Wikipedia:
2003 NBA Playoffs
The 2003 NBA playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2002-03 NBA season. This postseason was notable for being the first time all series were conducted in a best-of-7 format. From 1984 to 2002, first-round series were best-of-5 series. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs defeating the Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Nets four games to two in the Finals.
The Detroit Pistons advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars-led team were swept by the Chicago Bulls in the 1991 series, ending the Pistons' quest for a third consecutive title.
The Dallas Mavericks also ended a long conference finals drought by making it to the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 1988.
Bracket
| First round | Conf. Semifinals | Conf. Finals | NBA Finals | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | San Antonio | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | San Antonio | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | L.A. Lakers | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Minnesota | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | L.A. Lakers | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | San Antonio | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Dallas | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Dallas | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Portland | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Dallas | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Sacramento | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Sacramento | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Utah | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| W1 | San Antonio | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| E2 | New Jersey | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Detroit | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Orlando | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Detroit | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Philadelphia | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Philadelphia | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | New Orleans | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Detroit | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | New Jersey | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Boston | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Boston | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | New Jersey | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | New Jersey | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Milwaukee | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
Playoff qualifying
Western Conference
Best record in NBA
The San Antonio Spurs clinched the best record in the NBA, and earned home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs.
Clinched a playoff berth
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:
- San Antonio Spurs (clinched Midwest division)
- Sacramento Kings (clinched Pacific division)
- Dallas Mavericks
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Utah Jazz
- Phoenix Suns
Eastern Conference
Best record in conference
The Detroit Pistons clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference, and had home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Clinched a playoff berth
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:
- Detroit Pistons (clinched Central division)
- New Jersey Nets (clinched Atlantic division)
- Indiana Pacers
- Philadelphia 76ers
- New Orleans Hornets
- Boston Celtics
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Orlando Magic
Western Conference
Champion: San Antonio Spurs
First Round
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Phoenix Suns
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(PHO-SAS) |
Venue | TV Time | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 19 | Phoenix | 96 | San Antonio | 95 | 1-0 | SBC Center, San Antonio | ESPN 5:30 EDT/4:30CT | Recap |
| 2 | April 21 | Phoenix | 76 | San Antonio | 84 | 1-1 | SBC Center, San Antonio | TNT 7:30 EDT/6:30CT | Recap |
| 3 | April 25 | San Antonio | 99 | Phoenix | 86 | 1-2 | America West Arena, Phoenix | NBA TV 10:00 EDT/8:00MT | Recap |
| 4 | April 27 | San Antonio | 84 | Phoenix | 86 | 2-2 | America West Arena, Phoenix | TNT 10:30 EDT/8:30MT | Recap |
| 5 | April 29 | Phoenix | 82 | San Antonio | 94 | 2-3 | SBC Center, San Antonio | NBA TV 8:30 EDT/7:30CT | Recap |
| 6 | May 1 | San Antonio | 87 | Phoenix | 85 | 2-4 | America West Arena, Phoenix | TBS 10:30 EDT/8:30MT | Recap |
| San Antonio wins series 4–2 |
|||||||||
(2) Sacramento Kings vs. (7) Utah Jazz
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(UTA-SAC) |
Venue | TV Time | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 19 | Utah | 90 | Sacramento | 96 | 0-1 | ARCO Arena, Sacramento | TNT 10:30 EDT/7:30PT | Recap |
| 2 | April 21 | Utah | 95 | Sacramento | 108 | 0-2 | ARCO Arena, Sacramento | TNT 10:00 EDT/7:00PT | Recap |
| 3 | April 26 | Sacramento | 104 | Utah | 108 | 1-2 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City | ESPN 10:30 EDT/7:30PT | Recap |
| 4 | April 28 | Sacramento | 99 | Utah | 82 | 1-3 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City | TNT 10:30 EDT/7:30PT | Recap |
| 5 | April 30 | Utah | 91 | Sacramento | 111 | 1-4 | ARCO Arena, Sacramento | TNT 10:30 EDT/7:30PT | Recap |
| Sacramento wins series 4–1 |
|||||||||
(3) Dallas Mavericks vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(POR-DAL) |
Venue | TV Time | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 19 | Portland | 86 | Dallas | 96 | 0-1 | American Airlines Center, Dallas | TNT 8:00 EDT/7:00CT | Recap |
| 2 | April 23 | Portland | 99 | Dallas | 103 | 0-2 | American Airlines Center, Dallas | TNT 9:30 EDT/8:30CT | Recap |
| 3 | April 25 | Dallas | 115 | Portland | 103 | 0-3 | Rose Garden Arena, Portland | ESPN 10:30 EDT/7:30PT | Recap |
| 4 | April 27 | Dallas | 79 | Portland | 98 | 1-3 | Rose Garden Arena, Portland | TNT 8:00 EDT/7:00PT | Recap |
| 5 | April 30 | Portland | 103 | Dallas | 99 | 2-3 | American Airlines Center, Dallas | TNT 8:00 EDT/7:00CT | Recap |
| 6 | May 2 | Dallas | 103 | Portland | 125 | 3-3 | Rose Garden Arena, Portland | ESPN 10:30 EDT/7:30PT | Recap |
| 7 | May 4 | Portland | 95 | Dallas | 107 | 3-4 | American Airlines Center, Dallas | ABC 3:30 EDT/2:30CT | Recap |
| Dallas wins series 4–3 |
|||||||||
(4) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (5) Los Angeles Lakers
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(LAL-MIN) |
Venue | TV Time | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 20 | L.A. Lakers | 117 | Minnesota | 98 | 1-0 | Target Center, Minneapolis | ABC 3:30 EDT/2:30CT | Recap |
| 2 | April 22 | L.A. Lakers | 91 | Minnesota | 119 | 1-1 | Target Center, Minneapolis | TNT 9:30 EDT/8:30CT | Recap |
| 3 | April 24 | Minnesota | 114 | L.A. Lakers | 110 | 1-2 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | TNT 11:00 EDT/8:00PT | Recap |
| 4 | April 27 | Minnesota | 97 | L.A. Lakers | 102 | 2-2 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | ABC 3:00 EDT/12:00PT | Recap |
| 5 | April 29 | L.A. Lakers | 120 | Minnesota | 90 | 3-2 | Target Center, Minneapolis | TNT 9:30 EDT/8:30CT | Recap |
| 6 | May 1 | Minnesota | 85 | L.A. Lakers | 101 | 4-2 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | TNT 11:00 EDT/8:00PT | Recap |
| L.A. Lakers wins series 4–2 |
|||||||||
Conference Semifinals
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (5) Los Angeles Lakers
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(LAL-SAS) |
Venue | TV Time | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 5 | L.A. Lakers | 82 | San Antonio | 87 | 0-1 | SBC Center, San Antonio | TNT 9:30 EDT/8:30CT | Recap |
| 2 | May 7 | L.A. Lakers | 95 | San Antonio | 114 | 0-2 | SBC Center, San Antonio | TNT 9:30 EDT/8:30CT | Recap |
| 3 | May 9 | San Antonio | 95 | L.A. Lakers | 110 | 1-2 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | TNT 10:30 EDT/7:30PT | Recap |
| 4 | May 11 | San Antonio | 95 | L.A. Lakers | 99 | 2-2 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | ABC 3:30 EDT/12:30PT | Recap |
| 5 | May 13 | L.A. Lakers | 94 | San Antonio | 96 | 2-3 | SBC Center, San Antonio | TNT 9:30 EDT/8:30CT | Recap |
| 6 | May 15 | San Antonio | 110 | L.A. Lakers | 82 | 2-4 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | ABC 8:00 EDT/6:00PT | Recap |
| San Antonio wins series 4–2 |
|||||||||
(2) Sacramento Kings vs. (3) Dallas Mavericks
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(SAC-DAL) |
Venue | TV Time | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 6 | Sacramento | 124 | Dallas | 113 | 1-0 | American Airlines Arena, Dallas | ESPN 9:30 EDT/8:30CT | Recap |
| 2 | May 8 | Sacramento | 110 | Dallas | 132 | 1-1 | American Airlines Arena, Dallas | ESPN 9:30 EDT/8:30CT | Recap |
| 3** | May 10 | Dallas | 141 | Sacramento | 137 | 1-2 | ARCO Arena, Sacramento | ESPN 9:30 EDT/6:30PT | Recap |
| 4 | May 11 | Dallas | 83 | Sacramento | 99 | 2-2 | ARCO Arena, Sacramento | TNT 10:30 EDT/7:30PT | Recap |
| 5 | May 13 | Sacramento | 93 | Dallas | 112 | 2-3 | American Airlines Arena, Dallas | TNT 9:30 EDT/8:30CT | Recap |
| 6 | May 15 | Dallas | 105 | Sacramento | 115 | 3-3 | ARCO Arena, Sacramento | TNT 10:30 EDT/7:30PT | Recap |
| 7 | May 17 | Sacramento | 99 | Dallas | 112 | 3-4 | American Airlines Arena, Dallas | TNT 8:30 EDT/7:30CT | Recap |
| Dallas wins series 4–3 |
|||||||||
**Required double-overtime.
Conference Finals
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (3) Dallas Mavericks
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(DAL-SAS) |
Venue | TV Time | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 19 | Dallas | 113 | San Antonio | 110 | 1-0 | SBC Center, San Antonio | TNT 9:00 EDT/8:00CT | Recap |
| 2 | May 21 | Dallas | 106 | San Antonio | 119 | 1-1 | SBC Center, San Antonio | TNT 8:30 EDT/7:30CT | Recap |
| 3 | May 23 | San Antonio | 96 | Dallas | 83 | 1-2 | American Airlines Arena, Dallas | TNT 9:00 EDT/8:00CT | Recap |
| 4 | May 25 | San Antonio | 102 | Dallas | 95 | 1-3 | American Airlines Arena, Dallas | TNT 9:00 EDT/8:00CT | Recap |
| 5 | May 27 | Dallas | 103 | San Antonio | 91 | 2-3 | SBC Center, San Antonio | TNT 9:00 EDT/8:00CT | Recap |
| 6 | May 29 | San Antonio | 90 | Dallas | 78 | 2-4 | American Airlines Arena, Dallas | TNT 9:00 EDT/8:00CT | Recap |
| San Antonio wins Western Conference Championship series 4–2 |
|||||||||
Eastern Conference
Champion: New Jersey Nets
First Round
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Orlando Magic
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(ORL-DET) |
Venue | TV Time | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 20 | Orlando | 89 | Detroit | 84 | 1-0 | The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills | ESPN 12:30et | Recap |
| 2 | April 23 | Orlando | 77 | Detroit | 89 | 1-1 | The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills | NBA TV 8:00et | Recap |
| 3 | April 25 | Detroit | 80 | Orlando | 89 | 2-1 | TD Waterhouse Centre, Orlando | ESPN 8:00et | Recap |
| 4 | April 27 | Detroit | 92 | Orlando | 100 | 3-1 | TD Waterhouse Centre, Orlando | ESPN 5:30et | Recap |
| 5 | April 30 | Orlando | 67 | Detroit | 98 | 3-2 | The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills | NBA TV 7:30et | Recap |
| 6 | May 2 | Detroit | 103 | Orlando | 88 | 3-3 | TD Waterhouse Centre, Orlando | NBA TV 7:30et | Recap |
| 7 | May 4 | Orlando | 93 | Detroit | 108 | 3-4 | The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills | ESPN 12:30et | Recap |
| Detroit wins series 4–3 |
|||||||||
(2) New Jersey Nets vs. (7) Milwaukee Bucks
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(MIL-NJN) |
Venue | TV Time | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 19 | Milwaukee | 96 | New Jersey | 109 | 0-1 | Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey | ESPN 12:30et | Recap |
| 2 | April 22 | Milwaukee | 88 | New Jersey | 85 | 1-1 | Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey | TNT 7:00et | Recap |
| 3 | April 24 | New Jersey | 103 | Milwaukee | 101 | 1-2 | Bradley Center, Milwaukee | TNT 8:30et/7:30ct | Recap |
| 4* | April 26 | New Jersey | 114 | Milwaukee | 119 | 2-2 | Bradley Center, Milwaukee | TNT 5:00et/4:00ct | Recap |
| 5 | April 29 | Milwaukee | 82 | New Jersey | 89 | 2-3 | Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey | TNT 7:00et | Recap |
| 6 | May 1 | New Jersey | 113 | Milwaukee | 101 | 2-4 | Bradley Center, Milwaukee | TNT 6:00et/5:00ct | Recap |
| New Jersey wins series 4–2 |
|||||||||
*Required overtime.
(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Boston Celtics
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(BOS-IND) |
Venue | TV Time | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 19 | Boston | 103 | Indiana | 100 | 1-0 | Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis | ESPN 3:00et/2:00ct | Recap |
| 2 | April 21 | Boston | 77 | Indiana | 89 | 1-1 | Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis | NBATV 8:30et/7:30ct | Recap |
| 3 | April 24 | Indiana | 83 | Boston | 101 | 2-1 | FleetCenter, Boston | TNT 6:00et | Recap |
| 4 | April 27 | Indiana | 92 | Boston | 102 | 3-1 | FleetCenter, Boston | ESPN2 12:00et | Recap |
| 5* | April 29 | Boston | 88 | Indiana | 93 | 3-2 | Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis | NBATV 8:00et/7:00ct | Recap |
| 6 | May 1 | Indiana | 90 | Boston | 110 | 4-2 | FleetCenter, Boston | TBS 8:00et | Recap |
| Boston wins series 4–2 |
|||||||||
*Required overtime.
(4) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (5) New Orleans Hornets
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(NOH-PHI) |
Venue | TV Time | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 20 | New Orleans | 90 | Philadelphia | 98 | 0-1 | First Union Center, Philadelphia | TNT 8:00et | Recap |
| 2 | April 23 | New Orleans | 85 | Philadelphia | 90 | 0-2 | First Union Center, Philadelphia | TNT 7:00et | Recap |
| 3 | April 26 | Philadelphia | 85 | New Orleans | 99 | 1-2 | New Orleans Arena, New Orleans | TNT 7:30et/6:30ct | Recap |
| 4 | April 28 | Philadelphia | 96 | New Orleans | 87 | 1-3 | New Orleans Arena, New Orleans | TNT 7:30et/6:30ct | Recap |
| 5 | April 30 | New Orleans | 93 | Philadelphia | 91 | 2-3 | First Union Center, Philadelphia | TNT 6:00et | Recap |
| 6 | May 2 | Philadelphia | 107 | New Orleans | 103 | 2-4 | New Orleans Arena, New Orleans | ESPN 8:30et/7:30ct | Recap |
| Philadelphia wins series 4–2 |
|||||||||
Conference Semifinals
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (4) Philadelphia 76ers
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(PHI-DET) |
Venue | TV Time | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 6 | Philadelphia | 87 | Detroit | 98 | 0-1 | The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills | ESPN 7:30et | Recap |
| 2* | May 8 | Philadelphia | 97 | Detroit | 104 | 0-2 | The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills | ESPN 7:00et | Recap |
| 3 | May 10 | Detroit | 83 | Philadelphia | 93 | 1-2 | First Union Center, Philadelphia | ESPN 8:00et | Recap |
| 4 | May 11 | Detroit | 82 | Philadelphia | 95 | 2-2 | First Union Center, Philadelphia | ESPN 7:30et | Recap |
| 5 | May 14 | Philadelphia | 77 | Detroit | 78 | 2-3 | The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills | ESPN 8:00et | Recap |
| 6 | May 16 | Detroit | 93 | Philadelphia | 89 | 2-4 | First Union Center, Philadelphia | ESPN 8:00et | Recap |
| Detroit wins series 4–2 |
|||||||||
*Required overtime.
(2) New Jersey Nets vs. (6) Boston Celtics
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(BOS-NJN) |
Venue | TV Time | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 5 | Boston | 93 | New Jersey | 97 | 0-1 | Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey | TNT 7:00et | Recap |
| 2 | May 7 | Boston | 95 | New Jersey | 104 | 0-2 | Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey | TNT 7:00et | Recap |
| 3 | May 9 | New Jersey | 94 | Boston | 76 | 0-3 | FleetCenter, Boston | TNT 8:00et | Recap |
| 4 | May 12 | New Jersey | 110 | Boston | 101 | 0-4 | FleetCenter, Boston | TNT 8:00et | Recap |
| New Jersey wins series 4–0 |
|||||||||
Conference Finals
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (2) New Jersey Nets
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(NJN-DET) |
Venue | TV Time | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 18 | New Jersey | 76 | Detroit | 74 | 1-0 | The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills | ABC 1:00et | Recap |
| 2 | May 20 | New Jersey | 88 |