1995 NBA playoffs

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1995 NBA playoffs

Tournament details
Dates	April 27 – June 14, 1995
Season	1994–95
Teams	16
Final positions
Champions	Houston Rockets (2nd title)
Runner-up	Orlando Magic
Semifinalists	Indiana Pacers San Antonio Spurs
← 1994 1996 →

The 1995 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1994–95 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets sweeping the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals. Hakeem Olajuwon was named NBA Finals MVP for the second straight time.

As of 2024, the 1995 Rockets are the lowest-seeded team to win the NBA Championship.^[1]

Houston became the eighth team to win back-to-back titles (after the Minneapolis Lakers of 1949 and 1950, and again 1952–54, and the Celtics dynasty of 1959–66 and again in 1968–69, as the LA Lakers of 1987 and 1988, Pistons of 1989 and 1990 and Bulls of 1991, 1992 and 1993). It would go on to happen five more times, with the Bulls winning 3 more from 1996 to 1998, the Lakers from 2000 to 2002 and 2009–2010, the Miami Heat from 2012 to 2013, and the Golden State Warriors from 2017 to 2018. The Rockets championships were also part of a run that saw 4 teams win consecutive titles (The Lakers 1987–88, Pistons 1989–90, Bulls 1991–93 and 1996–98, Rockets 1994–95). That streak was stopped by a Spurs franchise, who like the Celtics of the 1980s, didn't win back-to-back titles, but did win numerous championships and are considered a dynasty.

The sixth-seeded Rockets (47–35) took out four impressive opponents on their way to the title, defeating the 3rd-seeded Utah Jazz (60–22), 2nd-seeded Phoenix Suns (59–23), top-seeded San Antonio Spurs (62–20) and Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic (57–25) in the NBA Finals. In the first round against the Utah Jazz, the Houston Rockets came back from a 2-1 series deficit, winning Game 5 in Utah. In the second round against the Suns, the Rockets came back from a 2–0 and 3–1 series deficit without home-court advantage, winning Games 5 and 7 in Phoenix. Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon dominated league MVP David Robinson and Shaquille O'Neal in consecutive series to win the title. The Rockets 47 wins were the fewest by an NBA champion since the Washington Bullets tallied 44 in 1978.

The 1995 Playoffs featured the first three playoff series victories in Magic history, as they beat the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and Indiana Pacers to win their first Eastern Conference title.

It also featured the return of Michael Jordan to the playoffs after a year and a half absence, returning in March, and the only time the Bulls didn't win a title with him on the roster since they started their string of consecutive titles in 1991.

Game 4 of the Celtics-Magic series was the last game played at Boston Garden. Boston returned to the playoffs in 2002, this time in the new FleetCenter (now TD Garden).

Game 3 of the Blazers-Suns series was the last game played at the then-Memorial Coliseum (renamed the Veterans Memorial Coliseum as of 2012). The Blazers continued their playoff streak at Rose Garden (now Moda Center) for the next 7 years.

Game 3 of the Spurs-Nuggets series was the final playoff game at McNichols Sports Arena; the Nuggets missed the playoffs in each of the arena's final four years. Denver returned to the playoffs in 2004, this time in the new Pepsi Center (now Ball Arena).

The Pacers made the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight year (and finally defeated the New York Knicks on their way to doing so), but found the Magic too powerful to overcome. Coincidentally, they met all three playoff opponents (Orlando, Atlanta, and New York) they had in 1994, just in a different order.

Since the NBA playoffs expanded to 16 teams in 1984, the Jazz became the second team (along with the 1994 SuperSonics) to win at least 60 regular season games and lose in the first round, when they lost to the eventual NBA champion Rockets.

This marked the first time that every first and second round game of the playoffs was televised nationally. In previous years, a few early round games were not picked up by the NBA's national TV partners.^[2]

• Game 4 was the last game at Boston Garden.

Regular-season series

Orlando won 3–2 in the regular-season series

November 25, 1994 Recap Orlando Magic 124, Boston Celtics 118 Boston Garden, Boston January 24, 1995 Recap Boston Celtics 97, Orlando Magic 110 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida February 23, 1995 Recap Orlando Magic 117, Boston Celtics 119 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut February 24, 1995 Recap Boston Celtics 103, Orlando Magic 129 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida April 13, 1995 Recap Orlando Magic 114, Boston Celtics 119 Boston Garden, Boston

This was the first playoff meeting between the Celtics and the Magic.^[3]

Regular-season series

Indiana won 4–1 in the regular-season series

November 4, 1994 Recap Indiana Pacers 94, Atlanta Hawks 92 The Omni, Atlanta December 14, 1994 Recap Atlanta Hawks 79, Indiana Pacers 81 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis January 20, 1995 Recap Atlanta Hawks 89, Indiana Pacers 99 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis April 7, 1995 Recap Indiana Pacers 90, Atlanta Hawks 102 The Omni, Atlanta April 23, 1995 Recap Atlanta Hawks 87, Indiana Pacers 103 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis

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

Previous playoff series^[4]

Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
1987 Atlanta Hawks 3, Indiana Pacers 1 1987 Eastern Conference First Round 1994 Atlanta Hawks 2, Indiana Pacers 4 1994 Eastern Conference Semifinals

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
December 22, 1994 Recap Cleveland Cavaliers 93, New York Knicks 90 Madison Square Garden, New York City January 6, 1995 Recap New York Knicks 103, Cleveland Cavaliers 93 Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio February 21, 1995 Recap Cleveland Cavaliers 99, New York Knicks 91 Madison Square Garden, New York City March 4, 1995 Recap New York Knicks 89, Cleveland Cavaliers 76 Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio

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

Previous playoff series^[5]

New York leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1978 Cleveland Cavaliers 0, New York Knicks 2 1978 Eastern Conference First Round

Michael Jordan made the series winning free throws with 1:07 left

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series

November 4, 1994 Recap Charlotte Hornets 83, Chicago Bulls 89 United Center, Chicago, Illinois January 14, 1995 Recap Chicago Bulls 85, Charlotte Hornets 96 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina February 20, 1995 Recap Chicago Bulls 104, Charlotte Hornets 115 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina April 22, 1995 Recap Charlotte Hornets 100, Chicago Bulls 116 United Center, Chicago, Illinois

This was the first playoff meeting between the Hornets and the Bulls.^[6]

• Game 3 was the final playoff game at McNichols Sports Arena.

Regular-season series

San Antonio won 4–1 in the regular-season series

November 15, 1994 Recap San Antonio Spurs 99, Denver Nuggets 112 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado December 21, 1994 Recap San Antonio Spurs 111, Denver Nuggets 97 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado January 28, 1995 Recap Denver Nuggets 77, San Antonio Spurs 103 Alamodome, San Antonio April 16, 1995 Recap San Antonio Spurs 112, Denver Nuggets 109 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado April 18, 1995 Recap Denver Nuggets 96, San Antonio Spurs 107 Alamodome, San Antonio

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Spurs winning two of the first three meetings.

Previous playoff series^[7]

San Antonio leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series
1983 Denver Nuggets 1, San Antonio Spurs 4 1983 Western Conference Semifinals 1985 Denver Nuggets 3, San Antonio Spurs 2 1985 Western Conference First Round 1990 Denver Nuggets 0, San Antonio Spurs 3 1990 Western Conference First Round

• Game 3 was the Blazers' final game at Memorial Coliseum.

Regular-season series

Phoenix won 5–0 in the regular-season series

November 15, 1994 Recap Phoenix Suns 96, Portland Trail Blazers 93 Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon November 18, 1994 Recap Portland Trail Blazers 111, Phoenix Suns 124 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona January 19, 1995 Recap Phoenix Suns 122, Portland Trail Blazers 115 Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon February 15, 1995 Recap Portland Trail Blazers 113, Phoenix Suns 120 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona April 9, 1995 Recap Phoenix Suns 104, Portland Trail Blazers 94 Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon

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

Previous playoff series^[8]

Tied 2–2 in all-time playoff series
1979 Phoenix Suns 2, Portland Trail Blazers 1 1979 Western Conference First Round 1984 Phoenix Suns 3, Portland Trail Blazers 2 1984 Western Conference First Round 1990 Phoenix Suns 2, Portland Trail Blazers 4 1990 Western Conference Finals 1992 Phoenix Suns 1, Portland Trail Blazers 4 1992 Western Conference Semifinals

• John Stockton made the game-winning lay-up with 2.4 seconds left.

Regular-season series

Utah won 3–2 in the regular-season series

December 30, 1994 Recap Houston Rockets 111, Utah Jazz 103 Delta Center, Salt Lake City February 2, 1995 Recap Utah Jazz 101, Houston Rockets 121 The Summit, Houston, Texas March 23, 1995 Recap Utah Jazz 112, Houston Rockets 104 The Summit, Houston, Texas April 19, 1995 Recap Houston Rockets 96, Utah Jazz 115 Delta Center, Salt Lake City April 23, 1995 Recap Utah Jazz 103, Houston Rockets 97 The Summit, Houston, Texas

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

Previous playoff series^[9]

Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
1985 Houston Rockets 2, Utah Jazz 3 1985 Western Conference First Round 1994 Houston Rockets 4, Utah Jazz 1 1994 Western Conference Finals

Regular-season series

Los Angeles won 4–1 in the regular-season series

December 29, 1994 Recap Seattle SuperSonics 95, Los Angeles Lakers 96 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California January 28, 1995 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 128, Seattle SuperSonics 121 Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington February 15, 1995 Recap Seattle SuperSonics 96, Los Angeles Lakers 102 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California February 20, 1995 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 108, Seattle SuperSonics 105 Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington April 18, 1995 Recap Seattle SuperSonics 113, Los Angeles Lakers 97 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California

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

Previous playoff series^[10]

Los Angeles leads 3–2 in all-time playoff series

1978 Los Angeles Lakers 1, Seattle SuperSonics 2 1978 Western Conference First Round 1979 Los Angeles Lakers 1, Seattle SuperSonics 4 1979 Western Conference Semifinals 1980 Los Angeles Lakers 4, Seattle SuperSonics 1 1980 Western Conference Finals 1987 Los Angeles Lakers 4, Seattle SuperSonics 0 1987 Western Conference Finals 1989 Los Angeles Lakers 4, Seattle SuperSonics 0 1989 Western Conference Semifinals

• Nick Anderson's clutch steal off Michael Jordan led to his comments on Jordan's jersey number 45, saying he thought Jordan was playing like a 45-year-old. Meanwhile, Horace Grant went up for the game-winning dunk with 6.2 seconds remaining.

• Jordan returned to his more familiar jersey number 23.

Regular-season series

Orlando won 3–1 in the regular-season series
January 10, 1995 Recap Orlando Magic 77, Chicago Bulls 109 United Center, Chicago, Illinois January 26, 1995 Recap Chicago Bulls 99, Orlando Magic 102 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida February 26, 1995 Recap Chicago Bulls 103, Orlando Magic 105 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida March 24, 1995 Recap Orlando Magic 106, Chicago Bulls 99 United Center, Chicago, Illinois

This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the Magic.^[11]

• Reggie Miller scored 8 points in 8.9 seconds, including 2 straight 3's in 5.5 seconds, to rally from a 105–99 deficit.

• Rik Smits hit the game-tying jumper with 34 seconds left to force OT.

• Patrick Ewing hit the game-winner with 1.8 seconds left.

• Ewing missed the game tying lay-up at the buzzer; the Pacers became the 4th NBA road team to win Game 7 after leading series 3–1.

Regular-season series

New York won 3–1 in the regular-season series
January 10, 1995 Recap Indiana Pacers 105, New York Knicks 117 Madison Square Garden, New York City February 8, 1995 Recap New York Knicks 96, Indiana Pacers 77 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis April 4, 1995 Recap Indiana Pacers 94, New York Knicks 90 Madison Square Garden, New York City April 14, 1995 Recap New York Knicks 88, Indiana Pacers 84 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis

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

Previous playoff series^[12]

New York leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
1993 Indiana Pacers 1, New York Knicks 3 1993 Eastern Conference First Round 1994 Indiana Pacers 3, New York Knicks 4 1994 Eastern Conference Finals

• Nick Van Exel hit the game-tying 3 with 10.2 seconds left in regulation, then the game-winning 3 with 5 tenths left in OT.

Regular-season series

San Antonio won 3–1 in the regular-season series

December 17, 1994 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 102, San Antonio Spurs 116 Alamodome, San Antonio February 8, 1995 Recap San Antonio Spurs 99, Los Angeles Lakers 115 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California March 29, 1995 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 84, San Antonio Spurs 107 Alamodome, San Antonio April 9, 1995 Recap San Antonio Spurs 101, Los Angeles Lakers 87 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California

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

Previous playoff series^[13]

Los Angeles leads 4–0 in all-time playoff series
1982 Los Angeles Lakers 4, San Antonio Spurs 0 1982 Western Conference Finals 1983 Los Angeles Lakers 4, San Antonio Spurs 2 1983 Western Conference Finals 1986 Los Angeles Lakers 3, San Antonio Spurs 0 1986 Western Conference First Round 1988 Los Angeles Lakers 3, San Antonio Spurs 0 1988 Western Conference First Round

• After Mario Elie's game-winning "Kiss of Death" three-pointer with 7.1 seconds left, the Rockets became the 5th team in NBA history to overcome a 3–1 series deficit. The Rockets would also overcome a 3–1 deficit 20 years later against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Regular-season series

Houston won 3–1 in the regular-season series
December 22, 1994 Recap Phoenix Suns 106, Houston Rockets 114 The Summit, Houston, Texas February 5, 1995 Recap Houston Rockets 124, Phoenix Suns 100 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona March 7, 1995 Recap Phoenix Suns 113, Houston Rockets 102 The Summit, Houston, Texas March 24, 1995 Recap Houston Rockets 99, Phoenix Suns 97 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona

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

Previous playoff series^[14]

Houston leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1994 Houston Rockets 4, Phoenix Suns 3 1994 Western Conference Semifinals

• Four straight go-ahead shots to end the game: 1st, Brian Shaw's 3 with 13.3 seconds left; 2nd, Reggie Miller's 3 with 5.2 seconds left; 3rd, Penny Hardaway's 3 with 1.3 seconds left; finally, Rik Smits' buzzer-beating 2.

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
February 3, 1995 Recap Orlando Magic 106, Indiana Pacers 118 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis February 14, 1995 Recap Indiana Pacers 92, Orlando Magic 111 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida March 17, 1995 Recap Orlando Magic 97, Indiana Pacers 107 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis April 21, 1995 Recap Indiana Pacers 86, Orlando Magic 110 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida

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

Previous playoff series^[15]

Indiana leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1994 Indiana Pacers 3, Orlando Magic 0 1994 Eastern Conference First Round

• Robert Horry hits the game-winner with 6.5 seconds left.

Regular-season series

San Antonio won 5–1 in the regular-season series

December 10, 1994 Recap San Antonio Spurs 108, Houston Rockets 96 The Summit, Houston, Texas December 23, 1994 Recap Houston Rockets 96, San Antonio Spurs 98 Alamodome, San Antonio January 13, 1995 Recap San Antonio Spurs 100, Houston Rockets 103 The Summit, Houston, Texas January 26, 1995 Recap Houston Rockets 100, San Antonio Spurs 103 Alamodome, San Antonio February 21, 1995 Recap San Antonio Spurs 98, Houston Rockets 97 The Summit, Houston, Texas March 5, 1995 Recap Houston Rockets 103, San Antonio Spurs 124 Alamodome, San Antonio

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

Previous playoff series^[16]

Houston leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
1980 Houston Rockets 2, San Antonio Spurs 1 1980 Eastern Conference First Round 1981 Houston Rockets 4, San Antonio Spurs 3 1981 Western Conference Semifinals

• Nick Anderson missed 4 straight free throws to set up Kenny Smith's game-tying 3 with 1.6 seconds left; Robert Horry blocked Dennis Scott's 3-point attempt at the buzzer in regulation; Hakeem Olajuwon tipped in Clyde Drexler's missed layup with 0.3 seconds left in OT.

• Orlando became the 2nd team in NBA Finals history to lose the first two games while having home-court advantage.

• Robert Horry's clutch 3 with 14.1 seconds left put Houston up 104–100.

• Hakeem Olajuwon brought the Finals to a close by hitting a three-pointer over Shaquille O'Neal with 11.5 seconds left.

Regular-season series

Orlando won 2–0 in the regular-season series
November 23, 1994 Recap Houston Rockets 94, Orlando Magic 117 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida March 2, 1995 Recap Orlando Magic 107, Houston Rockets 96 The Summit, Houston, Texas

This was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the Magic.^[17]

Category	Game High			Average
	Player	Team	High	Player	Team	Avg.	GP
Points	Michael Jordan	Chicago Bulls	48	Hakeem Olajuwon	Houston Rockets	33.0	22
Rebounds	Charles Barkley	Phoenix Suns	23	Dennis Rodman	San Antonio Spurs	14.8	14
Assists	Anfernee Hardaway Sherman Douglas	Orlando Magic Boston Celtics	15	Rod Strickland	Portland Trail Blazers	9.8	3
Steals	Robert Horry	Houston Rockets	7	Nate McMillan	Seattle SuperSonics	2.5	4
Blocks	Alonzo Mourning	Charlotte Hornets	7	Alonzo Mourning	Charlotte Hornets	3.3	4

• Both #5 seeds beat their #4 seeded opponent in the first round for the third straight year.
• The Rockets are the lowest seeded team to win a title (#6).
• In the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Pacers had earned the #2 seed via the Central Division title, but the Knicks had homecourt advantage because of a better regular season record.
• Jordan changed his number back to 23 after the game 1 loss to the Orlando Magic, which led to him being fined.

• NBA records

• Basketball-Reference.com's 1995 NBA Playoffs page

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