1998 NBA playoffs

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1998 NBA playoffs

Tournament details
Dates	April 23–June 14, 1998
Season	1997–98
Teams	16
Final positions
Champions	Chicago Bulls (6th title)
Runner-up	Utah Jazz
Semifinalists	Indiana Pacers Los Angeles Lakers
← 1997 1999 →

The 1998 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1997–98 season. The tournament concluded with the two-time defending NBA champion and Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls defeating the Western Conference champion Utah Jazz 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. The Bulls achieved a second three peat, a goal unrivaled since the Boston Celtics in 1966. Michael Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP for the sixth and final time.

The Indiana Pacers entered the postseason with a franchise record 58 wins. Although they would lose to the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, this team was later named by Pacers.com as the greatest in franchise history, even better than the 2000 team that won the Eastern Conference Title, primarily due to their record.

The New Jersey Nets made the playoffs for the first time since 1994, but did not appear again until 2002. Their presence was a mere asterisk compared to what they accomplished in 2002, getting swept by the eventual champion Bulls.

The Minnesota Timberwolves won their first playoff game in franchise history by winning Game 2 of their series against the Seattle SuperSonics. However, the SuperSonics prevailed in five games despite the Timberwolves taking a 2–1 series lead.

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost to Indiana in the first round 3–1 and did not appear again until 2006.

The Heat–Knicks series was extremely notable for two reasons

• Game 4: A fight broke out between Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning at the end of the game (in which the Knicks won 90–85). A lasting image of the fight was Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy clinging to Mourning's leg. Both players were suspended for two games. Johnson and Mourning had bad blood dating back to their stint as Charlotte Hornets teammates.
• Game 5: The New York Knicks became the fourth seventh seed to knock off a second seeded team in the first round of the playoffs. This would not occur again until 2010.

Game 5 of the Jazz–Rockets series would be the final game of Clyde Drexler's career.

The Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1991. They were ultimately swept by the Jazz.

The Eastern Conference Finals series between the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers was extremely notable for several reasons

• Game 4: Reggie Miller's game winning 3 pointer with 0.7 seconds, which has been marked one of the greatest postseason moments in NBA History. Michael Jordan attempted a game winning 3 pointer of his own, but it rimmed out, effectively tying the series at 2–2.
• Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals: With a win, the Pacers took the Bulls to the limit by becoming 1 of only 2 teams to force a Game 7 in the Bulls' title years (the Knicks achieved this in 1992).
• Game 7: This was the first (and as of 2024, only) Game 7 to take place at the United Center.
• Game 7: This was the last Game 7 the Bulls would play until 2009.

For the first time since 1989 NBA Finals, there was a rematch of the same two teams: the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. This would not happen again until 2014.

Game 6 of the NBA Finals was extremely notable for several reasons

• In the waning moments of the game Michael Jordan made the title winning shot over Bryon Russell. This moment was marked as one of the greatest moments in NBA playoff history.
• It was the highest rated and most watched game in NBA History, with 72 million viewers watching at least part of the game and an average of 35.9 million views.
• It was the last Chicago Bulls postseason game until 2005 and the last involving the Michael Jordan-led Bulls.
• Michael Jordan's final NBA playoff game.
• Phil Jackson's final game as coach of the Chicago Bulls (he would go on to coach the Los Angeles Lakers two seasons later).
• As of 2024, this remains the most recent NBA Finals game for the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz.

Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Teams with home court advantage are shown in Italics.

The Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls tied for the best record in the NBA. However, Utah won the season series 2–0 and was awarded home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:

1. Utah Jazz (62–20, clinched Midwest division)
2. Seattle SuperSonics (61–21, clinched Pacific division)
3. Los Angeles Lakers (61–21)
4. Phoenix Suns (56–26)
5. San Antonio Spurs (56–26)
6. Portland Trail Blazers (46–36)
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (45–37)
8. Houston Rockets (41-41)

The Chicago Bulls clinched the best record in the East, and earned home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:

1. Chicago Bulls (62–20, clinched Central division)
2. Miami Heat (55–27, clinched Atlantic division)
3. Indiana Pacers (58–24)
4. Charlotte Hornets (51–31)
5. Atlanta Hawks (50–32)
6. Cleveland Cavaliers (47–35)
7. New York Knicks (43–39)
8. New Jersey Nets (43–39)

Regular-season series

Chicago won 4–0 in the regular-season series

November 8, 1997 Recap New Jersey Nets 86, Chicago Bulls 99 United Center, Chicago, Illinois December 20, 1997 Recap Chicago Bulls 100, New Jersey Nets 92 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey January 23, 1998 Recap Chicago Bulls 100, New Jersey Nets 98 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey March 16, 1998 Recap New Jersey Nets 72, Chicago Bulls 88 United Center, Chicago, Illinois

This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the Nets.^[1]

Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson fight.

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
January 28, 1998 Recap New York Knicks 82, Miami Heat 86 Miami Arena, Miami February 1, 1998 Recap Miami Heat 83, New York Knicks 89 Madison Square Garden, New York City April 8, 1998 Recap Miami Heat 80, New York Knicks 83 Madison Square Garden, New York City April 12, 1998 Recap New York Knicks 81, Miami Heat 82 Miami Arena, Miami

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

Previous playoff series^[2]

Miami leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1997 Miami Heat 4, New York Knicks 3 1997 Eastern Conference Semifinals

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
November 4, 1997 Recap Indiana Pacers 77, Cleveland Cavaliers 80 Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio January 30, 1998 Recap Cleveland Cavaliers 83, Indiana Pacers 89 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis April 7, 1998 Recap Cleveland Cavaliers 80, Indiana Pacers 82 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis April 18, 1998 Recap Indiana Pacers 92, Cleveland Cavaliers 96 Gund Arena, Cleveland

This was the first playoff meeting between the Cavaliers and the Pacers.^[3]

Regular-season series

Atlanta won 4–0 in the regular-season series
November 29, 1997 Recap Charlotte Hornets 80, Atlanta Hawks 98 Georgia Dome, Atlanta January 31, 1998 Recap Atlanta Hawks 103, Charlotte Hornets 83 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina April 10, 1998 Recap Atlanta Hawks 99, Charlotte Hornets 87 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina April 17, 1998 Recap Charlotte Hornets 104, Atlanta Hawks 121 Georgia Dome, Atlanta

This was the first playoff meeting between the Hawks and the Hornets.^[4]

Game 5 is Clyde Drexler's final NBA game.

Regular-season series

Utah won 4–0 in the regular-season series
December 25, 1997 Recap Houston Rockets 103, Utah Jazz 107 Delta Center, Salt Lake City January 10, 1998 Recap Utah Jazz 111, Houston Rockets 84 The Summit, Houston, Texas March 1, 1998 Recap Utah Jazz 106, Houston Rockets 100 Compaq Center, Houston, Texas March 9, 1998 Recap Houston Rockets 93, Utah Jazz 100 Delta Center, Salt Lake City

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

Previous playoff series^[5]

Tied 2–2 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 1997 Houston Rockets 2, Utah Jazz 4 1997 Western Conference Finals

Regular-season series

Seattle won 3–1 in the regular-season series
December 9, 1997 Recap Seattle SuperSonics 108, Minnesota Timberwolves 99 Target Center, Minneapolis December 23, 1997 Recap Minnesota Timberwolves 112, Seattle SuperSonics 103 KeyArena, Seattle March 8, 1998 Recap Seattle SuperSonics 99, Minnesota Timberwolves 98 Target Center, Minneapolis March 14, 1998 Recap Minnesota Timberwolves 80, Seattle SuperSonics 114 KeyArena, Seattle

This was the first playoff meeting between the Timberwolves and the SuperSonics.^[6]

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series

December 8, 1997 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 99, Portland Trail Blazers 105 Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon February 4, 1998 Recap Portland Trail Blazers 115, Los Angeles Lakers 122 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California February 10, 1998 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 105, Portland Trail Blazers 117 Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon March 11, 1998 Recap Portland Trail Blazers 107, Los Angeles Lakers 121 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California

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

Previous playoff series^[7]

Los Angeles leads 5–2 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 1997 Los Angeles Lakers 3, Portland Trail Blazers 1 1997 Western Conference First Round

Regular-season series

Phoenix won 3–1 in the regular-season series
January 9, 1998 Recap San Antonio Spurs 79, Phoenix Suns 100 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona February 14, 1998 Recap Phoenix Suns 94, San Antonio Spurs 81 Alamodome, San Antonio February 22, 1998 Recap San Antonio Spurs 79, Phoenix Suns 97 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona March 22, 1998 Recap Phoenix Suns 83, San Antonio Spurs 93 Alamodome, San Antonio

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

Previous playoff series^[8]

Phoenix leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series
1992 Phoenix Suns 3, San Antonio Spurs 0 1992 Western Conference First Round 1993 Phoenix Suns 4, San Antonio Spurs 2 1993 Western Conference Semifinals 1996 Phoenix Suns 1, San Antonio Spurs 3 1996 Western Conference First Round

Regular-season series

Chicago won 3–1 in the regular-season series

November 14, 1997 Recap Charlotte Hornets 92, Chicago Bulls 105 United Center, Chicago, Illinois December 12, 1997 Recap Chicago Bulls 77, Charlotte Hornets 79 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina January 21, 1998 Recap Charlotte Hornets 79, Chicago Bulls 110 United Center, Chicago, Illinois February 11, 1998 Recap Chicago Bulls 92, Charlotte Hornets 90 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina

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

Previous playoff series^[9]

Chicago leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1995 Charlotte Hornets 1, Chicago Bulls 3 1995 Eastern Conference First Round

Reggie Miller hits the game-tying 3 with 5.1 seconds left to force OT.

Regular-season series

Indiana won 2–1 in the regular-season series
December 17, 1997 Recap New York Knicks 80, Indiana Pacers 87 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis January 21, 1998 Recap Indiana Pacers 89, New York Knicks 97 Madison Square Garden, New York City March 15, 1998 Recap Indiana Pacers 91, New York Knicks 86 Madison Square Garden, New York City

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

Previous playoff series^[10]

New York leads 2–1 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 1995 Indiana Pacers 4, New York Knicks 3 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals

Regular-season series

Utah won 3–1 in the regular-season series
November 8, 1997 Recap Utah Jazz 80, San Antonio Spurs 87 Alamodome, San Antonio November 22, 1997 Recap San Antonio Spurs 74, Utah Jazz 103 Delta Center, Salt Lake City February 21, 1998 Recap Utah Jazz 79, San Antonio Spurs 77 Alamodome, San Antonio April 8, 1998 Recap San Antonio Spurs 88, Utah Jazz 98 Delta Center, Salt Lake City

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

Previous playoff series^[11]

Utah leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
1994 San Antonio Spurs 1, Utah Jazz 3 1994 Western Conference First Round 1996 San Antonio Spurs 2, Utah Jazz 4 1996 Western Conference Semifinals

Regular-season series

Seattle won 3–1 in the regular-season series
January 24, 1998 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 95, Seattle SuperSonics 101 KeyArena, Seattle February 13, 1998 Recap Seattle SuperSonics 113, Los Angeles Lakers 108 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California March 16, 1998 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 89, Seattle SuperSonics 101 KeyArena, Seattle March 20, 1998 Recap Seattle SuperSonics 80, Los Angeles Lakers 93 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California

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

Previous playoff series^[12]

Los Angeles leads 4–2 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 1995 Los Angeles Lakers 3, Seattle SuperSonics 1 1995 Western Conference First Round

Reggie Miller hits the game-winning 3 with 7 tenths left.

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
November 28, 1997 Recap Chicago Bulls 83, Indiana Pacers 94 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis February 17, 1998 Recap Indiana Pacers 97, Chicago Bulls 105 United Center, Chicago, Illinois March 17, 1998 Recap Chicago Bulls 90, Indiana Pacers 84 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis April 13, 1998 Recap Indiana Pacers 114, Chicago Bulls 105 United Center, Chicago, Illinois

This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the Pacers.^[13]

Regular-season series

Los Angeles won 3–1 in the regular-season series
October 31, 1997 Recap Utah Jazz 87, Los Angeles Lakers 104 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California November 18, 1997 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 97, Utah Jazz 92 Delta Center, Salt Lake City March 28, 1998 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 91, Utah Jazz 106 Delta Center, Salt Lake City April 19, 1998 Recap Utah Jazz 98, Los Angeles Lakers 102 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California

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

Previous playoff series^[14]

Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
1988 Los Angeles Lakers 4, Utah Jazz 3 1988 Western Conference Semifinals 1997 Los Angeles Lakers 1, Utah Jazz 4 1997 Western Conference Semifinals

Luc Longley hits the game-tying shot with 14.3 seconds left to force OT.

Utah scores the fewest points in any playoff game in NBA history (54) and loses by the biggest margin in NBA Finals history (42).

Michael Jordan hits the game-winning shot with 5.2 seconds left; this was Jordan's final NBA game with the Bulls.

Regular-season series

Utah won 2–0 in the regular-season series
January 25, 1998 Recap Utah Jazz 101, Chicago Bulls 94 United Center, Chicago, Illinois February 4, 1998 Recap Chicago Bulls 93, Utah Jazz 101 Delta Center, Salt Lake City

This was the second NBA Finals meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first meeting.

Previous playoff series^[15]

Chicago leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1997 Chicago Bulls 4, Utah Jazz 2 1997 NBA Finals

Category	Game High			Average
	Player	Team	High	Player	Team	Avg.	GP
Points	Michael Jordan	Chicago Bulls	45	Michael Jordan	Chicago Bulls	32.4	21
Rebounds	Dennis Rodman David Robinson Jayson Williams	Chicago Bulls San Antonio Spurs New Jersey Nets	21	David Robinson	San Antonio Spurs	14.1	9
Assists	Mark Jackson	Indiana Pacers	17	Damon Stoudamire	Portland Trail Blazers	9.5	4
Steals	Charlie Ward Jason Kidd	New York Knicks Phoenix Suns	6	Jason Kidd	Phoenix Suns	4.0	4
Blocks	Shaquille O'Neal	Los Angeles Lakers	8	David Robinson	San Antonio Spurs	3.3	9

• NBA records

• Basketball – Reference.com's 1998 Playoffs section

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