1997 NBA playoffs

1997 NBA playoffs
Tournament details
Dates	April 24–June 13, 1997
Season	1996–97
Teams	16
Final positions
Champions	Chicago Bulls (5th title)
Runner-up	Utah Jazz
Semifinalists	Houston Rockets; Miami Heat;
	← 1996 1998 →

The 1997 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1996–97 season. The tournament concluded with the defending NBA champion and Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls defeating the Western Conference champion Utah Jazz 4 games to 2. This was the Bulls' second straight title, and fifth overall (They completed the 3-peat by beating Utah again in 1998). Michael Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP for the fifth time.

Overview

The Minnesota Timberwolves made their playoff debut after failing to win more than 30 games in their first 7 seasons. It was also the first of 7 straight years in which they made the playoffs only to lose in the first round. They were the last of the 1988/89 expansion four to make their playoff debut.

The Phoenix Suns made the playoffs despite starting the season with 13 straight losses. Their 0–13 start is an NBA record for the most losses to start a season by a team that went on to make the postseason.^[1]

All four 1988/89 expansion teams (Minnesota, Miami, Orlando and Charlotte) made the playoffs for the first time. This would happen again in 2001.

Both eighth seeds in the 1997 Playoffs, the Washington Bullets and the Los Angeles Clippers, broke long playoff droughts (Bullets eight years, Clippers only just three) with this season's playoff appearances. (The Bullets' last playoff appearance was in 1988; the Clippers in 1993). Unfortunately for both teams, it would be a long time before they made the playoffs again; the renamed Wizards made their return in 2005; the Clippers in 2006). The Bullets qualified by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in a regular season finale that saw both teams fighting for the #8 seed.^[2]

This season was the first, and to date only, season since the ABA–NBA merger that none of the four former ABA teams (the San Antonio Spurs, the Denver Nuggets, the Indiana Pacers, and the New Jersey Nets) qualified for the playoffs. It was also one of only four times that the Spurs failed to make the playoffs since their admission to the NBA. The Spurs would not miss the playoffs again until 2020.

The Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena hosted its final NBA playoff game in Game 3 of the Clippers–Jazz series. When the Clippers returned to the playoffs in 2006, they had moved to the Staples Center (Now Crypto.com Arena), their home since the 1999–2000 season. The Sports Arena remained active until its closure and demolition in 2016; the site is now Banc of California Stadium, home to MLS' Los Angeles FC.

Game 3 of the Bulls–Bullets series was the last playoff game ever played at the USAir Arena. They moved into a new arena in December of the next season. It was also the final game for the Washington Bullets. They changed their team name to the Wizards on May 15, making it the last time the team was officially named the "Bullets".

With their first round victory over the Orlando Magic, the Miami Heat won a playoff series for the first time in franchise history.

Game 4 of the Bulls–Hawks series was the last game ever played at the Omni Coliseum. The Hawks' home playoff games for 1998 and 1999 were played at the Georgia Dome while the Omni was demolished to make way for what is now State Farm Arena, which would open in September 1999.

The Miami Heat became the sixth team in NBA History to come back from a 3–1 series deficit with their conference semifinals win over the New York Knicks. Ironically, their run to the Eastern Conference Finals marked the farthest they had reached in the playoffs up to that point; they did not return until 2005, and won the NBA Finals in 2006. They would not beat the Knicks again in a playoff series until 2012.

This was the first Western Conference title for the Jazz in their 23–year history, with their series win against the Houston Rockets. After losing in the Western Conference Finals to the Jazz, the Rockets would not win a playoff series until 2009 and would not return to the Conference Finals until 2015.

Bracket

First Round

Conference Semifinals

Conference Finals

NBA Finals

E1

Chicago*

3

E8

Washington

0

E1

Chicago*

4

E4

Atlanta

1

E4

Atlanta

3

E5

Detroit

2

E1

Chicago*

4

Eastern Conference

E2

Miami*

1

E3

New York

3

E6

Charlotte

0

E3

New York

3

E2

Miami*

4

E2

Miami*

3

E7

Orlando

2

E1

Chicago*

4

W1

Utah*

2

W1

Utah*

3

W8

LA Clippers

0

W1

Utah*

4

W4

LA Lakers

1

W4

LA Lakers

3

W5

Portland

1

W1

Utah*

4

Western Conference

W3

Houston

2

W3

Houston

3

W6

Minnesota

0

W3

Houston

4

W2

Seattle*

3

W2

Seattle*

3

W7

Phoenix

2

* Division winner
Bold Series winner
Italic Team with home-court advantage

Playoff qualifying

Western Conference

Best record in conference

The Utah Jazz clinched the best record in the Western Conference, and had home court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs.

Clinched a playoff berth

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:

Utah Jazz (64–18, clinched Midwest division)
Seattle SuperSonics (57–25, clinched Pacific division)
Houston Rockets (57–25)
Los Angeles Lakers (56–26)
Portland Trail Blazers (49–33)
Minnesota Timberwolves (40–42)
Phoenix Suns (40–42)
Los Angeles Clippers (36–46)

Eastern Conference

Best record in NBA

The Chicago Bulls 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 East:

Chicago Bulls (69–13, clinched Central division)
Miami Heat (61–21, clinched Atlantic division)
New York Knicks (57–25)
Atlanta Hawks (56–26)
Detroit Pistons (54–28)
Charlotte Hornets (54–28)
Orlando Magic (45–37)
Washington Bullets (44–38)

Memorable moments

The 1997 NBA Playoffs featured numerous clutch shots and other moments.

April 30: Chicago Bulls vs. Washington Bullets, Game 3

Scottie Pippen made the series-winning dunk with 7.4 seconds left as the Bulls swept the Bullets 96–95 and advanced.^[3]

May 1: Seattle SuperSonics vs. Phoenix Suns, Game 4

With his team trailing 107–104 with 4.3 seconds left, Phoenix guard Rex Chapman took the inbounds pass, launched a 3-point shot while falling out of bounds, and made the shot to tie the game. The Sonics would however win in OT 122–115.

May 6: Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks, Game 1

Scottie Pippen broke a 97–97 tie by making a 3-point shot with 43.9 seconds left. Neither team would score after that, and the Bulls beat Atlanta 100–97.

May 14: New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat, Game 5

A courtside brawl erupted when Heat forward P.J. Brown body-slammed Knicks guard Charlie Ward causing both teams' benches to clear. For the Knicks, Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Allan Houston and Larry Johnson left the bench. All of the players involved were suspended. The Knicks, under-manned by the suspensions, lost the series in 7 games to start the Heat-Knicks rivalry. This was the first time in history where a New York-based major league sports team lost a playoff series after securing a 3–1 series lead; this would later be repeated when the New York Yankees blew a 3–0 series lead against the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and when the New York Rangers blew a 3–1 series lead against the Washington Capitals in 2009.

May 25: Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets, Game 4

Eddie Johnson made a 3 as time expired to tie the Western Conference Finals at 2.

May 29: Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets, Game 6

John Stockton scored 25 points and Karl Malone scored 24. John Stockton capped off a spectacular 4th quarter performance by hitting a 3 as time expired to send Utah to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.

June 1: Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz, Game 1

With the game tied at 82 with 9.2 seconds left, Jazz forward Karl Malone missed two crucial free throws. Chicago regained possession and Michael Jordan hit a jumper as time expired for the Bulls to win 84–82.

June 13: Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz, Game 6

With most NBC viewers thinking Jordan would take the last shot with the game tied at 86, he instead passed to Steve Kerr, who made a 17-foot shot with 5 seconds left. On the next play, Scottie Pippen stole Bryon Russell's inbound pass and rolled the ball to Toni Kukoč, who clinched the title with a dunk.

Notes

For the first time since 1992, a #5 seed did not beat their #4 seeded opponent in the first round.
This would be the last postseason until 2004 to feature teams with sub .500 records.
Until 2020, this is the most recent postseason where a Western Conference team (Minnesota, Phoenix, and the Los Angeles Clippers) qualified with a losing record.

First round

Eastern Conference first round

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Washington Bullets

TNT

April 25
8:00 PM

Washington Bullets 86, Chicago Bulls 98
Scoring by quarter: 20–24, 23–23, 13–17, 30–34
Pts: Juwan Howard 21 Rebs: Rod Strickland 10 Asts: Rod Strickland 8		Pts: Michael Jordan 29 Rebs: Scottie Pippen 10 Asts: Michael Jordan 8
Chicago leads series, 1–0

Washington Bullets 104, Chicago Bulls 109
Scoring by quarter: 30–29, 35–29, 15–28, 24–23
Pts: Calbert Cheaney 26 Rebs: Chris Webber 12 Asts: Rod Strickland 8		Pts: Michael Jordan 55 Rebs: Scottie Pippen 9 Asts: Luc Longley 6
Chicago leads series, 2–0

Chicago Bulls 96, Washington Bullets 95
Scoring by quarter: 22–23, 26–23, 22–24, 26–25
Pts: Michael Jordan 28 Rebs: Dennis Rodman 10 Asts: Michael Jordan 6		Pts: Rod Strickland 24 Rebs: Chris Webber 8 Asts: Rod Strickland 9
Chicago wins series, 3–0

Orlando Magic 64, Miami Heat 99
Scoring by quarter: 10–35, 20–14, 17–24, 17–26
Pts: Derek Strong 15 Rebs: Nick Anderson 12 Asts: Penny Hardaway 3		Pts: Voshon Lenard 24 Rebs: P. J. Brown 12 Asts: Tim Hardaway 11
Miami leads series, 1–0

Orlando Magic 87, Miami Heat 104
Scoring by quarter: 18–20, 13–36, 27–24, 29–24
Pts: Penny Hardaway 26 Rebs: Derek Strong 16 Asts: Brian Shaw 4		Pts: Tim Hardaway 20 Rebs: Alonzo Mourning 9 Asts: Tim Hardaway 11
Miami leads series, 2–0

Miami Heat 75, Orlando Magic 88
Scoring by quarter: 29–13, 13–29, 15–23, 18–23
Pts: Alonzo Mourning 17 Rebs: Alonzo Mourning 17 Asts: Tim Hardaway 8		Pts: Penny Hardaway 42 Rebs: Penny Hardaway 8 Asts: Darrell Armstrong 8
Miami leads series, 2–1

Miami Heat 91, Orlando Magic 99
Scoring by quarter: 25–27, 14–26, 25–20, 27–26
Pts: Alonzo Mourning 23 Rebs: Mourning, Brown 13 each Asts: Tim Hardaway 8		Pts: Penny Hardaway 41 Rebs: Darrell Armstrong 9 Asts: Penny Hardaway 4
Series tied, 2–2

Orlando Magic 83, Miami Heat 91
Scoring by quarter: 20–22, 14–19, 19–28, 30–22
Pts: Penny Hardaway 33 Rebs: Derek Strong 12 Asts: Penny Hardaway 6		Pts: Alonzo Mourning 22 Rebs: P. J. Brown 14 Asts: Tim Hardaway 11
Miami wins series, 3–2

Charlotte Hornets 99, New York Knicks 109
Scoring by quarter: 23–30, 23–29, 29–16, 24–34
Pts: Vlade Divac 27 Rebs: Anthony Mason 13 Asts: Anthony Mason 5		Pts: Allan Houston 25 Rebs: Patrick Ewing 9 Asts: Chris Childs 8
New York leads series, 1–0

Charlotte Hornets 93, New York Knicks 100
Scoring by quarter: 24–24, 23–24, 34–31, 12–21
Pts: Glen Rice 39 Rebs: Mason, Divac 12 each Asts: four players 2 each		Pts: Patrick Ewing 30 Rebs: Charles Oakley 10 Asts: Chris Childs 9
New York leads series, 2–0

New York Knicks 104, Charlotte Hornets 95
Scoring by quarter: 38–31, 20–18, 21–24, 25–22
Pts: Larry Johnson 22 Rebs: Patrick Ewing 11 Asts: Johnson, Childs 5 each		Pts: Glen Rice 22 Rebs: Anthony Mason 11 Asts: Glen Rice 9
New York wins series, 3–0

Detroit Pistons 75, Atlanta Hawks 89
Scoring by quarter: 18–20, 25–19, 15–22, 17–28
Pts: Grant Hill 20 Rebs: Grant Hill 14 Asts: Grant Hill 7		Pts: Dikembe Mutombo 26 Rebs: Dikembe Mutombo 15 Asts: Christian Laettner 4
Atlanta leads series, 1–0

Detroit Pistons 93, Atlanta Hawks 80
Scoring by quarter: 26–20, 19–20, 19–25, 29–15
Pts: Grant Hill 25 Rebs: Otis Thorpe 8 Asts: Grant Hill 3		Pts: Steve Smith 22 Rebs: Mookie Blaylock 9 Asts: Mookie Blaylock 7
Series tied, 1–1

Atlanta Hawks 91, Detroit Pistons 99
Scoring by quarter: 20–24, 20–32, 26–16, 25–27
Pts: Christian Laettner 25 Rebs: Dikembe Mutombo 21 Asts: Mookie Blaylock 10		Pts: Lindsey Hunter 26 Rebs: Terry Mills 7 Asts: Grant Hill 8
Detroit leads series, 2–1

Atlanta Hawks 94, Detroit Pistons 82
Scoring by quarter: 22–23, 24–15, 27–19, 21–25
Pts: Steve Smith 28 Rebs: Mutombo, Laettner 12 each Asts: Mookie Blaylock 9		Pts: Grant Hill 28 Rebs: Terry Mills 10 Asts: three players 3 each
Series tied, 2–2

Detroit Pistons 79, Atlanta Hawks 84
Scoring by quarter: 25–22, 17–20, 20–12, 17–30
Pts: Grant Hill 21 Rebs: Lindsey Hunter 9 Asts: Grant Hill 6		Pts: Christian Laettner 23 Rebs: Mutombo, Blaylock 9 each Asts: Blaylock, Corbin 5 each
Atlanta wins series, 3–2

Los Angeles Clippers 86, Utah Jazz 106
Scoring by quarter: 24–31, 24–23, 20–26, 18–26
Pts: Loy Vaught 20 Rebs: Loy Vaught 11 Asts: three players 3 each		Pts: Karl Malone 27 Rebs: Karl Malone 10 Asts: John Stockton 17
Utah leads series, 1–0

Los Angeles Clippers 99, Utah Jazz 105
Scoring by quarter: 22–27, 23–34, 32–23, 22–21
Pts: Lorenzen Wright 17 Rebs: Loy Vaught 9 Asts: Darrick Martin 6		Pts: Karl Malone 39 Rebs: Karl Malone 11 Asts: Stockton, Hornacek 4 each
Utah leads series, 2–0

Utah Jazz 104, Los Angeles Clippers 92
Scoring by quarter: 32–24, 26–18, 22–21, 24–29
Pts: Karl Malone 26 Rebs: Karl Malone 13 Asts: John Stockton 13		Pts: Loy Vaught 20 Rebs: Vaught, Wright 9 each Asts: Darrick Martin 5
Utah wins series, 3–0

Phoenix Suns 106, Seattle SuperSonics 101
Scoring by quarter: 20–23, 31–24, 26–32, 29–22
Pts: Rex Chapman 42 Rebs: Kevin Johnson 7 Asts: Jason Kidd 10		Pts: Gary Payton 23 Rebs: Shawn Kemp 15 Asts: Gary Payton 9
Phoenix leads series, 1–0

1997 NBA playoffs

Overview

Bracket

Playoff qualifying

Western Conference

Best record in conference

Clinched a playoff berth

Eastern Conference

Best record in NBA

Clinched a playoff berth

Memorable moments

Notes

First round

Eastern Conference first round

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Washington Bullets

(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) Orlando Magic

(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Charlotte Hornets

(4) Atlanta Hawks vs. (5) Detroit Pistons

Western Conference first round

(1) Utah Jazz vs. (8) Los Angeles Clippers

(2) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (7) Phoenix Suns

(3) Houston Rockets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves

(4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Portland Trail Blazers

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference semifinals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (4) Atlanta Hawks

(2) Miami Heat vs. (3) New York Knicks

Western Conference semifinals

(1) Utah Jazz vs. (4) Los Angeles Lakers

(2) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (3) Houston Rockets

Conference finals

Eastern Conference finals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (2) Miami Heat

Western Conference finals

(1) Utah Jazz vs. (3) Houston Rockets

NBA Finals: (E1) Chicago Bulls vs. (W1) Utah Jazz

Statistical leaders

See also

References

External links

Phoenix Suns 78, Seattle SuperSonics 122
Scoring by quarter: 18–35, 19–21, 26–29, 15–37
Pts: Rex Chapman 18 Rebs: Wesley Person 10 Asts: Jason Kidd 8		Pts: Payton, Kemp 23 each Rebs: Shawn Kemp 15 Asts: Gary Payton 6
Series tied, 1–1

Seattle SuperSonics 103, Phoenix Suns 110
Scoring by quarter: 40–30, 22–27, 19–25, 22–28
Pts: Gary Payton 34 Rebs: Shawn Kemp 11 Asts: Gary Payton 6		Pts: Wesley Person 29 Rebs: Wesley Person 10 Asts: Jason Kidd 10
Phoenix leads series, 2–1

Seattle SuperSonics 122, Phoenix Suns 115 (OT)
Scoring by quarter: 36–26, 25–23, 17–27, 29–31, Overtime: 15–8
Pts: Gary Payton 28 Rebs: Shawn Kemp 20 Asts: Gary Payton 14		Pts: Johnson, Kidd 23 each Rebs: Danny Manning 10 Asts: Jason Kidd 14
Series tied, 2–2

Phoenix Suns 92, Seattle SuperSonics 116
Scoring by quarter: 23–33, 18–30, 32–18, 19–35
Pts: Wesley Person 26 Rebs: Person, Kidd 8 each Asts: Jason Kidd 7		Pts: Detlef Schrempf 24 Rebs: Shawn Kemp 11 Asts: Gary Payton 10
Seattle wins series, 3–2

Minnesota Timberwolves 95, Houston Rockets 112
Scoring by quarter: 25–31, 23–30, 17–27, 30–24
Pts: Stephon Marbury 28 Rebs: Kevin Garnett 9 Asts: three players 4 each		Pts: Mario Elie 21 Rebs: Kevin Willis 13 Asts: Clyde Drexler 8
Houston leads series, 1–0

Minnesota Timberwolves 84, Houston Rockets 96
Scoring by quarter: 20–24, 23–17, 22–25, 19–30
Pts: Stephon Marbury 22 Rebs: Dean Garrett 14 Asts: Stephon Marbury 6		Pts: Charles Barkley 20 Rebs: Charles Barkley 15 Asts: Clyde Drexler 7
Houston leads series, 2–0

Houston Rockets 125, Minnesota Timberwolves 120
Scoring by quarter: 32–29, 27–30, 32–32, 34–29
Pts: Matt Maloney 26 Rebs: Hakeem Olajuwon 11 Asts: Clyde Drexler 9		Pts: Tom Gugliotta 27 Rebs: Dean Garrett 15 Asts: Stephon Marbury 13
Houston wins series, 3–0

Portland Trail Blazers 77, Los Angeles Lakers 95
Scoring by quarter: 24–22, 16—21, 22–25, 15–27
Pts: Wallace, Sabonis 18 each Rebs: Chris Dudley 11 Asts: Isaiah Rider 5		Pts: Shaquille O'Neal 46 Rebs: Shaquille O'Neal 11 Asts: Nick Van Exel 8
LA Lakers lead series, 1–0

Portland Trail Blazers 93, Los Angeles Lakers 107
Scoring by quarter: 26–33, 25–16, 18–29, 24–29
Pts: Rasheed Wallace 20 Rebs: Clifford Robinson 10 Asts: Kenny Anderson 7		Pts: Shaquille O'Neal 30 Rebs: Eddie Jones 7 Asts: Nick Van Exel 9
LA Lakers lead series, 2–0

Los Angeles Lakers 90, Portland Trail Blazers 98
Scoring by quarter: 17–32, 19–27, 22–25, 32–14
Pts: Shaquille O'Neal 29 Rebs: Shaquille O'Neal 12 Asts: O'Neal, Van Exel 4 each		Pts: Kenny Anderson 30 Rebs: Chris Dudley 7 Asts: Kenny Anderson 5
LA Lakers lead series, 2–1