1999 NBA playoffs
The 1999 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association’s 1998-99 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks 4 games to 1. Tim Duncan was named NBA Finals MVP.
The 1999 Playoffs are memorable in that a #8 seed made it to the Finals for the only time in history, and that it came after a lockout-shortened 50-game season. It also featured the Philadelphia 76ers’ and Milwaukee Bucks’ first trip to the playoffs since 1991, and it was also the 76ers’ first appearance since drafting Allen Iverson with the #1 overall pick in 1996. Iverson later led the Sixers to the 2001 NBA Finals. The Bulls, despite being defending champions, missed the playoffs for the first time since 1984. They also became the first defending champion since the 1969–70 Boston Celtics to miss the playoffs.
Although the Spurs had home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, they played more road games than home games, as all their series were won on the road, which included back-to-back sweeps of the Lakers and Blazers. They won twelve straight games, and finished 15–2 for a postseason record previously equalled by the 1991 Chicago Bulls and beaten only by a 15–1 playoff record with the only loss in overtime from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2001, and by a 16–1 playoff record from the Golden State Warriors in 2017.
After losing their Eastern Conference Semifinal series to the Knicks, the Atlanta Hawks did not return to the playoffs until 2008.
Game 4 of the Spurs–Lakers series was the last NBA game ever played in the Great Western Forum.
Game 5 of the Knicks–Pacers series was the last NBA game ever played at Market Square Arena.
For the first time since 1991, no series went to seven games.
After spending their first thirteen seasons in Sacramento in mediocrity, with no winning record and two playoff appearances in 1986 and 1996, the Kings franchise made the first of eight consecutive playoff appearances, which included a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2002.
Game 4 of the Lakers–Rockets series turned out to be the final postseason appearance in Charles Barkley’s Hall of Fame career.
This was the last NBA postseason to feature back-to-backs in the conference semifinals.
Bracket
Western Conference
Champion: San Antonio Spurs1st Round
San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: Spurs win series 3-1
- Game 1 @ Alamodome, San Antonio : San Antonio 99, Minnesota 86 NBC
- Game 2 @ Alamodome, San Antonio : Minnesota 80, San Antonio 71 TNT
- Game 3 @ Target Center, Minneapolis : San Antonio 85, Minnesota 71 TNT
- Game 4 @ Target Center, Minneapolis : San Antonio 92, Minnesota 85 NBC
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Timberwolves and the Spurs.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Phoenix Suns: Blazers win series 3-0
- Game 1 @ Rose Garden Arena, Portland : Portland 95, Phoenix 85 NBC
- Game 2 @ Rose Garden Arena, Portland : Portland 110, Phoenix 99 TNT
- Game 3 @ America West Arena, Phoenix : Portland 103, Phoenix 93 TBS
| Portland won 3–0 in the regular-season series |
This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning three of the first five meetings.
| Phoenix leads 3–2 in all-time playoff series |
Utah Jazz vs. Sacramento Kings: Jazz win series 3-2
- Game 1 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City : Utah 117, Sacramento 87 NBC
- Game 2 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City : Sacramento 101, Utah 90 TBS
- Game 3 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento : Sacramento 84, Utah 81 TNT
- Game 4 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento : Utah 90, Sacramento 89 TNT
- Game 5 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City : Utah 99, Sacramento 92 NBC
| Utah won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Kings and the Jazz.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets: Lakers win series 3-1
- Game 1 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles : Los Angeles 101, Houston 100 NBC
- Game 2 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles : Los Angeles 110, Houston 98 TNT
- Game 3 @ Compaq Center, Houston : Houston 102, Los Angeles 88 TNT
- Game 4 @ Compaq Center, Houston : Los Angeles 98, Houston 88 NBC
| Los Angeles won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning three of the first five meetings.
| Houston leads 3–2 in all-time playoff series |
Conference Semifinals
San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Spurs win series 4-0
- Game 1 @ Alamodome, San Antonio : San Antonio 87, Los Angeles 81 TBS
- Game 2 @ Alamodome, San Antonio : San Antonio 79, Los Angeles 76 TNT
- Game 3 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles : San Antonio 103, Los Angeles 91 NBC
- Game 4 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles : San Antonio 118, Los Angeles 107 NBC
| Los Angeles won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning four of the first five meetings.
| Los Angeles leads 4–1 in all-time playoff series |
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz: Blazers win series 4-2
- Game 1 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City : Utah 93, Portland 83 TNT
- Game 2 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City : Portland 84, Utah 81 TNT
- Game 3 @ Rose Garden Arena, Portland : Portland 97, Utah 87 NBC
- Game 4 @ Rose Garden Arena, Portland : Portland 81, Utah 75 TNT
- Game 5 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City : Utah 88, Portland 71 TNT
- Game 6 @ Rose Garden Arena, Portland : Portland 92, Utah 80 TNT
| Utah won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning two series apiece.
| Tied 2–2 in all-time playoff series |
Conference Finals
San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Spurs win series 4-0
- Game 1 @ Alamodome, San Antonio : San Antonio 80, Portland 76 NBC
- Game 2 @ Alamodome, San Antonio : San Antonio 86, Portland 85 NBC
- Game 3 @ Rose Garden Arena, Portland : San Antonio 85, Portland 63 NBC
- Game 4 @ Rose Garden Arena, Portland : San Antonio 94, Portland 80 NBC
| San Antonio won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece
| Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series |
Eastern Conference
Champion: New York Knicks1st Round
Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks: Knicks win series 3-2
- Game 1 @ Miami Arena, Miami : New York 95, Miami 75 NBC
- Game 2 @ Miami Arena, Miami : Miami 83, New York 73 TBS
- Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City : New York 97, Miami 73 TNT
- Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City : Miami 87, New York 72 TNT
- Game 5 @ Miami Arena, Miami : New York 78, Miami 77 NBC
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.
| Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series |
Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks: Pacers win series 3-0
- Game 1 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis : Indiana 110, Milwaukee 88 TBS
- Game 2 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis : Indiana 108, Milwaukee 107 TBS
- Game 3 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee : Indiana 99, Milwaukee 91 TBS
| Indiana won 3–0 in the regular-season series |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Pacers and the Bucks.
Orlando Magic vs. Philadelphia 76ers: 76ers win series 3-1
- Game 1 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando : Philadelphia 104, Orlando 90 NBC
- Game 2 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando : Orlando 79, Philadelphia 68 TBS
- Game 3 @ First Union Center, Philadelphia : Philadelphia 97, Orlando 85 TBS
- Game 4 @ First Union Center, Philadelphia : Philadelphia 101, Orlando 91 NBC
| Philadelphia won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Magic and the 76ers.
Atlanta Hawks vs. Detroit Pistons: Hawks win series 3-2
- Game 1 @ Georgia Dome, Atlanta : Atlanta 90, Detroit 70 TNT
- Game 2 @ Georgia Dome, Atlanta : Atlanta 89, Detroit 69 TNT
- Game 3 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills : Detroit 79, Atlanta 63 TBS
- Game 4 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills : Detroit 103, Atlanta 82 TBS
- Game 5 @ Alexander Memorial Coliseum, Atlanta : Atlanta 87, Detroit 75 TNT
| Detroit won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning four of the first seven meetings.
| Atlanta leads 4–3 in all-time playoff series |
Conference Semifinals
Indiana Pacers vs. Philadelphia 76ers: Pacers win series 4-0
- Game 1 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis : Indiana 94, Philadelphia 90 TBS
- Game 2 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis : Indiana 85, Philadelphia 82 TNT
- Game 3 @ First Union Center, Philadelphia : Indiana 97, Philadelphia 86 TNT
- Game 4 @ First Union Center, Philadelphia : Indiana 89, Philadelphia 86 NBC
| Philadelphia won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning the first meeting.
| Philadelphia leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks: Knicks win series 4-0
- Game 1 @ Georgia Dome, Atlanta : New York 100, Atlanta 92 TNT
- Game 2 @ Georgia Dome, Atlanta : New York 77, Atlanta 70 TNT
- Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City : New York 90, Atlanta 78 NBC
- Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City : New York 79, Atlanta 66 TBS
| Atlanta won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first meeting.
| New York leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
Conference Finals
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks: Knicks win series 4-2
- Game 1 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis : New York 93, Indiana 90 NBC
- Game 2 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis : Indiana 88, New York 86.TNT
- Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City : New York 92, Indiana 91 NBC
- Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City : Indiana 90, New York 78 NBC
- Game 5 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis : New York 101, Indiana 94 NBC
- Game 6 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City : New York 90, Indiana 82 NBC
| Indiana won 2–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning two series apiece.
| Tied 2–2 in all-time playoff series |
NBA Finals
San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks: Spurs win series 4-1- Game 1 @ Alamodome, San Antonio : San Antonio 89, New York 77 NBC
- Game 2 @ Alamodome, San Antonio : San Antonio 80, New York 67 NBC
- Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City : New York 89, San Antonio 81 NBC
- Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City : San Antonio 96, New York 89NBC
- Game 5 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City : San Antonio 78, New York 77 NBC
This was the first playoff meeting between the Knicks and the Spurs.