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. Hakeem Olajuwon was named NBA Finals MVP.
This was also the first time that the Boston Celtics since 1979, and Los Angeles Lakers since 1976, missed the playoffs and their first-ever absence since the playoff field expanded to 16 teams in 1984. This was the first time that both missed the playoffs in the same year. This would not occur again until 2014.
The biggest upset came in the first round, when the Denver Nuggets came back from a 2–0 deficit to beat the Seattle SuperSonics in five games, marking the first time in NBA history that an eighth seed had defeated a #1 seed. Denver stretched their improbable playoff run with the Utah Jazz to seven games after being down 0–3, but Utah defeated them in Game 7 91–81.
The playoffs also featured the very first playoff series victory for the Indiana Pacers in their 18-year NBA existence, as they swept the Orlando Magic (who were making their first playoff appearance in franchise history) in the first round, then eliminated the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks 4–2 in the second round. The Pacers advanced within one game of the NBA Finals, but lost Games 6 and 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Knicks.
This was the first time since the ABA–NBA merger prior to the 1976–77 season that all former ABA teams (Pacers, Nuggets, Spurs, and Nets) made the playoffs in the same year.
The Chicago Bulls, who made the playoffs despite the retirement of Michael Jordan, swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round, but then fell in seven to the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Knicks made history by playing a record 25 playoff games (one short of the maximum), the most postseason games that an NBA team had ever played. The 2005 Detroit Pistons tied this record.[1] However, it was broken by the 2008 Celtics.[1] Their easiest series was the first-round 3–1 win over the Nets. New York then forced three consecutive Game 7's, eliminating the Bulls 4–3 in the Conference Semifinals, knocking off the Pacers 4–3 in the Conference Finals, both times at Madison Square Garden, before falling in Game 7 to the Rockets at The Summit in the NBA Finals, which meant New York was denied NBA and NHL titles. Game 4 of the Finals took place at the Garden a day after the New York Rangers won their first Stanley Cup in 54 years in Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals. Knicks coach Pat Riley made history by becoming the first (and to this date, the only) person in NBA history to have coached a Game 7 in the NBA Finals for two different teams, having been with the Lakers in 1984 and 1988. However, he had the distinction to have become the first (and as of 2014[update], only) coach to lose a Game 7 in the NBA Finals on two different teams, as his Lakers lost to the Celtics in 1984. It also denied him the distinction of becoming the first coach to win a Game 7 in the NBA Finals with two different teams, as his Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons in 1988.
In the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors made their last playoff appearance until 2007.
Game 3 of the Bulls-Cavaliers series was the last game ever played at the Coliseum at Richfield.
Game 6 of the Bulls-Knicks series was the last game ever played at Chicago Stadium.
Game 5 of the Nuggets-Sonics series was the last to be played at Seattle Center Coliseum before the renovations and renaming into KeyArena two years later. The Sonics played the intervening 1994–95 NBA season at Tacoma Dome in nearby Tacoma, Washington.
Contents
The Clock Incident
The Clock Incident happened in the last moments of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals between the Rockets and Jazz. Tom Chambers inbounded the ball to Jeff Hornacek with 13.5 seconds left and Utah down 2. As play resumed, the Jazz timekeeper didn't start the clock as they were trying to look for an open shot. After 8 seconds, the clock finally started as Chambers attempted a shot. However, Utah didn't take advantage of the extra time they were given, and after Chambers missed the shot, there was a mad scramble for the ball. It ended up in Robert Horry's hands, who passed it to Kenny Smith as Houston ran out the clock and won 80-78.
Bracket
| 1st Round | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | NBA Finals | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Seattle | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Denver | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Denver | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Utah | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | San Antonio | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Utah | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Utah | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Houston | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Phoenix | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Golden State | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Phoenix | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Houston | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Houston | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Portland | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Houston | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | New York | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Atlanta | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Miami | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Atlanta | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Indiana | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Orlando | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Indiana | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Indiana | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | New York | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Chicago | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Cleveland | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Chicago | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | New York | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | New York | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | New Jersey | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
Western Conference
Champion: Houston Rockets
- 1st Round
(1) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (8) Denver Nuggets: Nuggets win series 3–2
- Game 1 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (April 28): Seattle 106, Denver 82
- Game 2 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (April 30): Seattle 97, Denver 87
- Game 3 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 2): Denver 110, Seattle 93
- Game 4 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 5): Denver 94, Seattle 85 (OT)
- Game 5 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (May 7): Denver 98, Seattle 94 (OT) (The Nuggets become the first 8th seed to beat the 1st seed in playoff history)
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.
| Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Portland Trail Blazers: Rockets win series 3–1
- Game 1 @ The Summit, Houston (April 29): Houston 115, Portland 104
- Game 2 @ The Summit, Houston (May 1): Houston 114, Portland 104
- Game 3 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 3): Portland 118, Houston 115
- Game 4 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 6): Houston 92, Portland 89
| Houston won 4–0 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning the first meeting.
| Houston leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(3) Phoenix Suns vs. (6) Golden State Warriors: Suns win series 3–0
- Game 1 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (April 29): Phoenix 111, Golden State 104
- Game 2 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (May 1): Phoenix 117, Golden State 111
- Game 3 @ Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland (May 4): Phoenix 140, Golden State 133
| Phoenix won 3–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning the first two meetings.
| Phoenix leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(4) San Antonio Spurs vs. (5) Utah Jazz: Jazz win series 3–1
- Game 1 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (April 28): San Antonio 106, Utah 89
- Game 2 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (April 30): Utah 96, San Antonio 84
- Game 3 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 3): Utah 105, San Antonio 72
- Game 4 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 5): Utah 95, San Antonio 90
| Utah won 5–0 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Spurs and the Jazz.[5]
- Conference Semifinals
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (3) Phoenix Suns: Rockets win series 4–3
- Game 1 @ The Summit, Houston (May 8): Phoenix 91, Houston 87
- Game 2 @ The Summit, Houston (May 11): Phoenix 124, Houston 117 (OT)
- Game 3 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (May 13): Houston 118, Phoenix 102
- Game 4 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (May 15): Houston 107, Phoenix 96 (Kevin Johnson's famous dunk on Hakeem Olajuwon)
- Game 5 @ The Summit, Houston (May 17): Houston 109, Phoenix 86
- Game 6 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (May 19): Phoenix 103, Houston 89
- Game 7 @ The Summit, Houston (May 21): Houston 104, Phoenix 94 (The Rockets become the second team to win a playoff series after losing the first 2 games at home.)
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the Suns.[6]
(5) Utah Jazz vs. (8) Denver Nuggets: Jazz win series 4–3
- Game 1 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 10): Utah 100, Denver 91
- Game 2 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 12): Utah 104, Denver 94
- Game 3 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 14): Utah 111, Denver 109 (OT)
- Game 4 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 15): Denver 83, Utah 82
- Game 5 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 17): Denver 109, Utah 101 (2OT)
- Game 6 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 19): Denver 94, Utah 91 (Denver became the first team since the 1951 New York Knicks to force a Game 7 after being down 0–3)
- Game 7 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 21): Utah 91, Denver 81
| Utah won 4–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.
| Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
- Conference Finals
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (5) Utah Jazz: Rockets win series 4–1
- Game 1 @ The Summit, Houston (May 23): Houston 100, Utah 88 TNT 9:00ET
- Game 2 @ The Summit, Houston (May 25): Houston 104, Utah 99 TNT 9:00ET
- Game 3 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 27): Utah 95, Houston 86 TNT 9:00ET
- Game 4 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 29): Houston 80, Utah 78 NBC 3:30ET
- Game 5 @ The Summit, Houston (May 31): Houston 94, Utah 83 NBC 9:00ET
| Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning the first meeting.
| Utah leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
Eastern Conference
Champion: New York Knicks
- 1st Round
(1) Atlanta Hawks vs. (8) Miami Heat: Hawks win series 3–2
- Game 1 @ The Omni, Atlanta (April 28): Miami 93, Atlanta 88
- Game 2 @ The Omni, Atlanta (April 30): Atlanta 104, Miami 86
- Game 3 @ Miami Arena, Miami (May 3): Miami 90, Atlanta 86
- Game 4 @ Miami Arena, Miami (May 5): Atlanta 103, Miami 89
- Game 5 @ The Omni, Atlanta (May 8): Atlanta 102, Miami 91
| Atlanta won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Hawks and the Heat.[9]
(2) New York Knicks vs. (7) New Jersey Nets: Knicks win series 3–1
- Game 1 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (April 29): New York 91, New Jersey 80
- Game 2 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 1): New York 90, New Jersey 81
- Game 3 @ Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford (May 4): New Jersey 93, New York 92 (OT)
- Game 4 @ Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford (May 6): New York 102, New Jersey 92
| New Jersey won 4–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first meeting.
| New York leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(3) Chicago Bulls vs. (6) Cleveland Cavaliers: Bulls win series 3–0
- Game 1 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (April 29): Chicago 104, Cleveland 96
- Game 2 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 1): Chicago 105, Cleveland 96
- Game 3 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (May 3): Chicago 95, Cleveland 92 (OT)
| Cleveland won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first four meetings.
| Chicago leads 4–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(4) Orlando Magic vs. (5) Indiana Pacers: Pacers win series 3–0
- Game 1 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (April 28): Indiana 89, Orlando 88 (Byron Scott nails the game-winning 3-point shot with 2 seconds left)
- Game 2 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando (April 30): Indiana 103, Orlando 101
- Game 3 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 2): Indiana 99, Orlando 86
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Pacers and the Magic.[12]
- Conference Semifinals
(1) Atlanta Hawks vs. (5) Indiana Pacers: Pacers win series 4–2
- Game 1 @ The Omni, Atlanta (May 10): Indiana 96, Atlanta 85
- Game 2 @ The Omni, Atlanta (May 12): Atlanta 92, Indiana 69
- Game 3 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 14): Indiana 101, Atlanta 81
- Game 4 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 15): Indiana 102, Atlanta 86
- Game 5 @ The Omni, Atlanta (May 17): Atlanta 88, Indiana 76
- Game 6 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 19): Indiana 98, Atlanta 79
| Atlanta won 3–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning the first meeting.
| Atlanta leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(2) New York Knicks vs. (3) Chicago Bulls: Knicks win series 4–3
- Game 1 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 8): New York 90, Chicago 86
- Game 2 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 11): New York 96, Chicago 91
- Game 3 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 13): Chicago 104, New York 102 (Toni Kukoč hits the game-winner at the buzzer)
- Game 4 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 15): Chicago 95, New York 83
- Game 5 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 18): New York 87, Chicago 86 (Hue Hollins' questionable foul call)
- Game 6 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 20): Chicago 93, New York 79 (Scottie Pippen's famous dunk on Patrick Ewing)
- Game 7 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 22): New York 87, Chicago 77
| New York won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first five meetings.
| Chicago leads 5–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
- Conference Finals
(2) New York Knicks vs. (5) Indiana Pacers: Knicks win series 4–3
- Game 1 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 24 8:00ET TNT): New York 100, Indiana 89
- Game 2 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 26 8:00ET TNT): New York 89, Indiana 78
- Game 3 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 28 3:30ET NBC): Indiana 88, New York 68
- Game 4 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 30 3:30ET NBC): Indiana 83, New York 77
- Game 5 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 1 9:00ET NBC): Indiana 93, New York 86 (Reggie Miller's 25-point 4th quarter performance)
- Game 6 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (June 3 9:00ET NBC): New York 98, Indiana 91
- Game 7 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 5 7:00ET NBC): New York 94, Indiana 90 (Patrick Ewing's series winning dunk with 26.9 seconds left)
| New York won 4–0 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first meeting.
| New York leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
NBA Finals
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(2) Houston Rockets vs. (2) New York Knicks: Rockets win series 4–3
- Game 1 @ The Summit, Houston (June 8 9:00ET NBC): Houston 85, New York 78
- Game 2 @ The Summit, Houston (June 10 9:00ET NBC): New York 91, Houston 83
- Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 12 7:00ET NBC): Houston 93, New York 89 (Sam Cassell's clutch 3 with 32.6 seconds left)
- Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 15 9:00ET NBC): New York 91, Houston 82
- Game 5 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 17 9:00ET NBC): New York 91, Houston 84
- Game 6 @ The Summit, Houston (June 19 7:00ET NBC): Houston 86, New York 84 (Hakeem Olajuwon blocks John Starks' title-winning 3-point attempt)
- Game 7 @ The Summit, Houston (June 22 9:00ET NBC): Houston 90, New York 84
| Houston won 2–0 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning the first meeting.
| Houston leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
References
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