1991 NBA playoffs


The 1991 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1990–91 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. Michael Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP.
The Lakers reached the Finals despite not being the top seed in the Western Conference for the first time since 1981, and for just the second time since drafting Magic Johnson first overall in 1979.
After the Pistons had ended their season the last three years, the Bulls got revenge in the Eastern Conference Finals by sweeping the two-time defending NBA champions. It was the first time the Bulls won a playoff series over the Pistons since 1974, when both teams were still part of the Western Conference. Game 4 ended with some of the Pistons walking off the court before time expired, refusing to shake the Bulls' hands. The Pistons were vilified for this. In the 1989 NBA Finals, the Pistons themselves had swept the two-time defending champion Lakers. Detroit did not reach the conference finals again until 2003.
The seventh seeded Golden State Warriors stunned the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs, defeating them 3 games to 1. It would be Golden State's last playoff series win until 2007.
The 76ers and the Bucks met in the first round of the playoffs where the 76ers swept the series. It would be both teams last playoff appearance until 1999.
Game 4 of the Blazers–Jazz series was the last game ever played at the Salt Palace.
The Spectrum hosted its final NBA playoff game in Game 4 of the Bulls–76ers series. When the 76ers returned to the playoffs in 1999, they had moved to the CoreStates Center, their home since the 1996–97 season.
This was the first year that NBC aired the NBA Playoffs.

Bracket

Western Conference

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers
1st Round
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Seattle SuperSonics: Blazers win series 3-2
Portland won 4–0 in the regular-season series


This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning two of the first three meetings.
Seattle leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series


San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors: Warriors win series 3-1
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Warriors and the Spurs.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets: Lakers win series 3-0
Los Angeles won 3–1 in the regular-season series


This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning two of the first three meetings.
Houston leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series


Phoenix Suns vs. Utah Jazz: Jazz win series 3-1
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning the first two meetings.
Phoenix leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series


Conference Semifinals
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz: Blazers win series 4-1
Portland won 3–1 in the regular-season series


This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning the first meeting.
Utah leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series


Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors: Lakers win series 4-1
Los Angeles won 3–2 in the regular-season series


This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning five of the first six meetings.
Los Angeles leads 5–1 in all-time playoff series


Conference Finals
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Lakers win series 4-2
Portland won 3–2 in the regular-season series


This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning three of the first four meetings.
Los Angeles leads 3–1 in all-time playoff series

Eastern Conference

Champion: Chicago Bulls
1st Round
Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks: Bulls win series 3-0
Chicago won 4–0 in the regular-season series


This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first two meetings.
Chicago leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series


Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers: Celtics win series 3-2
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Celtics and the Pacers.
Detroit Pistons vs. Atlanta Hawks: Pistons win series 3-2
Detroit won 5–0 in the regular-season series


This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning three of the first five meetings.
Atlanta leads 3–2 in all-time playoff series


Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers: 76ers win series 3-0
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning four of the first seven meetings.
Philadelphia leads 4–3 in all-time playoff series


Conference Semifinals
Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76ers: Bulls win series 4-1
Philadelphia won 3–1 in the regular-season series


This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first meeting.
Chicago leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series


Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons: Pistons win series 4-2
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning three of the first five meetings.
Boston leads 3–2 in all-time playoff series


Conference Finals
Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons: Bulls win series 4-0
Chicago won 3–2 in the regular-season series


This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pistons winning three of the first four meetings.
Detroit leads 3–1 in all-time playoff series

NBA Finals

Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Bulls win series 4-1
Tied 1–1 in the regular-season series


This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first four meetings.
Los Angeles leads 4–0 in all-time playoff series