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 for the fact 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 would play each other on a back-to-back night in playoff history. It also featured the Philadelphia 76ers' first trip to the playoffs since 1991, and their 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 (owing mostly to the retirement of Michael Jordan and the departures of Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman).

Even though the Spurs had home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, they played more road games (9) than home games (8). All of their series were won on the road. They won 12 straight games, and finished 15-2.

The Milwaukee Bucks also made the playoffs for the first time since 1991.

After losing their Eastern Conference semifinal series to the Knicks, the Hawks would 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 7 games.

After spending their first 13 seasons in mediocrity (2 playoff appearances in 1986 and 1996), the Sacramento Kings made the first of 8 straight playoff appearances, which included a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2002.

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

Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Spurs and Timberwolves.

(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

Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Western Conference First Round (Phoenix won 3-0)

(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)

Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Jazz and Kings.

(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 (After Kobe Bryant's free throws, the Lakers sealed the victory as Shaq blocked Cuttino Mobley's game-winning attempt)
• Game 2 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 11): Los Angeles 110, Houston 98
• Game 3 @ Compaq Center, Houston (May 13): Houston 100, Los Angeles 88
• Game 4 @ Compaq Center, Houston (May 15): Los Angeles 98, Houston 88

Last Playoff Meeting: 1996 Western Conference First Round (Houston won 3-1)

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

Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Western Conference Semifinals (San Antonio won 4-2)

(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

Last Playoff Meeting: 1996 Western Conference First Round (Utah won 3-2)

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 (Sean Elliott makes the "Memorial Day Miracle")
• Game 3 @ Rose Garden, Portland (June 4): San Antonio 85, Portland 63
• Game 4 @ Rose Garden, Portland (June 6): San Antonio 94, Portland 80

Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Western Conference First Round (San Antonio won 3-1)

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 hits the series-winning shot with 8 tenths left)

Last Playoff Meeting: 1998 Eastern Conference First Round (New York won 3-2)

(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

Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Pacers and Bucks.

(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

Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Magic and 76ers.

(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

Last Playoff Meeting: 1997 Eastern Conference First Round (Atlanta won 3-2)

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

Last Playoff Meeting: 1981 Eastern Conference First Round (Philadelphia won 2-0)

(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

Last Playoff Meeting: 1971 Eastern Conference Semifinals (New York won 4-1)

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's game-winning 4-point play with 5.7 seconds left)
• 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

Last Playoff Meeting: 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Indiana won 4-1)

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 (Avery Johnson hits the title-winner with 47 seconds left)