1999 NBA Playoffs

1999 NBA playoffs
Dates May 8–June 25, 1999
Season 1998–99
Teams 16
Champions San Antonio Spurs (1st title)
Runners-up New York Knicks (8th finals appearance)
Semifinalists
← 1998 2000 →

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.

Bracket

  First Round Conference Semifinals Conference Finals NBA Finals
                                     
E1 Miami* 2  
E8 New York 3  
  E8 New York 4  
  E4 Atlanta 0  
E4 Atlanta 3
E5 Detroit 2  
  E8 New York 4  
Eastern Conference
  E2 Indiana* 2  
E3 Orlando 1  
E6 Philadelphia 3  
  E6 Philadelphia 0
  E2 Indiana* 4  
E2 Indiana* 3
E7 Milwaukee 0  
  E8 New York 1
  W1 San Antonio* 4
W1 San Antonio* 3  
W8 Minnesota 1  
  W1 San Antonio* 4
  W4 LA Lakers 0  
W4 LA Lakers 3
W5 Houston 1  
  W1 San Antonio* 4
Western Conference
  W2 Portland* 0  
W3 Utah 3  
W6 Sacramento 2  
  W3 Utah 2
  W2 Portland* 4  
W2 Portland* 3
W7 Phoenix 0  


* Division winner
Bold Series winner
Italic Team with home-court advantage

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

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

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 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

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

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 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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 NBC
  • Game 6 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 11): New York 90, Indiana 82 NBC

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

Neither team met in the regular season.

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

References

  1. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Minnesota Timberwolves versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Sacramento Kings versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Houston Rockets versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Portland Trail Blazers versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ http://www.nba.com/encyclopedia/moments/60moments_51-60.html
  8. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Portland Trail Blazers versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  9. ↑ http://www.nba.com/encyclopedia/moments/60moments_41-50.html
  10. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Miami Heat versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Indiana Pacers versus Milwaukee Bucks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Orlando Magic versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Detroit Pistons (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Indiana Pacers versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  16. ↑ http://www.nba.com/encyclopedia/moments/60moments_hm_21-31.html
  17. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — Indiana Pacers versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Team Rivalry Finder — New York Knicks versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
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