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Postseason tournament
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. It was their first absence from the playoffs since the playoff field expanded to 16 teams in 1984. It was also the first time that both missed the playoffs in the same year. This would not occur again until 2014. It also marked the first time both of the two Los Angeles-based NBA teams, the Lakers and Clippers (who arrived in L.A. in 1984), missed the playoffs together.
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 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 lost in seven games to the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. This was also the fourth consecutive season the Bulls and Knicks met in the NBA playoffs with the Bulls winning all three prior series. They would meet again in the 1996 NBA Playoffs with the Bulls winning in five games.
The Knicks made history by playing a record 25 playoff games (one short of the maximum), the most postseason games an NBA team has 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 7s, 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 losing in Game 7 to the Rockets at The Summit in the NBA Finals. Game 4 of the NBA 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 teams, having been with the Lakers in 1984 and 1988.
In the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors made their last playoff appearance until 2007. Game 3 of the Suns–Warriors series would be the last playoff game to take place inside the original bowl of the Oakland Coliseum Arena; the building was heavily renovated with increased seating capacity throughout the 1996–97 season, during which the Warriors moved to San Jose Arena, home of the NHL's San Jose Sharks. The arena was reopened the following season.
Game 3 of the Bulls-Cavaliers series was the last game played at the Richfield Coliseum.
Game 6 of the Bulls-Knicks series was the last game played at Chicago Stadium.
Game 5 of the Nuggets-Sonics series was the last to be played at Seattle Center Coliseum before its first renovation and eventual rechristening as KeyArena in 1995. During the renovations, the Sonics played the intervening 1994–95 NBA season at Tacoma Dome in nearby Tacoma, Washington; the arena had also been used intermittently by them during the early 1990s. After the SuperSonics relocated to and rebranded as the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008, the building (which is still being used by the Sonics' former WNBA sister team Seattle Storm) later received a second renovation project to accommodate the NHL's Seattle Kraken. This third iteration of the Coliseum became Climate Pledge Arena and was reopened in 2021.
This postseason was notable for the infamous broadcast interruption of NFL Hall of Famer O. J. Simpson's slow speed freeway chase with the Los Angeles Police Department. During Game 5 of the 1994 NBA Finals, most NBC affiliates split the coverage of the game between the chase. At the time, Simpson was an NFL analyst on NBC.
This would be last time when neither conference's number one seed reached the conference finals until 2004[2].
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 did not start the clock as they were trying to look for an open shot. After 8 seconds, the clock finally started as Chambers got the ball down low but Utah did not take advantage of the extra time they were given, and after Chambers attempted a shot and missed, there was a mad scramble for the ball. It ended up in Robert Horry's hands, who passed it to Kenny Smith; Houston ran out the clock to win 80–78.
November 19, 1993
Recap Atlanta Hawks 95, Miami Heat 92 Miami Arena,
MiamiFebruary 10, 1994
Recap Miami Heat 98, Atlanta Hawks 114 The Omni,
AtlantaMarch 26, 1994
Recap Miami Heat 90, Atlanta Hawks 100 The Omni,
AtlantaApril 21, 1994
Recap Atlanta Hawks 89, Miami Heat 94 Miami Arena,
MiamiThis was the first playoff meeting between the Hawks and the Heat.[3]
Regular-season series New Jersey won 4–1 in the regular-season seriesDecember 21, 1993
Recap New York Knicks 81, New Jersey Nets 85 Meadowlands Arena,
East Rutherford, New JerseyDecember 28, 1993
Recap New Jersey Nets 97, New York Knicks 95 Madison Square Garden, New York City
February 15, 1994
Recap New York Knicks 83, New Jersey Nets 103 Meadowlands Arena,
East Rutherford, New JerseyMarch 3, 1994
Recap New Jersey Nets 86, New York Knicks 97 Madison Square Garden, New York City
April 10, 1994
Recap New York Knicks 88, New Jersey Nets 107 Meadowlands Arena,
East Rutherford, New JerseyThis was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first meeting.
December 11, 1993
Recap Cleveland Cavaliers 84, Chicago Bulls 93 Chicago Stadium,
Chicago,
IllinoisJanuary 27, 1994
Recap Chicago Bulls 84, Cleveland Cavaliers 100 The Coliseum,
Richfield, OhioFebruary 28, 1994
Recap Cleveland Cavaliers 89, Chicago Bulls 81 Chicago Stadium,
Chicago,
IllinoisMarch 6, 1994
Recap Chicago Bulls 95, Cleveland Cavaliers 99 The Coliseum,
Richfield, OhioThis was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first four meetings.
November 9, 1993
Recap Indiana Pacers 98, Orlando Magic 104 Orlando Arena,
Orlando, FloridaDecember 9, 1993
Recap Orlando Magic 105, Indiana Pacers 111 Market Square Arena,
IndianapolisFebruary 23, 1994
Recap Indiana Pacers 99, Orlando Magic 103 Orlando Arena,
Orlando, FloridaApril 2, 1994
Recap Orlando Magic 113, Indiana Pacers 128 Market Square Arena,
IndianapolisThis was the first playoff meeting between the Pacers and the Magic.[6]
Western Conference first round[edit]November 9, 1993
Recap Denver Nuggets 86, Seattle SuperSonics 118 Seattle Center Coliseum,
SeattleJanuary 22, 1994
Recap Seattle SuperSonics 91, Denver Nuggets 98 McNichols Sports Arena,
Denver,
ColoradoMarch 28, 1994
Recap Denver Nuggets 97, Seattle SuperSonics 111 Seattle Center Coliseum,
SeattleApril 7, 1994
Recap Seattle SuperSonics 90, Denver Nuggets 104 McNichols Sports Arena,
Denver,
ColoradoThis was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.
November 7, 1993
Recap Houston Rockets 106, Portland Trail Blazers 92 Memorial Coliseum,
Portland, OregonJanuary 4, 1994
Recap Portland Trail Blazers 95, Houston Rockets 106 The Summit,
HoustonMarch 15, 1994
Recap Portland Trail Blazers 99, Houston Rockets 105 The Summit,
HoustonApril 17, 1994
Recap Houston Rockets 119, Portland Trail Blazers 110 Memorial Coliseum,
Portland, OregonThis was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning the first meeting.
Regular-season series Phoenix won 3–2 in the regular-season seriesNovember 16, 1993
Recap Phoenix Suns 116, Golden State Warriors 104 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena,
Oakland, CaliforniaDecember 15, 1993
Recap Golden State Warriors 104, Phoenix Suns 110 America West Arena,
Phoenix, ArizonaJanuary 9, 1994
Recap Golden State Warriors 107, Phoenix Suns 122 America West Arena,
Phoenix, ArizonaJanuary 17, 1994
Recap Phoenix Suns 99, Golden State Warriors 104 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena,
Oakland, CaliforniaMarch 3, 1994
Recap Phoenix Suns 107, Golden State Warriors 120 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena,
Oakland, CaliforniaThis was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning the first two meetings.
Regular-season series Utah won 5–0 in the regular-season seriesDecember 13, 1993
Recap San Antonio Spurs 87, Utah Jazz 102 Delta Center,
Salt Lake CityDecember 23, 1993
Recap Utah Jazz 96, San Antonio Spurs 88 Alamodome,
San AntonioFebruary 23, 1994
Recap San Antonio Spurs 102, Utah Jazz 106 (OT) Delta Center,
Salt Lake CityMarch 2, 1994
Recap Utah Jazz 106, San Antonio Spurs 96 Alamodome,
San AntonioApril 14, 1994
Recap San Antonio Spurs 90, Utah Jazz 101 Delta Center,
Salt Lake CityThis was the first playoff meeting between the Spurs and the Jazz.[10]
Conference semifinals[edit] Eastern Conference semifinals[edit] Regular-season series Atlanta won 3–2 in the regular-season seriesNovember 5, 1993
Recap Indiana Pacers 110, Atlanta Hawks 116 The Omni,
AtlantaDecember 16, 1993
Recap Indiana Pacers 99, Atlanta Hawks 81 The Omni,
AtlantaJanuary 15, 1994
Recap Atlanta Hawks 91, Indiana Pacers 94 Market Square Arena,
IndianapolisMarch 5, 1994
Recap Indiana Pacers 88, Atlanta Hawks 90 The Omni,
AtlantaMarch 18, 1994
Recap Atlanta Hawks 81, Indiana Pacers 78 Market Square Arena,
IndianapolisThis was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning the first meeting.
December 17, 1993
Recap New York Knicks 86, Chicago Bulls 98 Chicago Stadium,
Chicago,
IllinoisFebruary 20, 1994
Recap Chicago Bulls 68, New York Knicks 86 Madison Square Garden, New York City
March 22, 1994
Recap Chicago Bulls 78, New York Knicks 87 Madison Square Garden, New York City
April 24, 1994
Recap New York Knicks 92, Chicago Bulls 76 Chicago Stadium,
Chicago,
IllinoisThis was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first five meetings.
Western Conference semifinals[edit]November 13, 1993
Recap Phoenix Suns 95, Houston Rockets 99 The Summit,
HoustonDecember 25, 1993
Recap Houston Rockets 91, Phoenix Suns 111 America West Arena,
Phoenix, ArizonaFebruary 19, 1994
Recap Phoenix Suns 88, Houston Rockets 106 The Summit,
HoustonMarch 27, 1994
Recap Houston Rockets 98, Phoenix Suns 113 America West Arena,
Phoenix, ArizonaThis was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the Suns.[13]
November 30, 1993
Recap Denver Nuggets 92, Utah Jazz 103 Delta Center,
Salt Lake CityDecember 10, 1993
Recap Utah Jazz 98, Denver Nuggets 107 McNichols Sports Arena,
Denver,
ColoradoFebruary 8, 1994
Recap Utah Jazz 96, Denver Nuggets 95 McNichols Sports Arena,
Denver,
ColoradoApril 2, 1994
Recap Denver Nuggets 91, Utah Jazz 101 Delta Center,
Salt Lake CityApril 22, 1994
Recap Utah Jazz 113, Denver Nuggets 106 McNichols Sports Arena,
Denver,
ColoradoThis was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.
Eastern Conference finals[edit]November 12, 1993
Recap New York Knicks 103, Indiana Pacers 84 Market Square Arena,
IndianapolisDecember 11, 1993
Recap Indiana Pacers 91, New York Knicks 98 Madison Square Garden, New York City
March 15, 1994
Recap Indiana Pacers 82, New York Knicks 88 Madison Square Garden, New York City
March 25, 1994
Recap New York Knicks 85, Indiana Pacers 82 Market Square Arena,
IndianapolisThis was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first meeting.
Western Conference finals[edit] Regular-season series Tied 3–3 in the regular-season seriesNovember 24, 1993
Recap Houston Rockets 95, Utah Jazz 93 (OT) Delta Center,
Salt Lake CityJanuary 22, 1994
Recap Utah Jazz 101, Houston Rockets 106 The Summit,
HoustonFebruary 1, 1994
Recap Houston Rockets 88, Utah Jazz 104 Delta Center,
Salt Lake CityFebruary 26, 1994
Recap Utah Jazz 95, Houston Rockets 85 The Summit,
HoustonFebruary 28, 1994
Recap Houston Rockets 85, Utah Jazz 89 Delta Center,
Salt Lake CityMarch 26, 1994
Recap Utah Jazz 83, Houston Rockets 98 The Summit,
HoustonThis was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning the first meeting.
NBA Finals (W2) Houston Rockets vs. (E2) New York Knicks[edit]This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning the first meeting.
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