1996 NBA Playoffs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1996 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1995-1996 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their first NBA championship in three years by defeating the Western Conference champion Seattle Supersonics four games to two.
By capturing their fourth championship, the Bulls put a cap on what many consider the greatest season in NBA history, as they finished a record 72-10 in the regular season, eclipsing the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers' record of 69-13. It was also redemption for Jordan after his first return to the playoffs the previous year and the Bulls' disappointing second-round loss to Orlando, a team that would go on to the NBA Finals. With Jordan leading the way, this year's Bulls would sweep the Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals, winning the four games by an average of 17 points, en route to an unprecedented combined record of 87-13 in regular season and postseason play.
For the SuperSonics, it was their first trip to the NBA Finals since winning the championship in 1979, and helped vindicate them as well after their startling first-round loss to the Denver Nuggets two years previous (the first time an eighth-seeded team had defeated a top seed in the playoffs).
Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals would mark the final game Shaquille O'Neal would play as a member of the Orlando Magic before signing with the Los Angeles Lakers as a free-agent in the offseason. O'Neal would go on to win three championships with the Lakers and one with the Miami Heat. As of 2007, the Magic have not won a playoff series in the post-Shaq era.
Contents |
[edit] Bracket
| First round | Conf. Semifinals | Conf. Finals | NBA Finals | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Seattle | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Sacramento | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Seattle | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Houston | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | L.A. Lakers | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Houston | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Seattle | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Utah | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Utah | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Portland | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Utah | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | San Antonio | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | San Antonio | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Phoenix | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Seattle | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Chicago | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Chicago | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Miami | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Chicago | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | New York | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Cleveland | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | New York | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Chicago | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Orlando | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Indiana | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Atlanta | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Atlanta | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Orlando | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Orlando | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Detroit | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
[edit] Playoff qualifying
[edit] Western Conference
[edit] Best record in conference
The Seattle SuperSonics clinched the best record in the Western Conference, and had home court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs.
[edit] Clinched a playoff berth
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:
- Seattle SuperSonics (clinched Pacific division)
- San Antonio Spurs (clinched Midwest division)
- Utah Jazz
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Houston Rockets
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Phoenix Suns
- Sacramento Kings
[edit] Eastern Conference
[edit] Best record in NBA
The Chicago Bulls clinched the best record in the NBA, and earned home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs.
[edit] Clinched a playoff berth
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:
- Chicago Bulls (clinched Central division)
- Orlando Magic (clinched Atlantic division)
- Indiana Pacers
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- New York Knicks
- Atlanta Hawks
- Detroit Pistons
- Miami Heat
[edit] Notes
- For the fourth straight postseason, both #5 seeds beat their #4 seeded opponent in the first round.
[edit] Western Conference
Champion: Seattle SuperSonics
[edit] First Round
[edit] (1) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (8) Sacramento Kings
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(SEA-SAC) | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 26 | Sacramento | 85 | Seattle | 97 | 1-0 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 1 | |
| 2 | April 28 | Sacramento | 90 | Seattle | 81 | 1-1 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 2 | |
| 3 | April 30 | Seattle | 96 | Sacramento | 89 | 2-1 | ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California | 3 | |
| 4 | May 2 | Seattle | 101 | Sacramento | 87 | 3-1 | ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California | 4 | |
| Seattle wins series 3–1 | |||||||||
[edit] (4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(LAL-HOU) | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 25 | Houston | 87 | Los Angeles | 83 | 0-1 | Great Western Forum, Los Angeles, California | 1 | |
| 2 | April 27 | Houston | 94 | Los Angeles | 104 | 1-1 | Great Western Forum, Los Angeles, California | 2 | |
| 3 | April 30 | Los Angeles | 98 | Houston | 104 | 1-2 | The Summit, Houston, Texas | 3 | |
| 4 | May 2 | Los Angeles | 94 | Houston | 102 | 1-3 | The Summit, Houston, Texas | 4 | |
| Houston wins series 3–1 | |||||||||
[edit] (3) Utah Jazz vs. (6) Portland Trailblazers
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(UTAH-POR) | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 25 | Portland | 102 | Utah | 110 | 1-0 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 1 | |
| 2 | April 27 | Portland | 90 | Utah | 105 | 2-0 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 2 | |
| 3* | April 29 | Utah | 91 | Portland | 94 | 2-1 | Rose Garden Arena, Portland, Oregon | 3 | |
| 4 | May 1 | Utah | 90 | Portland | 98 | 2-2 | Rose Garden Arena, Portland, Oregon | 4 | |
| 5 | May 5 | Portland | 64 | Utah | 102 | 3-2 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 5 | |
| Utah wins series 3–2 | |||||||||
*Required overtime
[edit] (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Phoenix Suns
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(SAS-PHX) | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 26 | Phoenix | 98 | San Antonio | 120 | 1-0 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas | 1 | |
| 2 | April 28 | Phoenix | 105 | San Antonio | 110 | 2-0 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas | 2 | |
| 3 | May 1 | San Antonio | 93 | Phoenix | 94 | 2-1 | America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona | 3 | |
| 4 | May 3 | San Antonio | 116 | Phoenix | 98 | 3-1 | America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona | 4 | |
| San Antonio wins series 3–1 | |||||||||
[edit] Conference Semifinals
[edit] (1) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (5) Houston Rockets
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(SEA-HOU) | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 4 | Houston | 75 | Seattle | 108 | 1-0 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 1 | |
| 2 | May 6 | Houston | 101 | Seattle | 105 | 2-0 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 2 | |
| 3 | May 10 | Seattle | 115 | Houston | 112 | 3-0 | The Summit, Houston, Texas | 3 | |
| 4* | May 12 | Seattle | 114 | Houston | 107 | 4-0 | The Summit, Houston, Texas | 4 | |
| Seattle wins series 4–0 | |||||||||
*Required overtime
[edit] (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (3) Utah Jazz
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(SAS-UTAH) | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 7 | Utah | 95 | San Antonio | 75 | 0-1 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas | 1 | |
| 2 | May 9 | Utah | 77 | San Antonio | 88 | 1-1 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas | 2 | |
| 3 | May 11 | San Antonio | 75 | Utah | 105 | 1-2 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 3 | |
| 4 | May 12 | San Antonio | 86 | Utah | 101 | 1-3 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 4 | |
| 5 | May 14 | Utah | 87 | San Antonio | 98 | 2-3 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas | 5 | |
| 6 | May 16 | San Antonio | 81 | Utah | 108 | 2-4 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 6 | |
| Utah wins series 4–2 | |||||||||
[edit] Conference Finals
[edit] (1) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (3) Utah Jazz
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(SEA-UTAH) | Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 18 | Utah | 72 | Seattle | 102 | 1-0 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 1 | NBC |
| 2 | May 20 | Utah | 87 | Seattle | 91 | 2-0 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 2 | NBC |
| 3 | May 24 | Seattle | 76 | Utah | 96 | 2-1 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 3 | NBC |
| 4 | May 26 | Seattle | 88 | Utah | 86 | 3-1 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 4 | NBC |
| 5* | May 28 | Utah | 98 | Seattle | 95 | 3-2 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 5 | NBC |
| 6 | May 30 | Seattle | 83 | Utah | 118 | 3-3 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 6 | NBC |
| 7 | June 2 | Utah | 86 | Seattle | 90 | 4-3 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 7 | NBC |
| Seattle wins series 4–3 | |||||||||
*Required overtime
[edit] Eastern Conference
Champion: Chicago Bulls
[edit] First Round
[edit] (1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Miami Heat
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(CHI-MIA) | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 26 | Miami | 85 | Chicago | 102 | 1-0 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 1 | |
| 2 | April 28 | Miami | 75 | Chicago | 106 | 2-0 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 2 | |
| 3 | May 1 | Chicago | 112 | Miami | 91 | 3-0 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 3 | |
| Chicago wins series 3–0 | |||||||||
[edit] (4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) New York Knicks
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(CLE-NYK) | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 25 | New York | 106 | Cleveland | 83 | 0-1 | Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio | 1 | |
| 2 | April 27 | New York | 84 | Cleveland | 80 | 0-2 | Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio | 2 | |
| 3 | May 1 | Cleveland | 76 | New York | 81 | 0-3 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | 3 | |
| New York wins series 3–0 | |||||||||
[edit] (3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(IND-ATL) | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 25 | Atlanta | 92 | Indiana | 80 | 0-1 | Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana | 1 | |
| 2* | April 27 | Atlanta | 94 | Indiana | 102 | 1-1 | Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana | 2 | |
| 3 | April 29 | Indiana | 83 | Atlanta | 90 | 1-2 | Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia | 3 | |
| 4 | May 2 | Indiana | 83 | Atlanta | 75 | 2-2 | Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia | 4 | |
| 5 | May 5 | Atlanta | 89 | Indiana | 87 | 2-3 | Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana | 5 | |
| Atlanta wins series 3–2 | |||||||||
*Required overtime
[edit] (2) Orlando Magic vs. (7) Detroit Pistons
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(ORL-DET) | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 26 | Detroit | 92 | Orlando | 112 | 1-0 | Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida | 1 | |
| 2 | April 28 | Detroit | 77 | Orlando | 92 | 2-0 | Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida | 2 | |
| 3 | April 30 | Orlando | 101 | Detroit | 98 | 3-0 | Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan | 3 | |
| Orlando wins series 3–0 | |||||||||
[edit] Conference Semifinals
[edit] (1) Chicago Bulls vs. (5) New York Knicks
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(CHI-NYK) | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 5 | New York | 84 | Chicago | 91 | 1-0 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 1 | |
| 2 | May 7 | New York | 80 | Chicago | 91 | 2-0 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 2 | |
| 3* | May 11 | Chicago | 99 | New York | 102 | 2-1 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | 3 | |
| 4 | May 12 | Chicago | 94 | New York | 91 | 3-1 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | 4 | |
| 5 | May 14 | New York | 81 | Chicago | 94 | 4-1 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 5 | |
| Chicago wins series 4–1 | |||||||||
*Required overtime
[edit] (2) Orlando Magic vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(ORL-ATL) | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 8 | Atlanta | 95 | Orlando | 117 | 1-0 | Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida | 1 | |
| 2 | May 10 | Atlanta | 94 | Orlando | 120 | 2-0 | Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida | 2 | |
| 3 | May 12 | Orlando | 102 | Atlanta | 96 | 3-0 | Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia | 3 | |
| 4 | May 13 | Orlando | 99 | Atlanta | 104 | 3-1 | Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia | 4 | |
| 5 | May 15 | Atlanta | 88 | Orlando | 96 | 4-1 | Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida | 5 | |
| Orlando wins series 4–1 | |||||||||
[edit] Conference Finals
[edit] (1) Chicago Bulls vs. (2) Orlando Magic
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(CHI-ORL) | Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 19 | Orlando | 83 | Chicago | 121 | 1-0 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 1 | NBC |
| 2 | May 21 | Orlando | 88 | Chicago | 93 | 2-0 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 2 | NBC |
| 3 | May 25 | Chicago | 86 | Orlando | 67 | 3-0 | Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida | 3 | NBC |
| 4 | May 27 | Chicago | 106 | Orlando | 101 | 4-0 | Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida | 4 | NBC |
| Chicago wins series 4-0 | |||||||||
[edit] NBA Finals
[edit] Chicago Bulls vs. Seattle SuperSonics
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(CHI-SEA) | Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 5 | Seattle | 90 | Chicago | 107 | 1-0 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 1 | NBC |
| 2 | June 7 | Seattle | 88 | Chicago | 92 | 2-0 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 2 | NBC |
| 3 | June 9 | Chicago | 108 | Seattle | 86 | 3-0 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 3 | NBC |
| 4 | June 12 | Chicago | 86 | Seattle | 107 | 3-1 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 4 | NBC |
| 5 | June 14 | Chicago | 78 | Seattle | 89 | 3-2 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 5 | NBC |
| 6 | June 16 | Seattle | 75 | Chicago | 87 | 4-2 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 6 | NBC |
| Chicago wins NBA Championship series 4–2 | |||||||||
