): LA Lakers 107, Phoenix 103
  • Game 2 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (May 2): LA Lakers 86, Phoenix 81
  • Game 3 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 4): Phoenix 107, LA Lakers 102
  • Game 4 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 6): Phoenix 101, LA Lakers 86
  • Game 5 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (May 9): Phoenix 112, LA Lakers 104 (OT; Dan Majerle hits the game-tying shot with 13.6 seconds left to force OT; before winning Games 3, 4 and 5, former Suns head coach Paul Westphal guaranteed that they would come back from the 2–0 deficit)

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

(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Los Angeles Clippers: Rockets win series 3–2

  • Game 1 @ The Summit, Houston (April 29): Houston 117, LA Clippers 94
  • Game 2 @ The Summit, Houston (May 1): LA Clippers 95, Houston 83
  • Game 3 @ Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles (May 3): Houston 111, LA Clippers 99
  • Game 4 @ Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles (May 5): LA Clippers 93, Houston 90
  • Game 5 @ The Summit, Houston (May 8): Houston 84, LA Clippers 80

This was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the Clippers.[6]

(3) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (6) Utah Jazz: Sonics win series 3–2

  • Game 1 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (April 30): Seattle 99, Utah 85
  • Game 2 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (May 2): Utah 89, Seattle 85
  • Game 3 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 4): Utah 90, Seattle 80
  • Game 4 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 6): Seattle 93, Utah 80
  • Game 5 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (May 8): Seattle 100, Utah 92

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

(4) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (5) San Antonio Spurs: Spurs win series 3–1

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

Conference Semifinals

(1) Phoenix Suns vs. (5) San Antonio Spurs: Suns win series 4–2

  • Game 1 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (May 11): Phoenix 98, San Antonio 89
  • Game 2 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (May 13): Phoenix 109, San Antonio 103
  • Game 3 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio (May 15): San Antonio 111, Phoenix 96
  • Game 4 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio (May 16): San Antonio 117, Phoenix 103
  • Game 5 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (May 18): Phoenix 109, San Antonio 97
  • Game 6 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio (May 20): Phoenix 102, San Antonio 100 (Charles Barkley hits the series-winning shot with 1.8 seconds left, also the Spurs played their final game at the HemisFair Arena before moving to the Alamodome the following season)

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

(2) Houston Rockets vs. (3) Seattle SuperSonics: Sonics win series 4–3

  • Game 1 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (May 10): Seattle 99, Houston 90
  • Game 2 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (May 12): Seattle 111, Houston 100
  • Game 3 @ The Summit, Houston (May 15): Houston 97, Seattle 79
  • Game 4 @ The Summit, Houston (May 16): Houston 103, Seattle 92
  • Game 5 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (May 18): Seattle 120, Houston 95
  • Game 6 @ The Summit, Houston (May 20): Houston 103, Seattle 90
  • Game 7 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (May 22): Seattle 103, Houston 100 (OT; Ricky Pierce hits the game-tying shot with 23.9 seconds left to force OT)

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

Conference Finals

(1) Phoenix Suns vs. (3) Seattle SuperSonics: Suns win series 4–3

  • Game 1 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (May 24): Phoenix 105, Seattle 91
  • Game 2 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (May 26): Seattle 103, Phoenix 99
  • Game 3 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (May 28): Phoenix 104, Seattle 97
  • Game 4 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (May 30): Seattle 120, Phoenix 101
  • Game 5 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (June 1): Phoenix 120, Seattle 114
  • Game 6 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (June 3): Seattle 118, Phoenix 102
  • Game 7 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (June 5): Phoenix 123, Seattle 110 (Charles Barkley had 44 points and 24 rebounds)

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

Eastern Conference

Champion: Chicago Bulls

First Round

(1) New York Knicks vs. (8) Indiana Pacers: Knicks win series 3–1

This was the first playoff meeting between the Pacers and the Knicks.[12]

(2) Chicago Bulls vs. (7) Atlanta Hawks: Bulls win series 3–0

  • Game 1 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (April 30): Chicago 114, Atlanta 90
  • Game 2 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 2): Chicago 117, Atlanta 102 (Michael Jordan hits the half-court shot at the buzzer to end the first half)
  • Game 3 @ The Omni, Atlanta (May 4): Chicago 98, Atlanta 88

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

(3) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (6) New Jersey Nets: Cavaliers win series 3–2

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

(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) Charlotte Hornets: Hornets win series 3–1

  • Game 1 @ Boston Garden, Boston (April 29): Boston 112, Charlotte 101 (Celtics forward Reggie Lewis's final NBA game, he collapses on the court and did not play for the rest of the series; he dies 3 months later from a heart defect)
  • Game 2 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 1): Charlotte 99, Boston 98 (2OT; Xavier McDaniel hits the game-tying jumper with 25.8 seconds left in regulation to force the first OT; Kevin McHale hits the game-tying jumper with 6 seconds left in the first OT to force the second OT)
  • Game 3 @ Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte (May 3): Charlotte 119, Boston 89
  • Game 4 @ Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte (May 5): Charlotte 104, Boston 103 (Alonzo Mourning hits the series-winning shot with 4 tenths left; also Kevin McHale's final NBA game)

This was the first playoff meeting between the Celtics and the Hornets.[15]

Conference Semifinals

(1) New York Knicks vs. (5) Charlotte Hornets: Knicks win series 4–1

  • Game 1 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 9): New York 111, Charlotte 95
  • Game 2 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 12): New York 105, Charlotte 101 (OT)
  • Game 3 @ Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte (May 14): Charlotte 110, New York 106 (2OT; Alonzo Mourning hits the game-tying shot with 30.9 seconds left in regulation to force the first OT, then hits the game-tying free throws with 12 seconds left in the first OT to force the second OT)
  • Game 4 @ Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte (May 16): New York 94, Charlotte 92
  • Game 5 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 18): New York 105, Charlotte 101

This was the first playoff meeting between the Hornets and the Knicks.[16]

(2) Chicago Bulls vs. (3) Cleveland Cavaliers: Bulls win series 4–0

  • Game 1 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 11): Chicago 91, Cleveland 84
  • Game 2 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 13): Chicago 104, Cleveland 85
  • Game 3 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (May 15): Chicago 96, Cleveland 90
  • Game 4 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (May 17): Chicago 103, Cleveland 101 (Michael Jordan hits the series-winning shot at the buzzer against Cleveland for the second time in his career)

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

Conference Finals

(1) New York Knicks vs. (2) Chicago Bulls: Bulls win series 4–2

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

NBA Finals
Main article: 1993 NBA Finals

(1) Phoenix Suns vs. (2) Chicago Bulls: Bulls win series 4–2

  • Game 1 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (June 9): Chicago 100, Phoenix 92
  • Game 2 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (June 11): Chicago 111, Phoenix 108 (The team with home-court advantage in the NBA Finals loses the first two games at home for the first time ever)
  • Game 3 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (June 13): Phoenix 129, Chicago 121 (3OT; This game marks the second time in NBA Finals history that a game goes to triple OT after game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals (in which the Suns lost to the Boston Celtics); Horace Grant hits the game-tying 3-point play with 1:33 left in regulation to force the first OT; Tom Chambers hits the game-tying lay-up with 50.9 seconds left in the first OT to force the second OT; Dan Majerle hits the game-tying shot with 3.2 seconds left in the second OT to force the third OT)
  • Game 4 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (June 16): Chicago 111, Phoenix 105 (Michael Jordan scores 55 points)
  • Game 5 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (June 18): Phoenix 108, Chicago 98
  • Game 6 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (June 20): Chicago 99, Phoenix 98 (John Paxson hits the title-winning 3 with 3.9 seconds left; Horace Grant then blocks Kevin Johnson just before the buzzer)

This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the Suns.[19]

Notes
  • The league's best team during the regular season, the Phoenix Suns, were on the verge of playoff elimination after losing the first two games at home against the No. 8 seeded Los Angeles Lakers. However, they recovered to win Games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles to tie the series at 2–2. In Game 5, Dan Majerie hit a three-pointer to force overtime. The Suns eventually pulled away to win Game 5, 112–104, at home to avoid becoming the first No. 1 seed to lose to a #8 seed. This would happen the following postseason, when the No. 8 Denver Nuggets defeated the #1 Seattle SuperSonics 3–2 (The Nuggets came back from a 2–0 series deficit to pull it off).
  • Both #5 seeds, Charlotte and San Antonio, beat their No. 4 seeded opponent in the first round.
  • The fifth-year Charlotte Hornets made their playoff debut, and became the first of the 1988/89 expansion teams (Charlotte, Orlando, Minnesota, and Miami) to win a playoff series, beating Boston 3–1.
  • The New York Knicks took a 2–0 series lead over the Chicago Bulls in the Conference Finals. However, headlines in New York papers and tabloids angered and energized Bulls superstar Michael Jordan, who torched the Knicks for 54 points in Game 4 [20] after shooting 3–18 in Game 3 to even up the series.[21] This performance surpassed Sam Jones's 51-point game against the 1967 Knicks as the most points ever scored by a player against the Knicks in a playoff game.[22] The Bulls went to Madison Square Garden, won Game 5 97–94, and clinched the series at home in Game 6 with a 96–88 victory.[23]
  • Celtics' star Reggie Lewis fainted on the court during Game 1 against the Hornets. He briefly returned to the game before sitting out the rest of the series. He died less than three months later from a heart condition.
  • After the Suns defeated the Sonics in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, there were complaints about the free throw comparison between the two teams.
  • Game 6 of the Suns–Spurs series was the last game ever played at the HemisFair Arena.
  • The Cavaliers defeated the Nets in the Eastern Conference First Round, which was their last win in a playoff series until 2006. Game 5 of that series was also the last game played by Dražen Petrović, who died in a car accident five weeks later.
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References
  1. "Flashback: The Day Phoenix Won The Western Conference On 64 Free Throw Attempts". June 5, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  2. Bill Simmons (October 18, 2011). "Bill Simmons twitter". Twitter. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  3. Bill Simmons (June 2, 2010). "2010 NBA Final Preview". Twitter. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  4. Captain Meatball (June 5, 2011). "Famous Game 3s; Chicago Bulls NBA Finals Games". Chicago Now. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  5. "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Phoenix Suns (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  6. "Team Rivalry Finder — Houston Rockets versus Los Angeles Clippers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  7. "Team Rivalry Finder — Oklahoma City Thunder versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  8. "Team Rivalry Finder — Portland Trail Blazers versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  9. "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  10. "Team Rivalry Finder — Houston Rockets versus Oklahoma City Thunder (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  11. "Team Rivalry Finder — Oklahoma City Thunder versus Phoenix Suns (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  12. "Team Rivalry Finder — Indiana Pacers versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  13. "Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Chicago Bulls (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  14. "Team Rivalry Finder —Brooklyn Nets versus Cleveland Cavaliers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  15. "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Charlotte Hornets (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  16. "Team Rivalry Finder — Charlotte Hornets versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  17. "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Cleveland Cavaliers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  18. "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  19. "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Phoenix Suns (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  20. "New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls Box Score, May 31, 1993 - Basketball-Reference.com". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  21. "New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls Box Score, May 29, 1993 - Basketball-Reference.com". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  22. "All Jordan, All Even: Chicago Takes Game 4". New York Times. June 1, 1993.
  23. Eastern Conf. Finals Game 6 "Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks" on YouTube
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