1995 NBA Playoffs
Encyclopedia
The 1995 NBA Playoffs
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...

was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...

's 1994-1995 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference
Western Conference (NBA)
Below is a list of current Western Conference NBA team rosters.-Western Conference:There are a total of 15 teams in the Western Conference. The current leading team of the Western conference are the Dallas Mavericks....

 champion Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...

 winning their second consecutive NBA championship by defeating the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (NBA)
The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...

 champion Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...

 four games to none in the NBA Finals
1995 NBA Finals
The 1995 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1994–95 NBA season. The series pitted the Orlando Magic against the Houston Rockets. The pre-series hype and build-up of the Finals was centered around the meeting of the two centers Shaquille O'Neal of the Magic and Hakeem Olajuwon of the Rockets...

. The Rockets became the fourth consecutive team to win championships back-to-back (after the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

 of 1987 and '88, Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...

 of '89 and '90 and Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...

 of '91, '92 and '93). It would happen a fifth time, with the Bulls winning three more starting the next year.

The sixth-seeded Rockets (47-35) took out four very impressive opponents on their way to the title, defeating the third-seeded Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

 (60-22), the second-seeded Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...

 (59-23), the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....

 (62-20) and the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic (57-25) in the NBA Finals. In the second round against the Suns, the Rockets came back from a 3-1 series deficit and did it without the benefit of home-court advantage, winning Games 5 and 7 in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...

. Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2008,...

 dominated league MVP David Robinson
David Robinson (basketball)
David Maurice Robinson is a retired American NBA basketball player, who played center for the San Antonio Spurs for his entire NBA career. Based on his prior service as an officer in the United States Navy, Robinson earned the nickname "The Admiral". He and teammate power forward Tim Duncan were...

 and Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...

 in consecutive series to bring home the championship.

The 1995 playoffs featured the first three playoff series victories in the history of the Magic, as they defeated the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...

, Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...

, and Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...

 to win their first Eastern Conference championship.

The 1995 playoffs featured the return of Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...

 to the playoff stage after a year's absence, and the only time the Bulls would fail to win a championship with him on board since they started their string of titles in 1991
1991 NBA Playoffs
The 1991 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1990–91 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their first NBA championship via a four-games-to-one victory over the Western Conference champion Los...

. After this tournament the Bulls would win three more titles in '96, '97 and '98.

Game 4 of the Celtics-Magic series was the final game ever played at the Boston Garden
Boston Garden
The Boston Garden was an arena in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Designed by boxing promoter Tex Rickard, who also built the third iteration of New York's Madison Square Garden, it opened on November 17, 1928 as "Boston Madison Square Garden" and outlived its original namesake by some 30 years...

. However, it would be seven years before the Celtics returned to the playoffs, this time in the new FleetCenter (now TD Garden).

Game 3 of the Blazers-Suns series was the last game ever played at the Memorial Coliseum. The Blazers continued their playoff streak at Rose Garden
Rose Garden Arena
Rose Garden, commonly known as the Rose Garden Arena, is the primary indoor sports arena in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is suitable for large indoor events of all sorts, including basketball, ice hockey, rodeos, circuses, conventions, ice shows, concerts, and dramatic productions...

 for the next seven years.

The Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...

 made it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year (and finally defeated the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...

 on their way to doing so), but this time found the Magic too powerful to overcome as they had the previous year. Coincidentally, in this postseason the Pacers met all three of the playoff opponents (Orlando
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...

, Atlanta
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...

 and New York
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...

) as they had the previous year—just in a different order.

Since the NBA expanded the NBA playoffs to a 16-team format in 1984, the Utah Jazz became just the second team (along with the 1994 Seattle SuperSonics) to win at least 60 regular season games and lose in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, when they were lost to the eventual NBA champion Houston Rockets.

Bracket

Western Conference

Champion: Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...



1st Round

(1) San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....

vs. (8) Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...

:
Spurs win series 3-0
  • Game 1 @ Alamodome
    Alamodome
    The Alamodome is a domed 65,000 seat, multi-purpose facility that is primarily used as a football/basketball stadium and convention center in San Antonio, Texas, U.S...

    , San Antonio (April 28): San Antonio 104, Denver 88
  • Game 2 @ Alamodome
    Alamodome
    The Alamodome is a domed 65,000 seat, multi-purpose facility that is primarily used as a football/basketball stadium and convention center in San Antonio, Texas, U.S...

    , San Antonio (April 30): San Antonio 122, Denver 96
  • Game 3 @ McNichols Sports Arena
    McNichols Sports Arena
    McNichols Sports Arena was an indoor arena, in Denver, Colorado, USA, adjacent to Mile High Stadium. Completed in 1975, at a cost of $10 million, it seated 16,061, for hockey games, 17,171, for basketball games and contained 27 luxury suites, which were installed as part of the 1986 renovation. It...

    , Denver (May 2): San Antonio 99, Denver 95


Last Playoff Meeting: 1990 Western Conference First Round
1990 NBA Playoffs
The 1990 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1989-1990 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons successfully defending their championship by beating the Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers...

 (San Antonio won 3-0)

(2) Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...

vs. (7) Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...

:
Suns win series 3-0
  • Game 1 @ America West Arena
    US Airways Center
    US Airways Center is a sports and entertainment arena located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It opened in 1992, and is the home of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association, the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena...

    , Phoenix (April 28): Phoenix 129, Portland 102
  • Game 2 @ America West Arena
    US Airways Center
    US Airways Center is a sports and entertainment arena located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It opened in 1992, and is the home of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association, the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena...

    , Phoenix (April 30): Phoenix 103, Portland 94
  • Game 3 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 2): Phoenix 117, Portland 109


Last Playoff Meeting: 1992 Western Conference Semifinals
1992 NBA Playoffs
NBA Champions: Chicago BullsThe 1992 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament following the National Basketball Association's 1991-1992 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their second consecutive NBA championship by defeating the Western...

 (Portland won 4-1)

(3) Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

 vs. (6) Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...

:
Rockets win series 3-2
  • Game 1 @ Delta Center
    EnergySolutions Arena
    EnergySolutions Arena is an indoor arena, in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, owned by Jazz Basketball Investors, Inc., the estate of Larry H. Miller...

    , Salt Lake City (April 27): Utah 102, Houston 100
  • Game 2 @ Delta Center
    EnergySolutions Arena
    EnergySolutions Arena is an indoor arena, in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, owned by Jazz Basketball Investors, Inc., the estate of Larry H. Miller...

    , Salt Lake City (April 29): Houston 140, Utah 126
  • Game 3 @ The Summit, Houston (May 3): Utah 95, Houston 82
  • Game 4 @ The Summit, Houston (May 5): Houston 123, Utah 106
  • Game 5 @ Delta Center
    EnergySolutions Arena
    EnergySolutions Arena is an indoor arena, in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, owned by Jazz Basketball Investors, Inc., the estate of Larry H. Miller...

    , Salt Lake City (May 7): Houston 95, Utah 91


Last Playoff Meeting: 1994 Western Conference Finals
1994 NBA Playoffs
The 1994 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1993-94 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals...

 (Houston won 4-1)

(4) Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...

 vs. (5) Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

:
Lakers win series 3-1
  • Game 1 @ Tacoma Dome
    Tacoma Dome
    The Tacoma Dome is an indoor arena located in Tacoma, Washington, USA, approximately 30 miles south of Seattle.-History:...

    , Tacoma (April 27): Seattle 96, Los Angeles 71
  • Game 2 @ Tacoma Dome
    Tacoma Dome
    The Tacoma Dome is an indoor arena located in Tacoma, Washington, USA, approximately 30 miles south of Seattle.-History:...

    , Tacoma (April 29): Los Angeles 84, Seattle 82
  • Game 3 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 1): Los Angeles 105, Seattle 101
  • Game 4 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 4): Los Angeles 114, Seattle 110


Last Playoff Meeting: 1989 Western Conference Semifinals
1989 NBA Playoffs
The 1989 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1988-89 NBA season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers, who were severely hampered by injuries, four...

 (Los Angeles won 4-0)

Conference Semifinals

(1) San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....

vs. (5) Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

:
Spurs win series 4-2
  • Game 1 @ Alamodome
    Alamodome
    The Alamodome is a domed 65,000 seat, multi-purpose facility that is primarily used as a football/basketball stadium and convention center in San Antonio, Texas, U.S...

    , San Antonio (May 6): San Antonio 110, Los Angeles 94
  • Game 2 @ Alamodome
    Alamodome
    The Alamodome is a domed 65,000 seat, multi-purpose facility that is primarily used as a football/basketball stadium and convention center in San Antonio, Texas, U.S...

    , San Antonio (May 8): San Antonio 97, Los Angeles 90 (OT)
  • Game 3 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 12): Los Angeles 92, San Antonio 85
  • Game 4 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 14): San Antonio 80, Los Angeles 71
  • Game 5 @ Alamodome
    Alamodome
    The Alamodome is a domed 65,000 seat, multi-purpose facility that is primarily used as a football/basketball stadium and convention center in San Antonio, Texas, U.S...

    , San Antonio (May 16): Los Angeles 98, San Antonio 96 (OT
    Overtime (sports)
    Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...

    ) (Nick Van Exel
    Nick Van Exel
    Nickey Maxwell "Nick" Van Exel is a retired American professional basketball player and currently an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks...

     hits the game-winning 3 with 5 tenths left in OT)
  • Game 6 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 18): San Antonio 100, Los Angeles 88


Last Playoff Meeting: 1988 Western Conference First Round
1988 NBA Playoffs
The 1988 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1987-1988 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons four games to three in the Finals...

 (Los Angeles won 3-0)

(2) Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...

 vs. (6) Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...

:
Rockets win series 4-3
  • Game 1 @ America West Arena
    US Airways Center
    US Airways Center is a sports and entertainment arena located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It opened in 1992, and is the home of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association, the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena...

    , Phoenix (May 9): Phoenix 130, Houston 108
  • Game 2 @ America West Arena
    US Airways Center
    US Airways Center is a sports and entertainment arena located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It opened in 1992, and is the home of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association, the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena...

    , Phoenix (May 11): Phoenix 118, Houston 94
  • Game 3 @ The Summit, Houston (May 13): Houston 118, Phoenix 85
  • Game 4 @ The Summit, Houston (May 14): Phoenix 114, Houston 110
  • Game 5 @ America West Arena
    US Airways Center
    US Airways Center is a sports and entertainment arena located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It opened in 1992, and is the home of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association, the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena...

    , Phoenix (May 16): Houston 103, Phoenix 97 (OT)
  • Game 6 @ The Summit, Houston (May 18): Houston 116, Phoenix 103
  • Game 7 @ America West Arena
    US Airways Center
    US Airways Center is a sports and entertainment arena located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It opened in 1992, and is the home of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association, the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena...

    , Phoenix (May 20): Houston 115, Phoenix 114 (Mario Elie
    Mario Elie
    Mario Antoine Elie is an American former professional basketball player and coach. Currently, he works as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings.-Early life and career:...

     hits a 3 with 7.1 seconds to play. Then-NBC commentator Greg Gumbel
    Greg Gumbel
    Greg Gumbel is an American television sportscaster. He is best known for his various assignments on the CBS network...

     called it the 'Kiss of Death' after Elie's gesture to the Suns fans.)


Last Playoff Meeting: 1994 Western Conference Semifinals
1994 NBA Playoffs
The 1994 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1993-94 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals...

 (Houston won 4-3)

Conference Finals

(1) San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....

 vs. (6) Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...

:
Rockets win series 4-2
  • Game 1 @ Alamodome
    Alamodome
    The Alamodome is a domed 65,000 seat, multi-purpose facility that is primarily used as a football/basketball stadium and convention center in San Antonio, Texas, U.S...

    , San Antonio (May 22): Houston 94, San Antonio 93 (Robert Horry
    Robert Horry
    Robert Keith Horry Jr. is a retired American basketball player and current sports commentator. He played 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association , winning seven championships, the most of any player not to have played on the 1960s Boston Celtics...

     hits the game-winner with 6.5 seconds remaining)
  • Game 2 @ Alamodome
    Alamodome
    The Alamodome is a domed 65,000 seat, multi-purpose facility that is primarily used as a football/basketball stadium and convention center in San Antonio, Texas, U.S...

    , San Antonio (May 24): Houston 106, San Antonio 96
  • Game 3 @ The Summit, Houston (May 26): San Antonio 107, Houston 102
  • Game 4 @ The Summit, Houston (May 28): San Antonio 103, Houston 81
  • Game 5 @ Alamodome
    Alamodome
    The Alamodome is a domed 65,000 seat, multi-purpose facility that is primarily used as a football/basketball stadium and convention center in San Antonio, Texas, U.S...

    , San Antonio (May 30): Houston 111, San Antonio 90
  • Game 6 @ The Summit, Houston (June 1): Houston 100, San Antonio 95


Last Playoff Meeting: 1981 Western Conference Semifinals
1981 NBA Playoffs
The 1981 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament which followed National Basketball Association's 1980–81 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics winning their 14th overall championship by defeating the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets in...

 (Houston won 4-3)

Eastern Conference

Champion: Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...



1st Round

(1) Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...

vs. (8) Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...

:
Magic win series 3-1
  • Game 1 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (April 28): Orlando 124, Boston 77
  • Game 2 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (April 30): Boston 99, Orlando 92
  • Game 3 @ Boston Garden
    Boston Garden
    The Boston Garden was an arena in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Designed by boxing promoter Tex Rickard, who also built the third iteration of New York's Madison Square Garden, it opened on November 17, 1928 as "Boston Madison Square Garden" and outlived its original namesake by some 30 years...

    , Boston (May 3): Orlando 82, Boston 77
  • Game 4 @ Boston Garden
    Boston Garden
    The Boston Garden was an arena in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Designed by boxing promoter Tex Rickard, who also built the third iteration of New York's Madison Square Garden, it opened on November 17, 1928 as "Boston Madison Square Garden" and outlived its original namesake by some 30 years...

    , Boston (May 5): Orlando 95, Boston 92


Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)

(2) Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...

vs. (7) Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...

:
Pacers win series 3-0
  • Game 1 @ Market Square Arena
    Market Square Arena
    Market Square Arena was an indoor arena, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Completed in 1974, at a cost of $23 million, it seated 16,530, for basketball and 15,993, for ice hockey.-History:...

    , Indianapolis (April 27): Indiana 90, Atlanta 82
  • Game 2 @ Market Square Arena
    Market Square Arena
    Market Square Arena was an indoor arena, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Completed in 1974, at a cost of $23 million, it seated 16,530, for basketball and 15,993, for ice hockey.-History:...

    , Indianapolis (April 29): Indiana 105, Atlanta 97
  • Game 3 @ The Omni
    Omni Coliseum
    The Omni Coliseum, usually called The Omni, from the Latin for "all," or "every," was an indoor arena, located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Completed in 1972, the arena seated 16,378, for basketball and 15,278, for ice hockey...

    , Atlanta (May 2): Indiana 105, Atlanta 89


Last Playoff Meeting: 1994 Eastern Conference Semifinals
1994 NBA Playoffs
The 1994 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1993-94 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals...

 (Indiana won 4-2)

(3) New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...

vs. (6) Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...

:
Knicks win series 3-1
  • Game 1 @ Madison Square Garden
    Madison Square Garden
    Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...

    , New York City (April 27): New York 103, Cleveland 79
  • Game 2 @ Madison Square Garden
    Madison Square Garden
    Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...

    , New York City (April 29): Cleveland 90, New York 84
  • Game 3 @ Gund Arena
    Quicken Loans Arena
    Quicken Loans Arena , is a multi-purpose arena, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States....

    , Cleveland (May 1): New York 83, Cleveland 81
  • Game 4 @ Gund Arena
    Quicken Loans Arena
    Quicken Loans Arena , is a multi-purpose arena, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States....

    , Cleveland (May 4): New York 93, Cleveland 80


Last Playoff Meeting: 1978 Eastern Conference First Round
1978 NBA Playoffs
The 1978 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1977-1978 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Washington Bullets defeating the Western Conference champion Seattle SuperSonics four games to three in the Finals. Wes...

 (New York won 2-0)

(4) Charlotte Hornets vs. (5) Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...

:
Bulls win series 3-1
  • Game 1 @ Charlotte Coliseum
    Charlotte Coliseum
    The Charlotte Coliseum was a multi-purpose sports and entertainment arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was operated by the Charlotte Coliseum Authority, which also oversees the operation of Bojangles' Coliseum, the Charlotte Convention Center, and Ovens Auditorium...

    , Charlotte (April 28): Chicago 108, Charlotte 100 (OT)
  • Game 2 @ Charlotte Coliseum
    Charlotte Coliseum
    The Charlotte Coliseum was a multi-purpose sports and entertainment arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was operated by the Charlotte Coliseum Authority, which also oversees the operation of Bojangles' Coliseum, the Charlotte Convention Center, and Ovens Auditorium...

    , Charlotte (April 30): Charlotte 106, Chicago 89
  • Game 3 @ United Center
    United Center
    The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in Chicago. It is named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines. The United Center is home to both the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League...

    , Chicago (May 2): Chicago 103, Charlotte 80
  • Game 4 @ United Center
    United Center
    The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in Chicago. It is named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines. The United Center is home to both the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League...

    , Chicago (May 4): Chicago 85, Charlotte 84


Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)

Conference Semifinals

(1) Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...

vs. (5) Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...

:
Magic win series 4-2
  • Game 1 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (May 7): Orlando 94, Chicago 91 (Nick Anderson
    Nick Anderson
    Nelison "Nick" Anderson is a former American professional basketball player. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for two years, playing on the team that reached the NCAA Final Four in 1989. That Fighting Illini team gained the moniker "Flyin' Illini" by Dick Vitale while...

    's clutch steal off Michael Jordan
    Michael Jordan
    Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...

     lead to his comments on Jordan's jersey number, which he thought he was playing like a 45-year old).
  • Game 2 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (May 10): Chicago 104, Orlando 94
  • Game 3 @ United Center
    United Center
    The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in Chicago. It is named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines. The United Center is home to both the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League...

    , Chicago (May 12): Orlando 110, Chicago 101
  • Game 4 @ United Center
    United Center
    The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in Chicago. It is named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines. The United Center is home to both the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League...

    , Chicago (May 14): Chicago 106, Orlando 95
  • Game 5 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (May 16): Orlando 103, Chicago 95
  • Game 6 @ United Center
    United Center
    The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in Chicago. It is named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines. The United Center is home to both the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League...

    , Chicago (May 18): Orlando 108, Chicago 102


Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)

(2) Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...

vs. (3) New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...

:
Pacers win series 4-3
  • Game 1 @ Madison Square Garden
    Madison Square Garden
    Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...

    , New York City (May 7): Indiana 107, New York 105 (Reggie Miller
    Reggie Miller
    Reginald Wayne "Reggie" Miller is a retired American professional basketball player who played his entire 18-year National Basketball Association career with the Indiana Pacers...

     scores 8 points in 8.9 seconds, including 2 consecutive 3-pointers in 5.5 seconds, to rally from a 6-point deficit in the last 18.7 seconds)
  • Game 2 @ Madison Square Garden
    Madison Square Garden
    Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...

    , New York City (May 9): New York 96, Indiana 77
  • Game 3 @ Market Square Arena
    Market Square Arena
    Market Square Arena was an indoor arena, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Completed in 1974, at a cost of $23 million, it seated 16,530, for basketball and 15,993, for ice hockey.-History:...

    , Indianapolis (May 11): Indiana 97, New York 95 (OT)
  • Game 4 @ Market Square Arena
    Market Square Arena
    Market Square Arena was an indoor arena, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Completed in 1974, at a cost of $23 million, it seated 16,530, for basketball and 15,993, for ice hockey.-History:...

    , Indianapolis (May 13): Indiana 98, New York 84
  • Game 5 @ Madison Square Garden
    Madison Square Garden
    Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...

    , New York City (May 17): New York 96, Indiana 95
  • Game 6 @ Market Square Arena
    Market Square Arena
    Market Square Arena was an indoor arena, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Completed in 1974, at a cost of $23 million, it seated 16,530, for basketball and 15,993, for ice hockey.-History:...

    , Indianapolis (May 19): New York 92, Indiana 82
  • Game 7 @ Madison Square Garden
    Madison Square Garden
    Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...

    , New York City (May 21): Indiana 97, New York 95


Last Playoff Meeting: 1994 Eastern Conference Finals
1994 NBA Playoffs
The 1994 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1993-94 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals...

 (New York won 4-3)

Conference Finals

(1) Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...

vs. (2) Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...

:
Magic win series 4-3
  • Game 1 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (May 23): Orlando 105, Indiana 101
  • Game 2 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (May 25): Orlando 119, Indiana 114
  • Game 3 @ Market Square Arena
    Market Square Arena
    Market Square Arena was an indoor arena, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Completed in 1974, at a cost of $23 million, it seated 16,530, for basketball and 15,993, for ice hockey.-History:...

    , Indianapolis (May 27): Indiana 105, Orlando 100
  • Game 4 @ Market Square Arena
    Market Square Arena
    Market Square Arena was an indoor arena, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Completed in 1974, at a cost of $23 million, it seated 16,530, for basketball and 15,993, for ice hockey.-History:...

    , Indianapolis (May 29): Indiana 94, Orlando 93 (4 straight clutch shots to end the game; 1st: Brian Shaw's 3 with 13.3 seconds left; 2nd; Reggie Miller
    Reggie Miller
    Reginald Wayne "Reggie" Miller is a retired American professional basketball player who played his entire 18-year National Basketball Association career with the Indiana Pacers...

    's 3 with 5.2 seconds left; 3rd; Penny Hardaway
    Penny Hardaway
    Anfernee Deon "Penny" Hardaway is a former American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association , specializing as a small forward, shooting guard, and point guard. His most productive years came in his days as a member of the Orlando Magic as well as the early...

    's 3 with 1.3 seconds left; Finally, Rik Smits
    Rik Smits
    Rik Smits is a retired Dutch professional basketball player who spent his entire professional career with the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association. The 7'4" center was drafted by the Pacers out of Marist College with the second overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft...

    ' shot at the buzzer)
  • Game 5 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (May 31): Orlando 108, Indiana 106
  • Game 6 @ Market Square Arena
    Market Square Arena
    Market Square Arena was an indoor arena, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Completed in 1974, at a cost of $23 million, it seated 16,530, for basketball and 15,993, for ice hockey.-History:...

    , Indianapolis (June 2): Indiana 123, Orlando 96
  • Game 7 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (June 4): Orlando 105, Indiana 81


Last Playoff Meeting: 1994 Eastern Conference First Round
1994 NBA Playoffs
The 1994 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1993-94 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals...

 (Indiana won 3-0)

NBA finals

(1) Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...

 vs. (6) Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...

:
Rockets win series 4-0
  • Game 1 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (June 7): Houston 120, Orlando 118 (OT) (Nick Anderson
    Nick Anderson
    Nelison "Nick" Anderson is a former American professional basketball player. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for two years, playing on the team that reached the NCAA Final Four in 1989. That Fighting Illini team gained the moniker "Flyin' Illini" by Dick Vitale while...

     misses 4 straight free throws to set up Kenny Smith
    Kenny Smith
    Kenneth "The Jet" Smith is a retired National Basketball Association player and current TV basketball analyst, primarily for Inside the NBA on TNT.-Early life:...

    's clutch 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left to send the game into OT; In OT, Hakeem Olajuwon
    Hakeem Olajuwon
    Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2008,...

     tips in a missed layup by Clyde Drexler
    Clyde Drexler
    Clyde Austin "Clyde The Glide" Drexler is a former National Basketball Association shooting guard and small forward. A ten-time All-Star and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, the NBA named him one of basketball's fifty greatest players as of 1996. Drexler won an Olympic gold medal in 1992 and...

     with 3 tenths left to win it)
  • Game 2 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (June 9): Houston 117, Orlando 106
  • Game 3 @ The Summit, Houston (June 11): Houston 106, Orlando 103 (Robert Horry
    Robert Horry
    Robert Keith Horry Jr. is a retired American basketball player and current sports commentator. He played 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association , winning seven championships, the most of any player not to have played on the 1960s Boston Celtics...

     hits a 3 to make it 104-100 with 14.1 seconds left)
  • Game 4 @ The Summit, Houston (June 14): Houston 113, Orlando 101

External links

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