1979 NBA playoffs


The 1979 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association’s 1978–79 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Seattle SuperSonics defeating the Eastern Conference champion Washington Bullets 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. The Sonics earned their only NBA title. Dennis Johnson was named NBA Finals MVP.
The Finals was a rematch of 1978, in which Washington defeated Seattle 4–3., this remains the last time the Bullets have advanced as far as the Conference Finals.
The Spurs made their first visit to the Conference Finals in these playoffs.
This was the first time that three of the former ABA teams made the playoffs, as it was the NBA playoff debut of the New Jersey Nets.
This was the first time both conference finals went to a deciding Game 7 since 1963 and the last until 2018.

Bracket

Western Conference

Champion: Seattle SuperSonics
1st Round
Seattle SuperSonics & Kansas City Kings have first round byes.
Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Suns win series 2–1
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Lakers win series 2–1
Conference Semifinals
Seattle SuperSonics vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Sonics win series 4–1
Last playoff meeting: 1978 Western Conference First Round
Kansas City Kings vs. Phoenix Suns: Suns win series 4–1
Conference Finals
Seattle SuperSonics vs. Phoenix Suns: Sonics win series 4–3
Last playoff meeting:1976 Western Conference Semifinals

Eastern Conference

Champion: Washington Bullets
Washington Bullets & San Antonio Spurs have first round byes.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. New Jersey Nets: 76ers win series 2–0
Houston Rockets vs. Atlanta Hawks: Hawks win series 2–0
Conference Semifinals
Washington Bullets vs. Atlanta Hawks: Bullets win series 4–3
San Antonio Spurs vs. Philadelphia 76ers: Spurs win series 4–3
Conference Finals
Washington Bullets vs. San Antonio Spurs: Bullets win series 4-3
Washington Bullets vs. Seattle SuperSonics: Sonics win series 4-1