Confessions of a Sportscaster: 90's Youth Life Podcast Special: NBA 1990's Championship

With sports as we know them completely on pause, the state of Illinois under a shelter in place order, and my sanity starting to go, I need something to get me through The Quarantine of 2020. Fortunately, Geoffy is a lifesaver.

You may remember Geoffy from his occasional appearances on Confessions of a Sportscaster. You may remember him more as the host of 90's Youth Life, a podcast about all things 1990's. In particular, you may remember when these two worlds collided in the summer of 2018, when I ruined an average Major League shortstop for him forever as we simulated out the 1994 MLB postseason that never was.

So it was hard to say no when Geoffrey pitched another episode idea to me as we go back to our formative decade, this one arguably more up my alley, and definitely up his. We grew up in the era of the Jordan Bulls Dynasty, and Geoffrey had the idea of doing an all-90's postseason. I had originally wondered specifically about all the champions of that decade, but Geoffy thought bigger, and I ultimately have to say, better.

He pitched to me a standard playoff field of 16 teams (eight from each conference), limiting each conference to one representative from each franchise, which makes sense because otherwise the Bulls will cannibalize themselves. He constructed the bracket and went back to the old best-of-five first round model, with best-of-sevens the rest of the way, including the old 2-3-2 format of The Finals. And with his part done, I went into the lab, did the work, and found the All 90's Champion.

After the jump I will post all the box scores from every game along with some details. As always, all simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. And now, for your listening pleasure... my second 90's Youth Life appearance.

All-1990's NBA Playoffs

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

(8) 1994 Atlanta Hawks vs (1) 1996 Chicago Bulls

Game 1: @ CHI 102, ATL 93. Atlanta led by as many as a dozen in the opening quarter, but couldn't hang on as the Bulls slowly chipped away, making it six by halftime. Michael Jordan put up 13 of the Bulls' 29 third quarter points as they turned the deficit into a five point lead by the end of the period. Atlanta is able to get within two midway through the fourth, but can't get over the hump as the Bulls hold serve in Game 1. Jordan led the way with 35 points and eight rebounds, Scottie Pippen added 22 and eight, Dennis Rodman put up eight, 18, and five assists, and Luc Longley chipped in 11 points. Stacey Augmon and Andrew Lang paced the Hawks with 19 points apiece, Danny Manning had 12 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks, and Mookie Blaylock put up 12 points, eight assists, and four steals.
Game 2: @ CHI 93, ATL 81. The Hawks had the early advantage again, going up by 11 points late in the first quarter, but once again the Bulls took the punch and rolled with it, using a strong second quarter sparked by the supporting cast and finished by Jordan and Pippen to take a seven point halftime lead. Chicago's lead vacillated between three and ten in the third before pulling away in the fourth. Jordan had 27 points and six rebounds, Pippen put up 18, seven, and six assists, while Rodman had seven points and a whopping 23 rebounds to pace the Bulls. Blaylock had a near triple-double in the loss of a team-high 12 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, Kevin Willis chipped in 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Manning and Lang each put in 10 points.
Game 3: @ ATL 112, CHI 106. Playing in front of an energized Omni Center crowd, the Bulls overcame an early eight point deficit to lead by four after one quarter. The teams traded some leads in the second, with a late tipin tying it at 50 at the break. The third was all Hawks, as they outscored the Bulls 28-18, keyed by a 20-7 run over the final four and a half minutes. Kevin Willis had a monster 19 point, 24 rebound night to lead the way for the Hawks, Manning put up 26 and eight, and Blaylock had 15 points to go with 12 assists. Jordan paced the Bulls with 29 points and eight boards, Pippen put up a 21, eight, and nine, and Rodman had seven points to go with 18 rebounds.
Game 4: CHI 86, @ ATL 72. The Hawks seemed poised to send the series back to Chicago early in this one, giving up the early advantage before tying to end the first quarter and taking a three point lead into the locker room. But the Bulls opened the second half on a 9-0 run to take control, though the Hawks would keep it close until the fourth when Chicago pulled away to clinch the series. Jordan led the way with 21 and six, Pippen added 13 and six, and Rodman had another double-double with 12 and 15. Manning paced the Hawks with 16 points, Willis had 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Augmon chipped in 12.

(5) 1990 Detroit Pistons vs (4) 1996 Orlando Magic

Game 1: @ ORL 108, DET 103. The Magic jumped out to an early lead in this one and almost didn't look back, though the Pistons would take a brief lead late in the second quarter before Orlando closed the half on an 8-0 run to take a six point lead into the break. The Magic would pull away in the second half before some garbage time threes made this one closer than it actually appeared. Dennis Scott led the victors with 28 points and six rebounds, Shaq put up a 24 and eight, and Horace Grant added seven points, 12 rebounds, and six blocks. Isiah Thomas paced the six Pistons in double figures with 20 points and 10 assists, Bill Laimbeer added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and James Edwards put in 13 points off the bench.
Game 2: @ ORL 109, DET 89. A high scoring opening quarter found this one interesting 12 minutes in, but the Magic began to put the clamps on in the second quarter, stretching their lead to ten with a tipin at the buzzer, then pulled away in the third, leading by 22 after three. Shaq had 27 points and 12 rebounds to lead the way for Orlando, Dennis Scott scored 20, Horace Grant added an 18 and nine, and Penny Hardaway filled the stat sheet with 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and four steals. Detroit was balanced again, but on the low end, with Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, John Salley, and Mark Aguirre each scoring ten points, while Laimbeer added eight to go with 15 rebounds.
Game 3: ORL 104, @ DET 82. Not even home court could save the Bad Boys. Orlando jumped out to a nine point lead just three and a half minutes in, and kept it around that mark for the remainder of the quarter. The lead got as high as 17 in the first half before the Pistons made a late run to cut it to seven by the break. They kept it around that mark for much of the third quarter, but only scored five points in the final five minutes while the Magic pulled away again, and garbage time ensued in the fourth as Orlando completed the sweep. Shaq had 25 and 14 to lead the way in the win, Horace Grant added 18 and 18, and Penny chipped in 18 points. Isiah had 13 points, six rebounds, and 11 assists in the loss, John Salley added 12 points, Aguirre and Edwards each chipped in 11, and Laimbeer finished with six and 12.

(7) 1992 Cleveland Cavaliers vs (2) 1993 New York Knicks

Game 1: CLE 112, @ NY 86. The Cavs silenced Madison Square Garden almost from the outset; while the Knicks scored the first four points of the game, a 13-2 Cleveland run gave them command and put the hosts on their heels. A 9-0 Cleveland run to start the second quarter all but put it out of reach, and while the Knicks cut the deficit to 11, Cleveland pushed it to 21 by halftime, and the Knicks couldn't cut into it any further. Larry Nance paced Cleveland with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks, Brad Daugherty added 17 and nine, John Battle scored 17 off the bench, and Hot Rod Williams put up 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Anthony Mason led the Knicks with 18 points and nine rebounds, Patrick Ewing had 15 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks, and Charles Oakley finished with 14 and 11.
Game 2: @ NY 101, CLE 86. This was a bounceback game for the Knicks, though it was a tight one early on as Cleveland had a two point lead after one. The Cavs led by as many as four in the second quarter, but the Knicks worked their way back in front to go up by six at the break. New York pushed the lead to double digits in the third, but Cleveland crawled back to within four by the end of the stanza. But the Knicks outscored the Cavs 16-4 over the first seven minutes of the fourth to even up the series. Patrick Ewing paced seven Knicks in double figures with 21 and 12, Charles Oakley added 16 and 18, John Starks chipped in 15 and seven assists, and Doc Rivers finished with 11 points and 10 dimes. Daugherty led the way for the Cavs with 17 points and 11 rebounds, Nance added 15 and 10, and Craig Ehlo scored 14 points.
Game 3: NY 91, @ CLE 82. The Knicks got out to the early advantage in this one, going up by five after one quarter and pushed it as high as 14 in the second before Cleveland worked their way back to within six at halftime. The Cavs were able to get it to a one possession game by the end of the third, but got no closer as the Knicks picked up a key road win. Charles Smith put up 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead the way for New York, Ewing added 18 and 12, Oakley chipped in 16 and 10, and Starks finished with 13, five, and eight assists. Mark Price had 25 points and 10 assists to lead Cleveland, Battle chipped in 14 points off the bench, and Daugherty finished with 10 points, 18 rebounds, and four steals.
Game 4: @ CLE 110, NY 99. This time it was Cleveland who took control, using an early 11-0 run to get a sizable lead in the opening frame, leading by as many as 13 before the Knicks fought their way back into the contest, though no closer than seven as the Cavs went up 11 going into the break. Cleveland then scored the first eight of the second half and took a 17 point lead into the final frame. New York's last gasp got them within five with 1:40 to go, but the Cavs scored the final six points of the game to send the series back to New York for a winner take all game. Daugherty led the way with 24 and 13, Ehlo scored 20, Nance added 17 and nine, and Price finished with 16 points, five rebounds, and nine assists. Starks paced the Knicks with 23 points and seven assists, Charles Oakley put up 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Ewing chipped in 19 and 10.
Game 5: CLE 98, @ NY 89. The Knicks, for their part, got the crowd into it early by going up six in the opening minutes, but the Cavs came right back and only trailed by two after one quarter. New York fought back and went up by 15 late in the second, but Cleveland closed the half on a 9-0 run to make it a six point game at the break. The Cavs continued that push in the second half, tying the game seven minutes in and keeping calm when the Knicks took the lead back, with Cleveland going up one on a tipin in the final 24 seconds of the frame. The Cavs took the lead for good with about seven and a half to play, though the Knicks kept it close, staying down just two with about four and a half to play. A Larry Nance jumper made it a two possession game, and Mark Price went on a personal 7-0 run to seal the road upset. Nance led the way with 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and six blocks, Price finished with 20 points, and Daugherty chipped in 19 points and nine rebounds. Ewing had 26 and 12 in the losing effort, Anthony Mason had 10 and 10 off the bench, and Oakley put up seven and 12.

(6) 1998 Indiana Pacers vs (3) 1997 Miami Heat

Game 1: @ MIA 104, IND 82. This had the makings of a good game early on as the two teams traded leads in the opening frame, but the Heat closed the quarter on a 15-4 run to take command. The Pacers couldn't cut into it in the second, going into the break down 13. The Heat pushed the lead to 20 midway through the third and that was that. Alonzo Mourning paced the Heat with 27 points and 14 rebounds, Tim Hardaway added 26 points and six assists, and Jamal Mashburn filled the stat sheet with 10 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Reggie Miller scored 25 to lead Indiana, while Antonio Davis added 12 points and 11 rebounds and Rik Smits put up 13 and seven.
Game 2: @ MIA 86, IND 72. Call this one the Voshon Lenard Game. Lenard hit two threes in the first three-plus minutes, and three for the opening quarter, as the Heat were able to take a seven point lead after one. Indiana then went cold in the second, making just three field goals while the Heat pushed the lead to double digits, going into intermission up 16. The Pacers fought back, pulling within six about five minutes in the third, but Miami answered with an 8-0 run to recapture the momentum, and the Pacers never threatened again. Lenard finished with 23 points (including a 7-10 day from beyond the arc) and nine rebounds, Hardaway added 14 points, five rebounds, and six assists, and Mourning was able to get away with just 12 points and nine rebounds for Miami. Indy never got much going offensively, as Reggie Miller managed just 18 points, Smits had 12 and 10, and Antonio Davis 11 and 10.
Game 3: MIA 105, @ IND 92. The Pacers switched which Davis was starting from Dale to Antonio, but it wasn't enough to stay alive. Voshon Lenard got hot to start the game again, though the Pacers were able to stay with Miami, even leading by two at the end of the first quarter. Miami flipped things enough in the second quarter to trade some leads, with a late three giving them a two point halftime edge. An initial Miami surge in the third was answered, but the Heat pushed again, going up nine at the end of the quarter on a buzzer beater, at that point their biggest lead of the game. With their playoff lives on the line, Reggie Miller hit a shot about a minute and a half in that cut it to six, but a 10-2 Heat run pretty much sealed the deal immediately after. Mourning was phenomenal at both ends, putting up 18 points, 13 rebounds, and seven blocks, Tim Hardaway led all scorers with 20 points while dishing out eight assists, and Lenard added 19 points on another good shooting night. Rik Smits paced the hosts with 23 points and seven rebounds, Miller scored 18, and Mark Jackson had eight points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in the loss.

Western Conference Quarterfinals

(8) 1992 Golden State Warriors vs (1) 1997 Utah Jazz

Game 1: @ UTA 99, GS 87. The Jazz came out red hot, putting up 39 points in just the opening quarter, going up by double digits not even halfway through the opening frame. Golden State would get back within ten briefly in the second quarter, but no closer as it was a 14 point game at halftime. The defenses ruled the third, as Utah only managed 14, but held the Warriors to just eight as the comeback changes dwindled. Karl Malone led the way with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists for the Jazz, John Stockton added 23 points and nine assists, and Jeff Hornacek had a good floor game of 11 points, five rebounds, and six assists. Tim Hardaway led the Warriors with 19 points and six rebounds, Chris Mullin added 14 points, and Sarunas Marciulionis scored 12.
Game 2: GS 110, @ UTA 92. The Warriors bounced back, though six minutes in it didn't seem like they would as the Jazz had jumped out to a nine point lead again, but the Warriors closed the frame on a 17-2 run and kept the momentum up from there, though the Jazz were able to keep it close, only trailing by eight going into halftime. The Jazz got their offense going in the third, but the Warriors had an answer every time, pushing their lead to 15 by the end of the third, and the Jazz would get no closer than nine the rest of the way. Chris Mullin led the way with 22 points and six rebounds for the Dubs, Tim Hardaway added 22 points and eight assists, and Tyrone Hill pitched in 12 points and 10 boards. Utah got 24 points and eight rebounds out of The Mailman, Bryon Russell added 18 points, and John Stockton dished out 13 assists, but only managed to score four points.
Game 3: UTA 127, @ GS 100. Utah bounced back in a big way on the road, shooting over 50 percent from the field and scoring 72 points in the first half. The Warriors kept it close in the opening quarter, trailing by just one after one, and by only four with four minutes left in the half, but the Jazz managed to push it to 12 by the break. Golden State didn't give up, pulling within five a couple times in the third and only trailed by nine going into the final quarter, but Utah opened the frame on a 16-4 run to put it away. Stockton had 21 points and 12 assists to lead the way, Malone paced all scorers with 26 points alongside six rebounds, and Bryon Russell added 22 points for the Jazz. Hardaway had 22 points, five rebounds, and five assists to lead Golden State, while Rod Higgins scored 14 off the bench and Chris Mullin added 11 points and six rebounds.
Game 4: UTA 116, @ GS 103. For a bit this looked poised to go back to Salt Lake City, as the Warriors used an early 11-1 run to take control of the game and had a ten point lead 12 minutes in. But the Jazz fought back, slowly cutting into the lead with a Jeff Hornacek three at the halftime buzzer making it a three point ballgame. The teams traded leads for most of the third, with Utah going up one with one quarter to play. A key 8-0 Jazz run midway through the fourth gave them control, with the Warriors never recovering. Malone led the clinching effort with 31 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists, Stockton added 24, five, and 11, and Hornacek chipped in 18 points and five dimes for Utah. Hardaway had 26 and nine in the attempt to stave off elimination, Mullin added 23 points and 11 rebounds, Marciulionis and Chris Gatling each scored 11 for the Warriors.

(5) 1993 Phoenix Suns vs (4) 1990 Los Angeles Lakers

Game 1: PHX 99, @ LAL 94. This was a tight game early on as the Lakers were able to take a five point lead after one. But the second quarter was all Suns, as an 8-0 run got them back in it, and the Lakers went cold, going down by five at the break. Phoenix pressed the advantage with a 12-2 run in the first three minutes of the third to make it a 15 point game, and they led by as many as 18 before settling in with a 16 point lead at the end of the quarter. But the Lakers made a late push, cutting it to single digits with about five and a half to play and within two with 19 seconds left, but Charles Barkley put the game away on both ends to steal the road win. Barkley finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds to pace Phoenix, Richard Dumas added 15 points off the bench, and Kevin Johnson chipped in 11 points and 12 assists. James Worthy paced Los Angeles with 19 points and six rebounds, Mychal Thompson chipped in 15 and nine, Orlando Woolridge scored 15 off the bench, and Magic Johnson finished with eight points, eight assists, and four steals.
Game 2: PHX 101, @ LAL 95. The Suns got hot to start the game, putting up 40 points in the opening quarter to go up double digits fairly early and kept the advantage in the mid to upper teens for pretty much the whole second quarter, taking an 18 point lead into the locker room. The Lakers couldn't make much headway in the third as the lead remained in double digits the whole period, the Suns answering every would-be Laker run, but Los Angeles kept up the pressure into the fourth. A 13-3 Laker run keyed the comeback, bringing the margin back to single digits, but they got no closer than five as the Suns take a second one in LA. Barkley was phenomenal again, putting up 30 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists, Dan Majerle added 13 points and eight boards, and Tom Chambers scored 12 points off the bench for the Suns. Worthy paced the Laker attack again with 23 points and six rebounds, Magic put up 15 points, seven boards, and 11 assists, Thompson chipped in 15 and seven, and Vlade Divac put up nine points and 11 rebounds off the bench.
Game 3: LAL 99, @ PHX 92. A sweep seemed imminent at least early as Phoenix was able to grab control in front of its home crown en route to an eight point lead after 12 minutes, but a 13-4 Laker run to open the second gave them the lead and turned this into a back and forth affair. The Suns tried to push their advantage back out but only managed to be up by three at the break. The Lakers stayed with it in the third, making it once again a back and forth affair before taking a one point lead going into the final stanza. But Phoenix only managed eight points in the first eight and a half minutes of the final frame, allowing the Lakers to pull away and fend off elimination. They did it on the back of another near triple-double from Magic, who put up 14 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists, Worthy chipped in 19 points and 10 rebounds, and five other Lakers scored in double figures to lead a perfectly balanced attack. Barkley had 21 and 11 to lead the Suns, Majerle put up 23 points and seven assists, and Cedric Ceballos scored 10 off the bench.
Game 4: @ PHX 98, LAL 91. A home team finally wins one this series as the Suns move on, but not without a little drama. Phoenix used a 16-2 first quarter run to seemingly put this one in the bag early and going up 13 after that frame, but the Lakers fought back to within one in the second quarter, going into the break down just three. They recaptured the lead briefly early in the third, but the Suns had an answer, going back up by as many as eight before taking a four point lead into the final quarter. LA made a run early in the fourth to go up five, but seven straight Phoenix points turned it into a back and forth affair. Unfortunately for the Lakers, they went three and a half minutes without a field goal late after tying the game at 89 with just under four to play, allowing the Suns to advance to Round 2. Barkley had another 26 and 13 game to go with five assists, Tom Chambers scored 18 off the bench while adding five rebounds, Cedric Ceballos chipped in 11 and nine off the bench, and Mark West put up nine and 12 for the Suns. Magic had 20 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists in the loss, Worthy added 20 and nine, and Byron Scott scored 15 for Los Angeles.

(7) 1994 Houston Rockets vs (2) 1996 Seattle SuperSonics

Game 1: HOU 100, @ SEA 95. This was a tightly contested game early on, though the Rockets had a four point lead after one. They pressed the advantage with a 12-2 run to open the second quarter, and led by as many as 16 before settling into the break with an 11 point lead. But in the third a 14-2 Seattle run got the Sonics back into it, though Houston responded with a 13-0 run of their own, giving them a 14 point lead after three. Seattle got no closer than four in the final frame, giving the road team a key opening win. Hakeem Olajuwon had a lot to say about that, putting up 27 points, 11 rebounds, six blocks, and three steals, Otis Thorpe added 14 points and 11 boards, and Robert Horry chipped in 13 and 10. Gary Payton paced the Sonics with 22 points and three steals, Shawn Kemp added 20 points and 17 rebounds, and Hersey Hawkins poured in 14 points.
Game 2: HOU 98, @ SEA 95. There was no massive Rocket run early in this one as the game was tied at 21 after one quarter of play. But it was the Sonics this time who took control in the second, building a ten point lead late before the Rockets pulled back within two at the intermission. This led to a back and forth third quarter that saw Seattle up just one going into the final period. For a good chunk of the fourth it seemed like the Sonics might hang on as they led by five with a little over five to play, but a 13-2 Rocket run sealed the deal for Houston to grab a second one on the road. Hakeem was the man again, putting up 26 and 15 to lead the way for the Rockets, while Vernon Maxwell had 22 points and seven assists, and Thorpe chipped in 12 points and 11 rebounds. Shawn Kemp continued to see his strong games wasted, as he put up 28 and 15, Payton added 18 points, eight assists, and five steals, and Ervin Johnson contributed seven points, nine rebounds, and four blocks.
Game 3: SEA 102, @ HOU 84. What was a close game for most of the first quarter saw the Sonics step up their intensity to get a seven point lead after one. Seattle then used a 14-4 run to push their lead out to 13, and keeping it around that mark at the break, going in up a dozen. The Sonics kept it up out of the break, using a 10-2 opening run to push the lead to 20, and got it up as high as 24 before taking an 18 point lead into the final frame, where the hosts would get no closer than 11 before calling off the dogs. Detlef Schrempf led the way with 23 points, six rebounds, and six assists to pace Seattle, Kemp added 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Payton chipped in 14 points and eight assists. Hakeem was held in check to the tune of 14 points and 12 rebounds, though Otis Thorpe put up 16 and 14 to lead the Rockets.
Game 4: SEA 116, @ HOU 96. The road warrior theme continues. Seattle got out to the good start, but a strong Houston answer helped give them 38 points for the frame and a six point lead after 12 minutes. A 13-2 Sonic run in the second quarter, however, got Seattle back into a seesaw battle, ending with the Sonics going up one at the half. The third quarter was largely back and forth, but the Sonics closed the frame on an 8-0 run to take an 11 point lead. That momentum carried over into the fourth as the Rockets couldn't get any closer than nine as the series gets sent back to Seattle. Schrempf put up 25 points, five rebounds, and seven assists to lead the way for the Sonics, Kemp added 18, 12, and five, and Payton contributed 22 points, nine assists, and five steals. Hakeem broke back out with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and seven blocks to pace Houston, Kenny Smith added 16 points and five assists, and Vernon Maxwell put up 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Game 5: @ SEA 104, HOU 91. KeyArena went bonkers as the Sonics completed the reverse sweep at home. It was a close one early though as Seattle only led by two after one. The second quarter saw Seattle hang onto a narrow lead until closing the half on a 12-5 run to go up 11. The Sonics pushed the lead up to 15 early in the third, but the Rockets made a run, going on an extended 19-8 run over the final seven minutes of the quarter to end it down just three. The key sequence came late in the fourth, with Houston able to close the gap to two but unable to get a stop in the final six minutes. Down four with four minutes left, Seattle got a second chance bucket to go up six, Detlef Schrempf hit a corner three the next time down to make it nine, and after Houston missed two free throws, and Gary Payton buried a dagger three to seal the deal. Kemp led the way for Seattle with 19 points, 22 rebounds, and five assists, Schrempf added 19 points and five assists, Hersey Hawkins scored 18, and Payton put up 14 points, six boards, and eight dimes. Hakeem's 24 points and 13 rebounds weren't enough for Houston, and the Rockets also got 15 points and 17 rebounds from Otis Thorpe as well as 16 points and six assists from Kenny Smith.

(6) 1995 San Antonio Spurs vs (3) 1991 Portland Trail Blazers

Game 1: SA 111, @ POR 109. We had a dramatic finish, but it was a good game leading up to it, with the Spurs taking early control and going up six after one. But Portland started the second on an 8-2 run to tie the game and force a back and forth, though a Spurs run pushed the lead back up to five. The Blazers fought back to take a one point lead at halftime, then engaged in a back and forth third quarter that saw the Spurs go up by as many as seven before taking a one point lead into the final quarter. This continued into the fourth, with San Antonio blowing a five point lead they held with about three minutes to play and trading of baskets for the entire final minute. After Clyde Drexler tied the game with 24 seconds to go, the Spurs held for the last shot, and Sean Elliott scooped one home at the buzzer to win the game for San Antonio. He finished with 17 points in support of David Robinson, who led the way with 31 points and 12 rebounds, while Dennis Rodman added 14 points and 15 rebounds and Doc Rivers scored 18 off the bench. Terry Porter's 33 point, five rebound, nine assist, four steal night was ruined, while Jerome Kersey put up 26 points and five assists and Drexler finished with 21 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists for the Blazers.
Game 2: SA 107, @ POR 94. This result comes as a bit of a surprise based on the first eight minutes. Portland jumped out to a double digit lead in that timeframe, leading by as many as 15 in the first. But the Spurs opened the second quarter on a 10-2 run to get back into it, and while the Blazers fought back to maintain the lead, they couldn't maintain that gap, as the Spurs cut it as low as four before settling in at the break down six. San Antonio managed another run to open the third, this one at 15-4 to give them the lead, ultimately flipping that six point margin around by quarter's end. It was tight for a bit in the fourth, but a key 6-0 run got the Spurs the momentum, and Portland never got within half a dozen again. The Admiral had another big game with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, Sean Elliott scored 24, Avery Johnson had 14 points and 11 assists, and Dennis Rodman finished with eight points and 16 rebounds for the Spurs. Clyde Drexler had another good game despite the loss, finishing with 28 points, six rebounds, and six assists, while Buck Williams put up 14 points and 11 rebounds and Kevin Duckworth chipped in 13 and 10.
Game 3: @ SA 116, POR 106. The Spurs complete the sweep, but it wasn't easy as they had to battle back from down eight early in the first. The Blazers pushed their lead to 12 early in the second, but a 12-2 San Antonio run got them back in the game. They pulled within one before settling into the break down four. A couple early Portland buckets in the third made it seem like they'd stave off elimination, but the Spurs came back with a 9-0 run to grab their first lead since the opening minutes, holding a one point advantage going into the fourth. They then opened the frame with ten straight to seize momentum. Portland's last gasp got them within four with about seven minutes left, but a three point play swung things back in favor of the Spurs, sparking a 13-0 run that sealed the deal. Elliott paced the attack with 26 points, Robinson added 19 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals, Doc Rivers scored 19 off the bench, and Rodman put up 12 points and 19 rebounds for the Spurs. Drexler finished with 22 points and six assists to lead the Blazers, while Terry Porter added 17 points and 12 assists and Buck Williams chipped in 12 points and 10 boards.

Eastern Conference Semifinals

(4) 1996 Orlando Magic vs (1) 1996 Chicago Bulls

Game 1: @ CHI 105, ORL 92. This was a crazy game. After a Scottie Pippen runner tied the game at 10 just under five minutes in, the Magic closed the frame on a 22-4 run to take command. After pushing the lead to 20 early in the second, the Bulls began crawling back, using a 13-0 run of their own to make it a contest again, and closed the quarter on a 9-0 run to only trail by one at the break. Chicago finally tied it midway through the third, but the Magic pressed their advantage again, taking a six point lead into the fourth. But the Bulls went bombs away from deep in the final twelve minutes and held Orlando scoreless for the final 4:15 to take the opener. Michael Jordan led the way with 26 points, five rebounds, and eight assists, Pippen put up 23, five, and six, Ron Harper scored 12 points, and Jud Buechler came up big with 10 points off the bench. Shaq led the Magic with 20 points and 13 rebounds, Penny Hardaway added 22 points, five rebounds, and seven assists, and Nick Anderson put up 11 points and 10 boards.
Game 2: @ CHI 100, ORL 81. History kind of repeated itself in Game 2. Orlando once again jumped out to an early lead, needing less than seven minutes to build a double digit advantage and finishing the frame up 14. But the Bulls opened the second quarter on a 17-2 run and allowed just nine points in those 12 minutes to open an eight point halftime lead. The clamps stayed on to start the third as Orlando needed just over four minutes to finally get back on the board, and the Bulls gradually started to pull away. The Magic got no closer than 14 in the final frame as the end of the bench guys got some action. Jordan led the way again with 28 points and eight rebounds, Pippen chipped in 17 and 11, Dennis Rodman pulled down a game high 17 rebounds, and Toni Kukoc chipped in 14 and seven off the bench for Chicago. Shaq was held to 16, 10, and four blocks to pace the Magic, while Horace Grant added 14 and 10 and Nick Anderson chipped in 14 points, five rebounds, six assists, and four steals.
Game 3: CHI 121, @ ORL 113 (OT). The first quarter in this one was more tightly contested until the final couple minutes, where a 9-0 Magic run gave them an eight point lead by the horn. The Bulls fought back in the second, tying the game about halfway through and taking a two point lead at the intermission. The third quarter saw a lot of back and forth as the Bulls couldn't push their advantage while the Magic traded leads with them a few times. Orlando seemed like they had things in control, going up five with four minutes to go, but were held to just two free throws with two seconds left to make it a three point game. Unfortunately for Orlando, Michael Jordan got free on the inbounds and nailed a three at the buzzer to force overtime. Jordan and Scottie took over in the extra session, with each hitting a three on consecutive possessions to pretty much seal the deal. Jordan finished with 44 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists, 24 of those points coming after the third quarter, 13 in overtime alone. Pippen added 27, 11, and five, and Kukoc scored 21 off the bench for the Bulls. Penny Hardaway had a good game with 31 points and 11 assists, Horace Grant added 22 points and 13 rebounds, and Shaq finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Game 4: @ ORL 110, CHI 93. Credit the Magic: they didn't go down in flames as they managed to stave off elimination for one more game. Orlando seemed in control early as they once again built a double digit first quarter lead, but the Bulls fought back, finishing the quarter on a 14-3 run to take a one point lead after one. Chicago led by as many as seven in the second quarter, but the Magic fought back to make it a back and forth affair, seeing Chicago still up one at the break. A 9-2 third quarter Magic run gave them control of the game, though the Bulls would keep it close, trailing by just six going into the fourth. The Bulls grabbed a brief one point lead early in the fourth, but finally went ice cold as a 19-0 Magic run turned this one into a laugher. Shaq finally really broke out with 29 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks, Penny Hardaway had 20 points, six rebounds, and 12 assists, Dennis Scott scored 17 points, and Horace Grant finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds for Orlando. Chicago got another 40 point game out of Jordan, but Pippen was held to just 13 points, five rebounds, and seven assists, and the next leading scorer was Rodman with eight points, though he did pull down 14 rebounds in the loss.
Game 5: @ CHI 106, ORL 92. The Bulls complete their second straight gentleman's sweep in front of a raucous United Center crowd. Chicago was the team that got out to the early advantage in this one; after Horace Grant cut the Bulls lead to 9-8, Chicago would lead by at least three the rest of the quarter, including by nine at the end of it. The Magic couldn't cut into it in the second quarter, and the Bulls slowly pulled away to take a 17 point halftime lead. A 9-2 Orlando run early in the third helped get them back into it, as did a later 9-0 run that pulled them within three. But Steve Kerr buried a contested three to get the Bulls back up six, and they led by eight after three. Then Chicago buried three straight triples to open the fourth, and that pretty much sealed the series. It was Pippen's game to shine this time, as he put up 23 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, Toni Kukoc scored 21 off the bench, and Jordan only needed to put up 20 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls. Shaq led the Magic with 20 and nine, Penny added 17 points and eight assists, and Horace Grant finished with 16 points and eight boards.

(7) 1992 Cleveland Cavaliers vs (3) 1997 Miami Heat

Game 1: CLE 109, @ MIA 101. Cleveland got out to the early lead here, but a 15-3 Miami run helped the Heat build a four point lead after one. The offenses caught fire to open the second, and after Miami pushed the lead as high as 10, a 12-2 Cleveland run tied the game, followed by a 10-2 run that flipped the four point advantage the Cavs' way to end the half. The Cavs got their lead up as high as 11 early in the third before the Heat fought back and made it a back and forth game where the Cavs had the narrowest of margins with 12 minutes to go in the contest. But Cleveland outscored Miami 15-5 over the first six and a half minutes of the fourth to win the opener on the road for the second straight series. Brad Daugherty was one of six Cavs in double figures and put up a monster 29 point, 16 rebound line, while Larry Nance added 17 and 10 and Mark Price finished with 18 points and six assists. Tim Hardaway had 29 points and eight assists to lead the Heat, while Voshon Lenard scored 16 points and Alonzo Mourning finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, and six blocks.
Game 2: CLE 92, @ MIA 69. This was a tie game halfway through the first quarter... then the Heat managed just five more points for the frame as the Cavs built an 11 point lead. Miami briefly cut it to single digits early in the second, but a 10-0 Cleveland run turned it into a laugher, helping build a 22 point halftime lead as the Heat managed just 31 first half points. Cleveland scoring the first seven of the second half didn't help matters much either as the lead got to 27 by the end of the third. Miami would get no closer than within 19 in garbage time. Daugherty had a heck of a game, with 15 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, and four steals, while Nance led the scoring with 18 points alongside eight rebounds, and Hot Rod Williams chipped in 17 and eight off the bench for the Cavs. Mourning led what you would call Miami's "attack" with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks, while Issac Austin scored 11 off the bench, and Tim Hardaway chipped in 10 points and 10 assists.
Game 3: @ CLE 120, MIA 93. They're partying pretty hard in Cleveland right now, though this was a pretty close game to open things with the Cavs only going up by three after the first. Cleveland led for almost the entire second quarter as well other than a brief one point Heat lead, though the Cavs couldn't pull away, leading by just six at the break. But Cleveland was able to open the second half on a 14-4 run, pushed the lead to 20 a minute and a half later, and it was all over. The Heat would get the lead cut down to ten early in the fourth, but that was as close as they got as the Cavs pulled away to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. A 19 point, eight rebound night for Larry Nance led the way for the Cavs, while Daugherty was held to just 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists, Hot Rod Williams added 16 points and nine rebounds off the bench, and Price chipped in 17 points and nine assists. Tim Hardaway scored a game-high 20 points and added seven assists, while Mourning added 12 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, and Dan Majerle and Voshon Lenard each scored 12 for Miami.
Game 4: @ CLE 105, MIA 93. If you thought the party was hard before, it's even harder as the Cavs complete the monumental upset and continue their Cinderella run with a second half comeback. Cleveland had some narrow leads early, but a Kurt Thomas buzzer beater gave Miami a one point lead 12 minutes in. They couldn't really build off that as the teams did trade a couple leads before a 9-1 Miami run gave them control, though even then it took a couple threes in the final minutes for the Heat to take a seven point halftime lead. Miami got the lead up to ten about five minutes into the third, but it was short lived one as a 9-0 Cavs run got them right back in it. They tied it briefly, but went into the fourth still down a couple. Cleveland made its move to open the fourth though, scoring eight straight over the first four and a half minutes. Miami kept it close until a key Cleveland possession where the Cavs got three offensive rebounds, including one off a blocked shot, taking almost a minute and a half off the clock before Craig Ehlo hit a shot to put the Cavs up seven. Miami got no closer as Cleveland completed the sweep. Daugherty put up 22 points and eight rebounds, Nance added 20 and 12, Price had 17 and 11 assists, Ehlo finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, and Williams put up 15 and seven off the bench for Cleveland. The Heat got 20 points from Tim Hardaway, while Mourning chipped in 12 points and 11 rebounds, Kurt Thomas added 11 and eight off the bench, and Sasha Danilovic scored 11.

Western Conference Semifinals

(5) 1993 Phoenix Suns vs (1) 1997 Utah Jazz

Game 1: @ UTA 99, PHX 91. The Jazz took the initiative early in this one, grabbing an early lead, building it to double digits just over halfway through the first, and settled in after one with a five point advantage. The Suns would climb back to within two, but a 13-5 Jazz run helped them build a double digit lead, and they'd go into intermission up a dozen. Utah's second half lead got as high as 18, but Phoenix closed the third quarter with seven straight to make it a nine point game, but wouldn't get any closer until the outcome was determined. Karl Malone's 28 points and 10 rebounds led the way for the Jazz, while John Stockton had a ridiculous 17 points and 16 assists and Greg Ostertag chipped in 16 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks and Jeff Hornacek filled the stat sheet with 10 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Charles Barkley paced the Suns with 24 points, 17 rebounds, and five assists, Tom Chambers added 16 points and seven rebounds off the bench, and Kevin Johnson finished with 10 points and seven assists.
Game 2: @ UTA 91, PHX 71. Utah's defense came to play in Game 2, using an extended 14-3 run late in the first quarter to build a double digit lead, going up 13. The Suns scored six straight to open the second and get back in the game and added another a few minutes later, but the Jazz closed the half on a 12-5 run to keep the 13 point lead intact going into the second half. Phoenix briefly cut it to single digits in the third quarter, but a quick Jazz answer pushed it back to double digits, and the Suns couldn't cut into the lead any further, keeping that 13 point deficit intact. They would get no closer in the fourth, as Utah held the Suns without a field goal for a solid four minute stretch midway through the period to seal the 2-0 series lead. The Mailman had another double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds. Ostertag added 11 and 15, and Stockton chipped in 15 points and six assists for the Jazz. Richard Dumas paced Phoenix's attack with 21 points, Charles Barkley was held to 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Dan Majerle had just six points on 3-15 shooting, though he did pull down 10 rebounds in the loss.
Game 3: @ PHX 119, UTA 82. A little home cooking must have done the Suns some good, because they just put up the biggest drubbing of the playoffs so far. A 6-0 run early in the first gave the Suns the lead for good, and used separate 9-2 and 12-2 runs later in the frame to take command, going up 13 after one. The Suns led by as many as 16 in the second, and other than a brief possession where the lead was single digits, Phoenix remained in control and with that 13 points advantage at the break. The key stretch came midway through the third with a 17-2 Suns run that pushed their lead to 32. At that point the fourth was just a formality, as the Suns hit the century mark before the halfway point, and the lead got as high as 40 before settling in at the final buzzer at 37. Barkley put up the first triple-double of the playoffs with 27 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists, Majerle added 26 points and 10 rebounds, Tom Chambers chipped in 13 and five off the bench, and Kevin Johnson finished with 10 points and 11 assists for the Suns. Malone paced the Jazz with 18 points and 12 rebounds, Stockton added 12 points and seven assists, and Chris Morris scored 13 points off the bench.
Game 4: @ PHX 122, UTA 118 (OT). For a while, this seemed like it would go back to Utah with the Jazz in firm control of the series, as they had firm control of the game with an early 12-3 run, and they built a 13 point lead by the end of the first quarter. The Jazz kept that double digit lead until a little Phoenix run got it down to single digits and within four a couple times, but the Jazz got hot to end the quarter to push the lead back to a dozen by halftime. Utah controlled the entire third quarter, keeping the margin between 11 and 17, finishing at the low end of that range with 12 minutes to play. The Suns made their move in the fourth, using a 12-0 run starting at around the 7:15 mark to come back and tie the game. They took a couple brief leads late, but Utah came right back and seemed poised to escape with the road win. But Karl Malone missed one of his four free throws in the final 11 seconds, allowing Dan Majerle to score the final eight of regulation for the Suns, including a three at the buzzer to send it to overtime. Charles Barkley was fouled on a three on the opening possession of the extra session, made them all, and the Suns never looked back as they even the series. Barkley was phenomenal, putting up 36 points and 17 rebounds, Kevin Johnson added 25 points, 11 assists, and six steals, Chambers finished with 16 points and five rebounds off the bench, and Majerle's key eight points gave him 12 for the night. His heroics spoiled a 33 point, 18 rebound, eight assist night for Malone, while Stockton had 20 points and eight assists, and Hornacek scored 18 points for Utah.
Game 5: @ UTA 112, PHX 95. Back at the Delta Center, the Jazz regained control, though they needed to come up big in the fourth to do so. The opening quarter saw a number of ties and ended with Utah only up three. The Jazz tried to press the advantage in the second, getting the lead as high as six, but the Suns closed the half with seven straight to take a one point lead to the locker room. Phoenix continued their strong play to open the second half, using a 15-6 run to start it to build a double digit lead. The Jazz managed to cut it to six by the end of the third quarter, then opened the fourth on a 10-1 run to take the lead back. It took four and a half minutes for the Suns to get their first field goal, and then the Jazz answered it with an 11-1 run, followed shortly after by a two and a half minute Phoenix scoring drought that sealed the deal for the home team. The Mailman delivered again, with 29 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists, Ostertag added 15 points and eight rebounds, and Stockton chipped in nine points and nine assists for the Jazz. Chambers paced the Suns with 20 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, Barkley added 17 and 10, and Johnson finished with 19 points and five assists.
Game 6: @ PHX 114, UTA 112. The Suns made a late rally to force Game 7, but early it didn't look promising as the Jazz opened the game on a 15-4 run and had an 18 point lead with 3:35 left in the first. But the Jazz slowly fought their way back, cutting it back to 11 by the end of the quarter, and fairly quickly got it to single digits in the second. They trimmed it to three a few times in the second half of the quarter, and even down to two in the final minute of the half, but the Jazz managed to push it back to four by the break. The third quarter saw the two teams trading buckets with impunity early as the Suns couldn't quite get over the hump, and Utah even pushed the lead back up to seven before Phoenix finally made its run, this one in 9-0 form to finally pull in front. But it was short lived as the Jazz came back to tie it to end the third. The fourth was a war where it finally seemed like the Suns might pull away as they got a couple two possession leads midway through. They kept that advantage until around the final minute when the Jazz finally got a couple straight buckets to tie the game, though the Suns answered. So did the Jazz to tie it again with 14 seconds left, but they left Charles Barkley alone on the ensuing possession too long, and he buried a left wing jumper with two seconds left to give the Suns a two point lead. Kevin Johnson picked Karl Malone's pocket on the ensuing possession, and we return to Utah for one more. It was thanks largely to Barkley's heroics as he put up 35 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists, while Dumas scored 20 points and Johnson finished with 16 points, 13 assists, and four steals, including the game-sealer. Malone's near triple-double of 32 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists was spoiled, as was a 24 point night from Hornacek and a 17 point, 12 assist Stockton performance for Utah.
Game 7: @ UTA 108, PHX 98. The home team wins every game of the series and the Jazz survive and advance. But the Suns didn't go quietly, especially early. They used a 13-4 run to help build a six point lead after a high scoring first quarter and led by as many as 16 late in the half before a 6-0 Jazz run to end the half trimmed it to 10. That run became 13-0 including the first three minutes of the third quarter as the Jazz made their comeback. Phoenix got the lead back up as high as seven, but an 11-1 run to close the quarter gave the Jazz a three point lead going into the deciding quarter. The lead changed hands ten times in about four and a half minutes, but that tenth was the final one, and it was one that sparked a 12-0 run that determined the outcome. Malone dominated to the tune of 34 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists, Stockton added 16 points and 12 assists, Hornacek scored 16 points, and Antoine Carr added 12 points and five rebounds off the bench for the Jazz. Chambers led the Suns with 21 points and six rebounds off the bench, Barkley managed 17 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, Johnson finished with 13 points and nine assists, and Majerle scored 14.

(6) 1995 San Antonio Spurs vs (2) 1996 Seattle Supersonics

Game 1: SA 106, @ SEA 96. Seattle continues to struggle at the beginning of series, especially in this one as they surrendered a 14-2 run midway through the first to get the Spurs out in front, helping them build an 11 point lead after one. San Antonio's lead fluctuated between eight and 13 throughout the second, with a David Robinson bucket at the halftime buzzer making it a dozen. Seattle got within seven a few times in the third, but ended up down 14 by the end of the frame. The Spurs got it as high as 20 midway through the fourth, though an 11-2 Sonics run made it competitive, and they even pulled within six with under two minutes to play, but that was as close as they got. David Robinson led the way for the Spurs with 28 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and four steals, Sean Elliott scored 20 points, and Dennis Rodman added 17 points and 20 rebounds. Gary Payton paced the Sonics with 22 points and six assists, Detlef Schrempf added 20 points and five rebounds, Shawn Kemp chipped in 19 and nine, and Sam Perkins contributed 11 and 10 off the bench.
Game 2: SA 103, @ SEA 101. The Sonics caught fire late in the first quarter, using a 12-2 run to gain control and lead by eight after one. The second saw some variation, with the Sonics leading by as many as a dozen, and not long after the Spurs had cut it to two, but Seattle ultimately pushed the advantage back to eight by intermission. Three straight buckets in the third quarter helped Seattle push their lead to 15, though they'd only be up 11 going into the final frame. At that point San Antonio took over, scoring the first seven of the quarter to cut the lead to four, though six straight Sonics points pushed it back to ten. But the Spurs stuck with it, finally taking the lead with just over two minutes to play. Avery Johnson scored the next four, including a key three point play, to make it a five point lead with just over a minute to go. A Hersey Hawkins three made it a two point game with 32 seconds left, and after a David Robinson miss, the Sonics had a chance to tie or win the game. But Shawn Kemp's drive and toss at the buzzer would not go, and the Spurs get to go home up 2-0. Robinson's 30 points and 18 rebounds were a key in the victory, while Avery Johnson added 16 points and nine assists, and Terry Cummings scored 13 off the bench for San Antonio. Payton led the Sonics with 24 points and six assists, Kemp put up a great line of 20 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists, and Hawkins finished with 13 points.
Game 3: SEA 100, @ SA 99. This one was a pretty good game from the outset as the Sonics were able to take a five point lead after one. They managed to stay ahead for the entire second quarter, leading by as many as eight, but the Spurs refused to go away and only trailed by three at the break. The Spurs briefly tied the game early in the second half, but Seattle answered with a 6-0 run and got the lead up to nine a few times before getting to double digits just before the end of the quarter, though the Spurs somehow got off a runner in about a second to cut it back to nine to end the frame. The Sonics took numerous double digit leads early in the fourth before the Spurs made a mini run to get within a couple possessions. The Sonics took a six point lead with about two minutes to play, then needed their defense to come up big. They almost didn't giving up buckets on the next two San Antonio possessions, but lucked out after a turnover when Sean Elliott made the first of two free throws, but missed one that would have tied the game with 40 seconds to go. Then after a David Robinson steal, The Admiral missed a long three, somehow got his own rebound with 15 seconds left, and gave his team a chance to win. Robinson himself took the shot at the buzzer from the free throw line, but missed, allowing the Sonics to get back into the series. Payton led the way with 26 points, five rebounds, and seven assists, Kemp added 19 points and 16 rebounds, Detlef Schrempf chipped in 17 points, and Hawkins scored 16 for Seattle. San Antonio got 30 points and eight rebounds for Robinson, Elliott added 20 points, and Dennis Rodman pulled down 18 rebounds.
Game 4: SEA 112, @ SA 97. Seattle continues its pattern of dropping two at home, then coming back on the road to tie the series. The Sonics took a four point lead after one, then surrendered a 6-0 Spur run to open the second. San Antonio built on that momentum, pushing their lead as high as seven and, after Seattle briefly retook the lead, the Spurs took the narrowest of margins into their locker room. It didn't last long as Seattle quickly retook the lead, though the Spurs were able to keep it a dogfight. San Antonio again took as big a lead as seven points, but were only up four going into the fourth. The Spurs pushed as high as up eight and seemed even halfway through the fourth that they were in control, and weren't too concerned when Avery Johnson split a pair of free throws with 5:23 to play. But that was their high water mark, missing ten straight shots and committing a couple of turnovers while the Sonics went on an absurd 24-0 run, only getting it broken by a garbage time three from an end of the bench guy in Chris Whitney. The Sonics had a balanced attack, led by 21 points, 18 rebounds, and five assists from Kemp, 24, five, and five from Payton, 20 points and nine rebounds off the bench from Sam Perkins, and 19 points out of Hawkins. Robinson paced the Spurs with 27 points, eight rebounds, and five assists from Robinson, while Rodman added 11 points and 12 rebounds and Johnson chipped in 11 points and eight assists.
Game 5: @ SEA 103, SA 97. The Spurs are in trouble. They fell behind early in this one as the Sonics built an eight point lead after one quarter, and only carried the momentum from there, as the Spurs tried to keep it close, but on a buzzer beating three went down by 13 going into the break. The Spurs got hot early in the third to keep things relatively close, but clamped down in the final two minutes of the quarter, ending it on a game-tying 8-0 run. After giving up a free throw, the Spurs scored another 11 straight, taking a double digit lead just three minutes into the fourth. But it was short-lived, as nine straight from the Sonics got them back in it, and they took the lead, forcing a see-saw affair for the next few minutes. Daggers from Detlef Schrempf and Hersey Hawkins in the final two minutes put the Spurs on the brink of elimination. Gary Payton paced the Sonics through with 24 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and four steals, Kemp added 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Schrempf chipped in 21 points and six assists. Robinson's 29 points and eight rebounds weren't enough for San Antonio, and neither were 14 points and eight assists out of Avery Johnson. Vinny Del Negro chipped in 10 and seven for the Spurs.
Game 6: SEA 110, @ SA 102. For the second straight series, the Sonics close an opponent out after dropping the first two at home. This time, they did it with a second quarter comeback, though the first was fairly even with a late Spur surge putting the hosts up five after one. Then Detlef Schrempf went on a personal 7-0 run that sparked a 13-0 run for the team as the Spurs went nearly six minutes without a point. The Spurs managed to cut the lead back down to two at one point, but went into the break down half a dozen. Again, San Antonio tried to fight back, but the Sonics were able to take a few double digit leads before going into the fourth up nine. They got within three a few times midway through the quarter, but both times the Sonics managed to pull away as they advance to the Western Finals. Kemp's 24 point, 14 rebound, four block performance had a lot to do with that, as did 22 points and seven assists from Payton and 22 points and five rebounds from Schrempf. Hawkins added 17 points and four steals for Seattle. The Spurs couldn't say they didn't leave it all on the floor, as Robinson went off for 45 points and 16 rebounds, Rodman added eight points, 23 rebounds, and five assists, and Johnson chipped in 13 points and 11 assists.

Eastern Conference Finals

(7) 1992 Cleveland Cavaliers vs (1) 1996 Chicago Bulls

Game 1: @ CHI 109, CLE 108. This one looked really good early on as the Bulls survived some early struggles from their stars while the role guys picked up the slack, and we seemed poised to end the first tied, but Winston Bennett buried a heave at the buzzer to put the Cavs up three. That lit a spark as the Cavs scored the first seven points of the second quarter as well, though the Bulls clawed their way back, even taking a brief lead before a pair of Brad Daugherty buckets put Cleveland back up two going into the break. Again a mini Cleveland run pushed the Cavs lead back up, though the Bulls managed to keep it close and even took a brief lead or two in the third before the Cavs reasserted control, going up as many as five before settling into the fourth with a three point lead. Still they couldn't put the Bulls away as Chicago came back to retake the lead, and it seemed like they'd hold serve in Game 1. But Cleveland had one last gasp, coming back from down four with 95 seconds left, taking a one point lead with 38 to play. Michael Jordan answered, but then so did Daugherty with nine ticks to go. Unfortunately, nine seconds were too many, because Jordan was able to find just enough room around Craig Ehlo and once again, this time driving to the basket, beat the Cavs at the buzzer. Jordan finished with 30 points, including the game winner, to go along with eight rebounds and nine assists. Scottie Pippen added 26, 16, and nine, and Ron Harper chipped in 15 points and five rebounds for the Bulls. Up until the final nine seconds, Daugherty seemed like the hero with 30 points and 11 rebounds, while Larry Nance finished with 28 and nine, and Mark Price contributed 12 points and 15 assists for Cleveland.
Game 2: @ CHI 107, CLE 105. Fresh off getting beat by Jordan again, the Cavs refused to give in, keeping things close in the opening minutes before closing the first on a 9-0 run to take a four point lead. Cleveland was able to push its lead to eight midway through the second, and despite a 10-2 Bulls run tying the game, the Cavs survived it and managed to take a three point lead into the locker room. Cleveland opened the second half with a 10-4 run to push the lead to nine, and got it up as high as 13 before taking a seven point margin into the final frame. The Cavs seemed poised to go back home tied as they pushed the lead to 14 just four and a half minutes in, but the Bulls followed that up with a 19-2 run that briefly gave them a three point lead before Craig Ehlo tied it back up with a three. This began a series of punches and counters, as three times Cleveland took a two point lead, only to immediately see the Bulls tie it. After the third, this time it was Chicago who took the two point advantage on a Jordan dunk with 21 seconds to go. Cleveland got a good look on the ensuing possession from Larry Nance, who missed, but Ehlo was there to tip it home and tie it with four seconds left. The Bulls called for time to draw up a final play... and you already know where this is going. For the second straight game, Jordan finished the affair, this time with a jumper from the free throw line at the buzzer. Jordan only scored 24 in this one, but he added 11 rebounds in the win, while Pippen added 24 points, seven rebounds, and 12 assists, and Toni Kukoc broke through with 23 points off the bench for Chicago. Ehlo had 23 points and four steals to pace the Cavaliers, Daugherty chipped in 20 points and six rebounds, Nance scored 16 points, and Mike Sanders logged 14.
Game 3: CHI 97, @ CLE 90. The good news for the Cavs this time is that Jordan didn't beat them at the buzzer. The bad news is that they squandered a golden opportunity to get back in the series. A tight first quarter saw a 21-all tie by the end, but Cleveland took total control in the second quarter, going on a 14-0 run that saw them hold Chicago scoreless for over eight minutes. By the time it was said and done the Bulls somehow stopped the bleeding and managed to go into the locker room only down by nine. Cleveland pushed its advantage early in the third and went up by as many as 13 and later had a couple dozen point leads, but the Bulls were able to stay within eight going into the fourth. That was close enough as, despite solid efforts from the Cavs, Chicago slowly crept back into the game, taking the lead with about five minutes to play. Cleveland went without a field goal for over four minutes as the Bulls went on a 13-0 run to take control, and the Cavs got no closer than five the rest of the way. This time it was Pippen's turn to lead the way, as he put up 32 points, seven rebounds, and four steals, while Jordan added 22, seven, and four, Rodman logged 12 points, 17 rebounds and six assists, and Luc Longley chipped in 13 points and six rebounds. Cleveland's attack was pretty balanced, led by 14 and nine from Larry Nance, 13 and nine from Ehlo, 12 and 10 from Daugherty, 12 points and 13 assists from Price, and 11 points off the bench from their iteration of Steve Kerr.
Game 4: CHI 109, @ CLE 87. And the Eastern Conference Finals end with a whimper. The Cavs played a strong stretch late in the first quarter, breaking free of a tough contest with a 17-4 run to close the frame with an 11 point advantage to get the Coliseum rocking. But after opening the second quarter with a bucket, it all went to hell. Cleveland did not record another field goal for eight and a half minutes while the Bulls went on a 22-2 run that included six turnovers and all of the sudden Chicago was in control, going into halftime up five. The Cavs did their best to keep it around that range for a good chunk of the third quarter, but late the Bulls began to pull away, finding a double digit lead late in the period and going into the fourth up 11. Six straight from Chicago to open the fourth pretty much ended all pretense of resistance, and the Cavs never got back within 14 again as the Bulls sweep their way to The Finals. The attack was pretty balanced again, with Jordan only needing to score 20 in the win, Pippen added 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, Rodman chipped in 11 points and 17 rebounds, and Kukoc chipped in 13 points and seven assists off the bench for the Bulls. Daugherty scored 26 points to lead the Cavaliers but only pulled down five rebounds, while Nance and Ehlo each scored 13 points and Hot Rod Williams chipped in 10 points and 12 boards off the bench.

Western Conference Finals

(2) 1996 Seattle SuperSonics vs (1) 1997 Utah Jazz

Game 1: @ UTA 111, SEA 79. The Sonics continue their trend of dropping openers, though this one came by a ton and on the road. An 8-0 run midway through the first helped the Jazz get control, and they went up 11 after one. The Jazz were able to push the lead as high as 20, the Sonics got it down to 12, and we went into the break with a 14 point gap. Seattle couldn't cut the gap in the third as the margin stayed at 14 going into the final frame, then the bottom fell out in the fourth. After trading baskets for a while, Utah went on an 11-0 run to put the game out of reach, then held the Sonics scoreless for the final 4:10 of the game. Karl Malone led the way with 27 points and 11 rebounds, Jeff Hornacek added 17 points and six assists, Stockton put up 15 and 15, and Bryon Russell scored 11 for the Jazz. Detlef Schrempf paced Seattle's attack with 22 points, Shawn Kemp added 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Hersey Hawkins scored 13.
Game 2: @ UTA 105, SEA 92. Once again it was the Jazz who got out to the early lead, going up six after one. After a scoreless stretch to open the second followed by a Sonic bucket to break the ice and pull within four, the Jazz embarked on a 10-0 run to break the game open, and Seattle really had no answer, going into the break down 13. An 8-1 Seattle run early in the third got them back in it, but only briefly as the Jazz were able to answer. They got the lead up to 20 before the Sonics rallied again with an 8-0 run to get back within a dozen, though a Bryon Russell three at the quarter buzzer put an end to the run. The Sonics stayed hot in the fourth though, and were able to briefly cut the lead to single digits halfway through. But the Jazz sealed the deal with an 11-4 run to follow that. Every Jazz starter scored in double figures, paced by a 29 and 10 night from Malone, while Stockton added 13 points and 10 assists and Russell finished with 16 points and seven rebounds. Shawn Kemp had 20 points and 12 rebounds to pace the Sonics, while Hersey Hawkins scored 14, Payton added 12 points and seven assists, and Vincent Askew scored 10 off the bench.
Game 3: UTA 101, @ SEA 91. The Sonics were unable to keep their pattern going and now find themselves on the brink of elimination after falling apart at home. It was all Seattle early, as they used a 17-2 run in the opening minutes to roar ahead, though the Jazz would get back to within ten by the end of the quarter. Utah continued its momentum in the second, using a 13-3 run to tie the game while the Sonics went over four minutes without a field goal to start the period. A pair of Karl Malone free throws late in the frame gave the Jazz a one point halftime lead. Seattle bounced back in a back and forth third quarter that saw three lead changes and eight ties, giving the Sonics a two point lead going into the final dozen minutes. But the key stretch came midway through the fourth, when the Jazz put up a 12-1 run that gave them control of the game, and the Sonics got no closer than six the rest of the way. Once again it was Malone leading the way, as he put up 34 points and 14 rebounds, Russell added 16 and seven, Stockton chipped in 10 points and 12 assists, and Greg Ostertag broke out with 12 points, nine rebounds, and six blocks. Kemp was limited to 13 points and 15 rebounds for Seattle, while Hawkins put up 21 points, five rebounds, and five assists, and Payton added 20 points and six assists.
Game 4: @ SEA 103, UTA 92. The Sonics live to fight another day, but it wasn't easy. The Jazz opened the game on a 9-0 run, but Seattle survived it, climbed back in it, and took a two point lead after one. They then held Utah to just a couple field goals over the first five minutes while building a lead that shortly after hit double digits, then held off the Jazz rally to stay up eight at the break. After giving up an early bucket to open the third, a 20-5 Seattle run gave them a huge advantage, and the Sonics went up by as many as 24 before taking a 22 point lead into the final frame. The Sonics pushed it as high as 25, but then the Jazz got hot, using a 22-2 run to pull back within just five points with two and a half to play. But Detlef Schrempf came through with a huge three less than a minute later, and that was enough to help the Sonics hang on. Gary Payton led the way with 22 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists, Kemp added 21 points and 15 rebounds, and Schrempf chipped in 17 and seven for Seattle. Malone had 23 points and five assists, Jeff Hornacek added 17 points and five assists, and Stockton contributed 13 and 10 for Utah.
Game 5: @ UTA 99, SEA 87. The Sonics were only able to delay the inevitable. Seattle led by as many as 10 in the first before take a six point cushion after 12 minutes. Then the bottom fell out, as a 12-2 Jazz run gave Utah the lead, though the Sonics were able to keep it close, only trailing by three at the break. But Utah going on an 8-2 run to open the second half didn't help matters, and the Jazz found themselves, at least briefly, up double digits before the Sonics clawed back into it, only trailing by four after three. The early fourth turned into the Karl Malone Show as he pushed Utah's lead to double digits. The Sonics got within five a couple times, and within six with just under five to play. But Utah embarked on a decisive 13-0 run over the next couple minutes, and the Jazz will get to play for a title again. Malone was brilliant, finishing with 27 points and 15 rebounds, while Stockton added 23 points, five assists, and five steals, and Hornacek scored 11 to pace the Jazz. Sam Perkins scored 20 off the bench and added six rebounds to lead Seattle, while Payton put up 18 points, eight assists, and six steals, Kemp added 17 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, and Schrempf chipped in 12 points and six rebounds.

The Finals

1997 Utah Jazz vs 1996 Chicago Bulls

Game 1: UTA 104, @ CHI 92. The Bulls drop their first home game of the playoffs in the toughest of circumstances. Utah jumped out to a 10-3 lead and never looked back in the opening quarter, building a double digit lead before a Toni Kukoc three at the buzzer made it a nine point game. A 9-0 Chicago run late in the second half where they held the Jazz off the board got them the lead again, though Utah answered right back, taking a one point lead into the locker room. A 10-1 Utah run in the third quarter pushed the lead back to double digits, though the Bulls managed to pull back within three by the end of the quarter. Chicago briefly retook the lead early in the fourth, but a Karl Malone three point play swung the game back in Utah's favor, sparking a 14-4 run that helped them build an eight point lead. The Bulls then went three minutes between field goals, then couldn't get closer than four as Malone put them away. He destroyed the Bulls' defense to the tune of 49 points while adding 11 rebounds and five assists, John Stockton only scored seven points but dished out 14 assists, Jeff Hornacek scored 12 points, and Greg Ostertag put up 11 points and eight rebounds. Michael Jordan, for his part, put up 26 points, nine rebounds, and five assists before fouling out in the final minute, while Scottie Pippen went off for 34, five, and eight, and Luc Longley chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds for Chicago.
Game 2: @ CHI 107, UTA 100. The Bulls got revenge and evened the series, though it didn't start pretty. Utah led for much of the opening quarter, going up eight after it was said and done. The Jazz pushed the lead to double digits early in the second quarter, then survived a mini Chicago push to get back to that point late in the half, but an 11-2 Bulls run to close the half made it a one point game in favor of Utah. An extended 16-4 Bulls run spanning five and a half minutes helped Chicago build its own double digit lead, which they pushed as high as 13 before going into the fourth up 11. Utah pulled within five about halfway through, but Chicago answered back thanks to some Scottie Pippen heroics, and the Bulls will go to Utah tied. Pippen led the way again for the Bulls with 26 points and eight rebounds, Jordan added 23 and six, Dennis Rodman put up nine points and 19 rebounds, and Toni Kukoc finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and seven assists off the bench. Malone was held to 21 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists to pace Utah, Stockton added 17 points and eight assists, and Horancek finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and seven assists.
Game 3: CHI 106, @ UTA 93. Chicago takes the series lead on the road in a pretty good one. The first quarter was very back and forth with four ties and ten lead changes, the final one going Chicago's way, giving them a one point advantage when the horn sounded. The Bulls started to get hot in the second quarter, using an 8-0 run early to press their advantage, and answering quickly when the Jazz got back within three, allowing them to go up ten at the break. The third was pretty back and forth, with the Jazz pulling within six a couple times, but no closer, while the Bulls weren't able to push their advantage up to more than about a dozen, ending the quarter as it started with a 10 point cushion. Utah never threatened in the fourth, end of the bench guys got in for the final minutes, and Chicago goes up 2-1. It was in large part thanks to 22 points, nine rebounds, and four steals from Jordan, while Pippen chipped in 23 points and eight rebounds, Kukoc poured in 19 points, and Steve Kerr scored 11. Malone continues to slow down after a torrid Game 1, though he still finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, Stockton added 12, five, and 10, and Antoine Carr scored 11 points off the bench for Utah.
Game 4: @ UTA 92, CHI 86. After allowing a bucket on the opening possession, Utah answered with an 11-0 run, though Chicago followed that up with a 17-2 run of their own, helping them build a nine point lead after one. The Jazz opened the second with the first six points though, and kept the pressure on the Bulls, who were able to keep just ahead and go into the break up six. Utah made some halftime adjustments though, leading to a 10-0 run out of the gate, and a Chicago response was answered in kind as Utah pressed its advantage, leading by as many as six before hanging onto a narrow two point lead going into the final frame. Back to back Bryon Russell threes early in the quarter put Utah up six and Chicago on its back foot. A late Bulls rally wasn't enough, as Stockton and Malone made enough plays down the stretch, including a key Mailman banker with 18 seconds left to seal the tie series. Malone logged 22 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists in the win, Stockton added 17 points and 11 assists, Russell scored 17 points as well, and Greg Ostertag chipped in five points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks. They ruined a 34 point, nine rebound, eight assist night for Jordan, but held Pippen to nine points, five rebounds, and nine assists, while Kukoc contributed 12 points and five rebounds and Ron Harper scored 10 points for the Bulls.
Game 5: @ UTA 111, CHI 110 (OT). Uh oh. The Bulls seemed in control early in this one, using a 10-0 run in the opening minutes to grab the lead. Utah would come back to tie, but the Bulls pushed onward, taking a four point lead after the end of the period. The teams swapped leads a handful of times early in the second, with Utah taking the final change and eventually sparking a 12-0 run that helped propel them to a 14 point halftime lead. Utah got it to 17 on the opening possession of the second half, then the Bulls started to claw their way back, using an 11-2 run to cut the deficit to single digits and make it a five point game going into the final frame. The Bulls needed just five minutes to tie the game again and set up a classic finish. Chicago was able to go up four with just under four to play, but the Jazz were able to retake the lead a couple minutes later, forcing a bit of back and forth. Greg Ostertag converted a huge three point play with 27 seconds left that gave the Jazz a one point lead, but Jordan found an opening, burying a contested layup with 18 seconds left to give Chicago a one point lead. Utah ran the final play for Malone, who got fouled on a runner with no time on the clock. He bricked the first, but made the second to force an extra session. It was a tight overtime, though the Bulls took the biggest lead of it at four points with just under two minutes to play. But Jeff Hornacek was fouled on a three, hit all of them to get it back within one, then the Bulls collapsed, turning it over twice, once on a second chance with 19 seconds left. Malone for some reason launched a three, but Ostertag kept it alive, then finished it off with a runner at the buzzer to put Utah one win away from immortality. Malone finished with 32 points and 12 rebounds, Stockton added 15 points, 11 assists, and four steals, and Ostertag finished with 12 points to go alongside his 18 points, including the game-winner. Jordan had another huge outing spoiled as he finished with 33 points and seven assists, Pippen's 22 point, 10 rebounds, seven assist game went for naught, though Luc Longley put up a decent 17 point, eight rebound line for the Bulls.
Game 6: @ CHI 109, UTA 90. The Bulls are able to stay alive and force a winner-take-all Game 7 for the ages, all but dominating this one from the start. Utah came out energized, surviving the initial Chicago onslaught to take a four point lead midway through, and even going up one later in the frame. But the Bulls used back to back threes to retake the lead late, going up six after one. They then dominated most of the second quarter, using an extended 16-3 run and allowing just one field goal in the first seven and a half minutes before Karl Malone broke through. For Malone it was too little too late though, as his bucket cut Chicago's lead to 17, and Chicago was able to go back to the locker room up 18. The Jazz scored two quick buckets to start the third, but a 9-1 Chicago run shortly thereafter pushed the lead up to 22, and the Bulls would take a 20 point cushion into the final quarter. Utah managed to pull within a dozen a couple times, and even cut it to single digits with the reserves on the floor, but Chicago's reserves were able to preserve a 19 point victory and force the Game 7. Jordan was instrumental in doing so as he logged 28 points, nine assists, and six steals, Pippen added 21 points and eight rebounds, Rodman finished with 10 and 18, and Kukoc scored 15 off the bench for Chicago. The Jazz got 35 and 11 out of Karl Malone, while Hornacek added 11 and seven and Antoine Carr chipped in 10 points.
Game 7: @ CHI 100, UTA 91. The '96 Bulls retain their throne as the greatest of all time (or at least, of the 90's) with a thrilling Game 7. The first quarter was pretty back and forth, but a personal 5-0 run for Scottie Pippen got the Bulls in control, and they took a six point lead after the first quarter horn. Chicago pushed it as high as nine, but the Jazz fought back to tie the game midway through the second. Then the Bulls got hot and hit a few threes to retake control, and they took a five point lead into the locker room. Utah played an outstanding third quarter, hitting a ton of shots and forcing the Bulls to do the same, which they did for most of the period until the very end, when Stockton and Malone combined for a 6-0 run to give the Jazz a one point lead going into the final quarter. Malone kept it up in the opening minute, pushing the advantage to five. But Chicago answered with six straight of their own, forcing a back and forth affair. The game was all but decided in the final three minutes when, tied at 86, Scottie Pippen buried a three, and after a stop, a Luc Longley three point play made it a six point game. Malone scored the next time down, but after a Scottie Pippen block and Karl Malone turnover, Michael Jordan all but sealed the deal with a corner three with 25 seconds to go. Jordan only managed 23 points and six rebounds in a startling 37 minutes of play, while Pippen played the entire game and logged 31 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, Rodman added 11 points and 18 rebounds, Longley chipped in 11 and seven, and Toni Kukoc put up 14 and five off the bench. Karl Malone did all he could in this one, recording 38 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists, while Jeff Hornacek added 11 points and five rebounds, and Stockton finished with 17 point and 10 assists. Ostertag only scored two points for the Jazz, but chipped in 13 rebounds and seven blocks in the loss.

Finals MVP: Scottie Pippen, 1996 Chicago Bulls

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