1997 NBA playoffs

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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.

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.

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

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:

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

The Chicago Bulls clinched the best record in the NBA, and earned home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs.

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:

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

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.

• 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.

Michael Jordan scores 20 of the Bulls' 23 points in the fourth quarter

Scottie Pippen stuffs in the series winning dunk with 7.0 seconds left

Regular-season series

Chicago won 2–1 in the regular-season series
January 14, 1997 Recap Washington Bullets 107, Chicago Bulls 108 United Center, Chicago, Illinois February 21, 1997 Recap Chicago Bulls 103, Washington Bullets 99 USAir Arena, Landover, Maryland April 3, 1997 Recap Chicago Bulls 102, Washington Bullets 110 USAir Arena, Landover, Maryland

This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the Bullets/Wizards franchise.^[4]

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
December 26, 1996 Recap Orlando Magic 76, Miami Heat 96 Miami Arena, Miami January 19, 1997 Recap Orlando Magic 99, Miami Heat 87 Miami Arena, Miami February 26, 1997 Recap Miami Heat 86, Orlando Magic 98 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida April 19, 1997 Recap Miami Heat 102, Orlando Magic 88 Orlando Arena, Orlando, Florida

This was the first playoff meeting between the Heat and the Magic as well as the first postseason meeting between two Florida-based professional sports teams.^[5]

Regular-season series

Charlotte won 3–1 in the regular-season series

November 3, 1996 Recap Charlotte Hornets 86, New York Knicks 113 Madison Square Garden, New York City November 20, 1996 Recap New York Knicks 86, Charlotte Hornets 93 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina January 24, 1997 Recap New York Knicks 104, Charlotte Hornets 113 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina February 2, 1997 Recap Charlotte Hornets 99, New York Knicks 93 Madison Square Garden, New York City

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

Previous playoff series^[6]

New York leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1993 Charlotte Hornets 1, New York Knicks 4 1993 Eastern Conference Semifinals

Regular-season series

Detroit won 3–1 in the regular-season series
November 2, 1996 Recap Detroit Pistons 90, Atlanta Hawks 78 The Omni, Atlanta December 4, 1996 Recap Atlanta Hawks 90, Detroit Pistons 100 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan March 2, 1997 Recap Atlanta Hawks 75, Detroit Pistons 82 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan April 4, 1997 Recap Detroit Pistons 89, Atlanta Hawks 103 The Omni, Atlanta

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

Previous playoff series^[7]

Tied 3–3 in all-time playoff series

1956 Fort Wayne Pistons 3, St. Louis Hawks 2 1956 Western Division Finals 1958 Detroit Pistons 1, St. Louis Hawks 4 1958 Western Division Finals 1963 Detroit Pistons 1, St. Louis Hawks 3 1963 Western Division Semifinals 1986 Atlanta Hawks 3, Detroit Pistons 1 1986 Eastern Conference First Round 1987 Atlanta Hawks 1, Detroit Pistons 4 1987 Eastern Conference Semifinals 1991 Atlanta Hawks 2, Detroit Pistons 3 1991 Eastern Conference First Round

Regular-season series

Utah won 3–1 in the regular-season series
November 2, 1996 Recap Utah Jazz 95, Los Angeles Clippers 90 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles November 29, 1996 Recap Los Angeles Clippers 94, Utah Jazz 111 Delta Center, Salt Lake City December 30, 1996 Recap Utah Jazz 101, Los Angeles Clippers 115 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles March 22, 1997 Recap Los Angeles Clippers 94, Utah Jazz 107 Delta Center, Salt Lake City

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

Previous playoff series^[8]

Utah leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1992 Los Angeles Clippers 2, Utah Jazz 3 1992 Western Conference First Round

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
November 7, 1996 Recap Seattle SuperSonics 103, Phoenix Suns 98 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona November 29, 1996 Recap Phoenix Suns 92, Seattle SuperSonics 105 KeyArena, Seattle March 26, 1997 Recap Phoenix Suns 109, Seattle SuperSonics 107 KeyArena, Seattle March 30, 1997 Recap Seattle SuperSonics 106, Phoenix Suns 107 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona

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

Previous playoff series^[9]

Phoenix leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series
1976 Phoenix Suns 4, Seattle SuperSonics 2 1976 Western Conference Semifinals 1979 Phoenix Suns 3, Seattle SuperSonics 4 1979 Western Conference Finals 1993 Phoenix Suns 4, Seattle SuperSonics 3 1993 Western Conference Finals

Regular-season series

Houston won 4–0 in the regular-season series
November 19, 1996 Recap Minnesota Timberwolves 93, Houston Rockets 122 The Summit, Houston, Texas December 10, 1996 Recap Houston Rockets 96, Minnesota Timberwolves 94 Target Center, Minneapolis January 7, 1997 Recap Houston Rockets 104, Minnesota Timberwolves 95 Target Center, Minneapolis March 25, 1997 Recap Minnesota Timberwolves 103, Houston Rockets 112 The Summit, Houston, Texas

This was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the Timberwolves.^[10]

Regular-season series

Portland won 3–1 in the regular-season series

December 13, 1996 Recap Portland Trail Blazers 119, Los Angeles Lakers 120 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California January 6, 1997 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 84, Portland Trail Blazers 88 Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon January 16, 1997 Recap Portland Trail Blazers 102, Los Angeles Lakers 98 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California April 20, 1997 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 96, Portland Trail Blazers 100 Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon

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

Previous playoff series^[11]

Los Angeles leads 4–2 in all-time playoff series

1977 Los Angeles Lakers 0, Portland Trail Blazers 4 1977 Western Conference Finals 1983 Los Angeles Lakers 4, Portland Trail Blazers 1 1983 Western Conference Semifinals 1985 Los Angeles Lakers 4, Portland Trail Blazers 1 1985 Western Conference Semifinals 1989 Los Angeles Lakers 3, Portland Trail Blazers 0 1989 Western Conference First Round 1991 Los Angeles Lakers 4, Portland Trail Blazers 2 1991 Western Conference Finals 1992 Los Angeles Lakers 1, Portland Trail Blazers 3 1992 Western Conference First Round

Scottie Pippen hits the game winning 3 with 43.9 seconds remaining

Game 4 was Robert Parish's final NBA game.

Regular-season series

Chicago won 3–1 in the regular-season series
November 16, 1996 Recap Atlanta Hawks 69, Chicago Bulls 97 United Center, Chicago, Illinois December 26, 1996 Recap Chicago Bulls 103, Atlanta Hawks 108 The Omni, Atlanta February 14, 1997 Recap Chicago Bulls 89, Atlanta Hawks 88 The Omni, Atlanta March 15, 1997 Recap Atlanta Hawks 79, Chicago Bulls 99 United Center, Chicago, Illinois

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

Previous playoff series^[12]

Atlanta/St. Louis leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series
1967 St. Louis Hawks 3, Chicago Bulls 0 1967 Western Division Semifinals 1970 Atlanta Hawks 4, Chicago Bulls 1 1970 Western Division Semifinals 1993 Atlanta Hawks 0, Chicago Bulls 3 1993 Eastern Conference First Round

Patrick Ewing blocked a last second three pointer to preserve the victory.

This game featured a fight between P. J. Brown and Charlie Ward, with John Starks, Larry Johnson, Patrick Ewing, and Allan Houston leaving the bench. Brown was suspended for the rest of the series; Ewing, Houston, and Ward were suspended for Game 6; Johnson and Starks were suspended for Game 7.

Miami becomes the 6th team in NBA history to come back from a 3–1 series deficit.

Regular-season series

New York won 3–1 in the regular-season series
December 3, 1996 Recap Miami Heat 99, New York Knicks 75 Madison Square Garden, New York City December 6, 1996 Recap New York Knicks 103, Miami Heat 85 Miami Arena, Miami January 26, 1997 Recap Miami Heat 89, New York Knicks 95 Madison Square Garden, New York City April 12, 1997 Recap New York Knicks 100, Miami Heat 99 Miami Arena, Miami

This was the first playoff meeting between the Heat and the Knicks.^[13]

In Game 5, Kobe Bryant had an infamous rookie moment in which he airballed 4 jump shots from the end of regulation through the end of overtime.

Regular-season series

Utah won 3–1 in the regular-season series
November 20, 1996 Recap Utah Jazz 113, Los Angeles Lakers 97 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California December 4, 1996 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 75, Utah Jazz 101 Delta Center, Salt Lake City April 9, 1997 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 89, Utah Jazz 101 Delta Center, Salt Lake City April 13, 1997 Recap Utah Jazz 98, Los Angeles Lakers 100 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California

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

Previous playoff series^[14]

Los Angeles leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1988 Los Angeles Lakers 4, Utah Jazz 3 1988 Western Conference Semifinals

• Seattle and Houston individually tie their regular season records with 57 wins apiece. Although the Sonics won the Pacific division, the Rockets won the regular season series over the Sonics 3–1, and gained home-court advantage.

Regular-season series

Houston won 3–1 in the regular-season series
December 14, 1996 Recap Houston Rockets 109, Seattle SuperSonics 100 KeyArena, Seattle December 30, 1996 Recap Seattle SuperSonics 91, Houston Rockets 99 The Summit, Houston, Texas February 14, 1997 Recap Houston Rockets 85, Seattle SuperSonics 105 KeyArena, Seattle April 13, 1997 Recap Seattle SuperSonics 73, Houston Rockets 113 The Summit, Houston, Texas

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

Previous playoff series^[15]

Seattle leads 5–0 in all-time playoff series

1982 Houston Rockets 1, Seattle SuperSonics 2 1982 Western Conference First Round 1987 Houston Rockets 2, Seattle SuperSonics 4 1987 Western Conference Semifinals 1989 Houston Rockets 0, Seattle SuperSonics 3 1989 Western Conference First Round 1993 Houston Rockets 3, Seattle SuperSonics 4 1993 Western Conference Semifinals 1996 Houston Rockets 0, Seattle SuperSonics 4 1996 Western Conference Semifinals

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
November 6, 1996 Recap Chicago Bulls 106, Miami Heat 100 Miami Arena, Miami November 13, 1996 Recap Miami Heat 71, Chicago Bulls 103 United Center, Chicago, Illinois December 7, 1996 Recap Miami Heat 83, Chicago Bulls 80 United Center, Chicago, Illinois April 16, 1997 Recap Chicago Bulls 92, Miami Heat 102 Miami Arena, Miami

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

Previous playoff series^[16]

Chicago leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
1992 Chicago Bulls 3, Miami Heat 0 1992 Eastern Conference First Round 1996 Chicago Bulls 3, Miami Heat 0 1996 Eastern Conference First Round

Eddie Johnson hits the game-winning 3-pointer to even the series.

John Stockton hits the series-winning 3-pointer.

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
November 4, 1996 Recap Houston Rockets 75, Utah Jazz 72 Delta Center, Salt Lake City November 9, 1996 Recap Utah Jazz 85, Houston Rockets 91 The Summit, Houston, Texas January 25, 1997 Recap Utah Jazz 105, Houston Rockets 100 The Summit, Houston, Texas April 11, 1997 Recap Houston Rockets 83, Utah Jazz 104 Delta Center, Salt Lake City

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

Previous playoff series^[17]

Houston leads 2–1 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 1995 Houston Rockets 3, Utah Jazz 2 1995 Western Conference First Round

Michael Jordan hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer.

Scottie Pippen tied a then-Finals record with 7 3-pointers.

John Stockton threw a full-court pass over Michael Jordan to Karl Malone to give Utah the lead for good.

(The Flu Game), Michael Jordan plays 44 minutes and scores 38 points despite being ill from food poisoning.

Steve Kerr hits the series-winner with 5 seconds left, then Scottie Pippen steals Bryon Russell's inbounds pass and rolls the ball to Toni Kukoč, who dunks it right before the buzzer to bring the Finals to a close.

Regular-season series

Tied 1–1 in the regular-season series
November 23, 1996 Recap Chicago Bulls 100, Utah Jazz 105 Delta Center, Salt Lake City January 6, 1997 Recap Utah Jazz 89, Chicago Bulls 102 United Center, Chicago, Illinois

This was the first NBA Finals meeting between the Bulls and the Jazz.^[18]

Category	Game High			Average
	Player	Team	High	Player	Team	Avg.	GP
Points	Michael Jordan	Chicago Bulls	55	Michael Jordan	Chicago Bulls	31.1	19
Rebounds	Dikembe Mutombo	Atlanta Hawks	21	Shawn Kemp	Seattle SuperSonics	12.3	12
Assists	John Stockton	Utah Jazz	17	Jason Kidd	Phoenix Suns	9.8	5
Steals	Hersey Hawkins	Seattle SuperSonics	6	Kevin Johnson	Phoenix Suns	2.6	5
Blocks	Greg Ostertag	Utah Jazz	9	Alonzo Mourning	Miami Heat	2.7	17

• NBA records

• Basketball-Reference.com's 1997 Playoffs section
• Official Website on NBA.com at the Wayback Machine (archived September 3, 2000)

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