1994 NBA playoffs

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1994 NBA playoffs

Tournament details
Dates	April 28–June 22, 1994
Season	1993–94
Teams	16
Final positions
Champions	Houston Rockets (1st title)
Runner-up	New York Knicks
Semifinalists	Indiana Pacers Utah Jazz
← 1993 1995 →

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.

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, 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 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 2021.

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.

Regular-season series

Atlanta won 3–1 in the regular-season series
November 19, 1993 Recap Atlanta Hawks 95, Miami Heat 92 Miami Arena, Miami February 10, 1994 Recap Miami Heat 98, Atlanta Hawks 114 The Omni, Atlanta March 26, 1994 Recap Miami Heat 90, Atlanta Hawks 100 The Omni, Atlanta April 21, 1994 Recap Atlanta Hawks 89, Miami Heat 94 Miami Arena, Miami

This was the first playoff meeting between the Hawks and the Heat.^[2]

Regular-season series

New Jersey won 4–1 in the regular-season series

December 21, 1993 Recap New York Knicks 81, New Jersey Nets 85 Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey December 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 Jersey March 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 Jersey

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first meeting.

Previous playoff series^[3]

New York leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1983 New Jersey Nets 0, New York Knicks 2 1983 Eastern Conference First Round

• Final Cavaliers game at Richfield Coliseum.

Regular-season series

Cleveland won 3–1 in the regular-season series
December 11, 1993 Recap Cleveland Cavaliers 84, Chicago Bulls 93 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois January 27, 1994 Recap Chicago Bulls 84, Cleveland Cavaliers 100 The Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio February 28, 1994 Recap Cleveland Cavaliers 89, Chicago Bulls 81 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois March 6, 1994 Recap Chicago Bulls 95, Cleveland Cavaliers 99 The Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first four meetings.

Previous playoff series^[4]

Chicago leads 4–0 in all-time playoff series
1988 Chicago Bulls 3, Cleveland Cavaliers 2 1988 Eastern Conference First Round 1989 Chicago Bulls 3, Cleveland Cavaliers 2 1989 Eastern Conference First Round 1992 Chicago Bulls 4, Cleveland Cavaliers 2 1992 Eastern Conference Finals 1993 Chicago Bulls 4, Cleveland Cavaliers 0 1993 Eastern Conference Semifinals

• Byron Scott hits the game-winning 3 with 2 seconds left.

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
November 9, 1993 Recap Indiana Pacers 98, Orlando Magic 104 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida December 9, 1993 Recap Orlando Magic 105, Indiana Pacers 111 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis February 23, 1994 Recap Indiana Pacers 99, Orlando Magic 103 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida April 2, 1994 Recap Orlando Magic 113, Indiana Pacers 128 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis

This was the first playoff meeting between the Pacers and the Magic.^[5]

• Denver becomes the first 8th seed to beat the 1st seed in playoff history.

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series

November 9, 1993 Recap Denver Nuggets 86, Seattle SuperSonics 118 Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle January 22, 1994 Recap Seattle SuperSonics 91, Denver Nuggets 98 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado March 28, 1994 Recap Denver Nuggets 97, Seattle SuperSonics 111 Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle April 7, 1994 Recap Seattle SuperSonics 90, Denver Nuggets 104 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.

Previous playoff series^[6]

Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
1978 Denver Nuggets 2, Seattle SuperSonics 4 1978 Western Conference Finals 1988 Denver Nuggets 3, Seattle SuperSonics 2 1988 Western Conference First Round

• Hakeem's big block on Rod Strickland's layup.

Regular-season series

Houston won 4–0 in the regular-season series
November 7, 1993 Recap Houston Rockets 106, Portland Trail Blazers 92 Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon January 4, 1994 Recap Portland Trail Blazers 95, Houston Rockets 106 The Summit, Houston March 15, 1994 Recap Portland Trail Blazers 99, Houston Rockets 105 The Summit, Houston April 17, 1994 Recap Houston Rockets 119, Portland Trail Blazers 110 Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning the first meeting.

Previous playoff series^[7]

Houston leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1987 Houston Rockets 3, Portland Trail Blazers 1 1987 Western Conference First Round

Regular-season series

Phoenix won 3–2 in the regular-season series

November 16, 1993 Recap Phoenix Suns 116, Golden State Warriors 104 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California December 15, 1993 Recap Golden State Warriors 104, Phoenix Suns 110 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona January 9, 1994 Recap Golden State Warriors 107, Phoenix Suns 122 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona January 17, 1994 Recap Phoenix Suns 99, Golden State Warriors 104 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California March 3, 1994 Recap Phoenix Suns 107, Golden State Warriors 120 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning the first two meetings.

Previous playoff series^[8]

Phoenix leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
1976 Golden State Warriors 3, Phoenix Suns 4 1976 Western Conference Finals 1989 Golden State Warriors 1, Phoenix Suns 4 1989 Western Conference Semifinals

Regular-season series

Utah won 5–0 in the regular-season series

December 13, 1993 Recap San Antonio Spurs 87, Utah Jazz 102 Delta Center, Salt Lake City December 23, 1993 Recap Utah Jazz 96, San Antonio Spurs 88 Alamodome, San Antonio February 23, 1994 Recap San Antonio Spurs 102, Utah Jazz 106 (OT) Delta Center, Salt Lake City March 2, 1994 Recap Utah Jazz 106, San Antonio Spurs 96 Alamodome, San Antonio April 14, 1994 Recap San Antonio Spurs 90, Utah Jazz 101 Delta Center, Salt Lake City

This was the first playoff meeting between the Spurs and the Jazz.^[9]

Regular-season series

Atlanta won 3–2 in the regular-season series

November 5, 1993 Recap Indiana Pacers 110, Atlanta Hawks 116 The Omni, Atlanta December 16, 1993 Recap Indiana Pacers 99, Atlanta Hawks 81 The Omni, Atlanta January 15, 1994 Recap Atlanta Hawks 91, Indiana Pacers 94 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis March 5, 1994 Recap Indiana Pacers 88, Atlanta Hawks 90 The Omni, Atlanta March 18, 1994 Recap Atlanta Hawks 81, Indiana Pacers 78 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning the first meeting.

Previous playoff series^[10]

Atlanta leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1987 Atlanta Hawks 3, Indiana Pacers 1 1987 Eastern Conference First Round

• Toni Kukoč hits the game-winner at the buzzer.

• Hue Hollins' controversial foul call.

• Scottie Pippen's famous dunk on Patrick Ewing; final Bulls game at Chicago Stadium.

Regular-season series

New York won 3–1 in the regular-season series
December 17, 1993 Recap New York Knicks 86, Chicago Bulls 98 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois February 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, Illinois

This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first five meetings.

Previous playoff series^[11]

Chicago leads 5–0 in all-time playoff series
1981 Chicago Bulls 2, New York Knicks 0 1981 Eastern Conference First Round 1989 Chicago Bulls 4, New York Knicks 2 1989 Eastern Conference Semifinals 1991 Chicago Bulls 3, New York Knicks 0 1991 Eastern Conference First Round 1992 Chicago Bulls 4, New York Knicks 3 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals 1993 Chicago Bulls 4, New York Knicks 2 1993 Eastern Conference Finals

• Kevin Johnson's famous dunk on Hakeem Olajuwon.

• The Rockets become the second team to win a best-of-seven playoff series after losing the first 2 games at home.

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
November 13, 1993 Recap Phoenix Suns 95, Houston Rockets 99 The Summit, Houston December 25, 1993 Recap Houston Rockets 91, Phoenix Suns 111 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona February 19, 1994 Recap Phoenix Suns 88, Houston Rockets 106 The Summit, Houston March 27, 1994 Recap Houston Rockets 98, Phoenix Suns 113 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona

This was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the Suns.^[12]

• Karl Malone hits the game-tying shot with 9.2 seconds left.

• Reggie Williams hits the game-winner with 1.9 seconds left.

• Denver became the first team since the 1951 New York Knicks to force a Game 7 after being down 0–3.

Regular-season series

Utah won 4–1 in the regular-season series

November 30, 1993 Recap Denver Nuggets 92, Utah Jazz 103 Delta Center, Salt Lake City December 10, 1993 Recap Utah Jazz 98, Denver Nuggets 107 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado February 8, 1994 Recap Utah Jazz 96, Denver Nuggets 95 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado April 2, 1994 Recap Denver Nuggets 91, Utah Jazz 101 Delta Center, Salt Lake City April 22, 1994 Recap Utah Jazz 113, Denver Nuggets 106 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.

Previous playoff series^[13]

Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
1984 Denver Nuggets 2, Utah Jazz 3 1984 Western Conference First Round 1985 Denver Nuggets 4, Utah Jazz 1 1985 Western Conference Semifinals

• Reggie Miller's 25-point 4th quarter performance.

• Patrick Ewing's clutch dunk with 26.9 seconds left.

Regular-season series

New York won 4–0 in the regular-season series
November 12, 1993 Recap New York Knicks 103, Indiana Pacers 84 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis December 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, Indianapolis

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first meeting.

Previous playoff series^[14]

New York leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1993 Indiana Pacers 1, New York Knicks 3 1993 Eastern Conference First Round

Regular-season series

Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series

November 24, 1993 Recap Houston Rockets 95, Utah Jazz 93 (OT) Delta Center, Salt Lake City January 22, 1994 Recap Utah Jazz 101, Houston Rockets 106 The Summit, Houston February 1, 1994 Recap Houston Rockets 88, Utah Jazz 104 Delta Center, Salt Lake City February 26, 1994 Recap Utah Jazz 95, Houston Rockets 85 The Summit, Houston February 28, 1994 Recap Houston Rockets 85, Utah Jazz 89 Delta Center, Salt Lake City March 26, 1994 Recap Utah Jazz 83, Houston Rockets 98 The Summit, Houston

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning the first meeting.

Previous playoff series^[15]

Utah leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1985 Houston Rockets 2, Utah Jazz 3 1985 Western Conference First Round

• Sam Cassell hits the game-winning 3 with 32.6 seconds left.

• Hakeem Olajuwon blocks John Starks' title-winning 3-point attempt.

Regular-season series

Houston won 2–0 in the regular-season series
December 2, 1993 Recap Houston Rockets 94, New York Knicks 85 Madison Square Garden, New York City February 24, 1994 Recap New York Knicks 73, Houston Rockets 93 The Summit, Houston

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning the first meeting.

Previous playoff series^[16]

Houston leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1975 Houston Rockets 2, New York Knicks 1 1975 Eastern Conference First Round

Category	Game High			Average
	Player	Team	High	Player	Team	Avg.	GP
Points	Charles Barkley	Phoenix Suns	56	Hakeem Olajuwon	Houston Rockets	28.9	23
Rebounds	Charles Oakley	New York Knicks	24	Dennis Rodman	San Antonio Spurs	16.0	3
Assists	Mookie Blaylock John Stockton	Atlanta Hawks Utah Jazz	18	John Stockton	Utah Jazz	9.8	16
Steals	Haywoode Workman	Indiana Pacers	7	Charles Barkley	Phoenix Suns	2.5	10
Blocks	Patrick Ewing Dikembe Mutombo	New York Knicks Denver Nuggets	8	Dikembe Mutombo	Denver Nuggets	5.8	12

• NBA records

• Basketball-Reference.com's 1994 NBA Playoffs page

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