1993 NBA playoffs
The 1993 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1992–93 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls defeating the Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Michael Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP for the third straight year. This was the Suns' second Western Conference title; they made their first NBA Finals appearance since (/wiki/1976NBAFinals), losing to the Boston Celtics. John Paxson made the series-clinching three-point shot in Game Six of the NBA Finals, securing the Bulls' first of two three-peats during the decade. However, Michael Jordan would retire following the season due to the death of his father.
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1993 NBA playoffs
The 1993 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1992–93 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls defeating the Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Michael Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP for the third straight year. This was the Suns' second Western Conference title; they made their first NBA Finals appearance since (/wiki/1976NBAFinals), losing to the Boston Celtics. John Paxson made the series-clinching three-point shot in Game Six of the NBA Finals, securing the Bulls' first of two three-peats during the decade. However, Michael Jordan would retire following the season due to the death of his father.
This edition of the playoffs featured the third of four straight seasons the Bulls and the Knicks faced off. This time the tables were turned as the Bulls had the lower seed in the playoffs as the previous two seasons had Chicago as the higher seed. The Knicks were seeded 8th in 1991 and 4th in 1992. But the result was about the same as the Bulls outlasted the Knicks 4 games to 2 in the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals.
The Knicks–Pacers rivalry started in their first-round encounter, which New York won, 3–1. But it wasn't until the next two meetings ((/wiki/1994NBAplayoffs) and (/wiki/1995NBAplayoffs)) that the rivalry became even more intense, particularly due to Reggie Miller's heroics in the Garden that made him a household name and Indiana legitimate contenders in the East.
The Charlotte Hornets made their playoff debut. Their opening-round series versus Boston was also the last time the Celtics made the playoffs with Kevin McHale, who retired after the series, and Robert Parish, who left as a free agent. Game 1 of the series was the final game of Reggie Lewis' career, as he collapsed during the first quarter and did not play for the rest of the series; he died in July of a heart attack.
This was the first edition of the playoffs since (/wiki/1983NBAPlayoffs) to not feature the Detroit Pistons, who previously made nine straight appearances from (/wiki/1984NBAPlayoffs) to (/wiki/1992NBAPlayoffs).
Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals saw the Suns attempt sixty-four free throws while connecting on fifty-seven of them, both NBA postseason records.
Bracket
1993 NBA playoffs
<table><thead><tr><th></th><th>First round</th><th></th><th></th><th>Quarter-finals</th><th></th><th></th><th>Semi-finals</th><th></th><th></th><th>Final</th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td></td><td></td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td></td><td></td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td></td><td></td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>E1</td><td>New York</td><td>3</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>E8</td><td>Indiana</td><td>1</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>E1</td><td>New York</td><td>4</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>E5</td><td>Charlotte</td><td>1</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>E4</td><td>Boston</td><td>1</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>E5</td><td>Charlotte</td><td>3</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>E1</td><td>New York</td><td>2</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>E2</td><td>Chicago</td><td>4</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>E3</td><td>Cleveland</td><td>3</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>E6</td><td>New Jersey</td><td>2</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>E3</td><td>Cleveland</td><td>0</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>E2</td><td>Chicago</td><td>4</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>E2</td><td>Chicago</td><td>3</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>E7</td><td>Atlanta</td><td>0</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>E2</td><td>Chicago</td><td>4</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>W1</td><td>Phoenix</td><td>2</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>W1</td><td>Phoenix</td><td>3</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>W8</td><td>LA Lakers</td><td>2</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>W1</td><td>Phoenix</td><td>4</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>W5</td><td>San Antonio</td><td>2</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>W4</td><td>Portland</td><td>1</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>W5</td><td>San Antonio</td><td>3</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>W1</td><td>Phoenix</td><td>4</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>W3</td><td>Seattle</td><td>3</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>W3</td><td>Seattle</td><td>3</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>W6</td><td>Utah</td><td>2</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>W3</td><td>Seattle</td><td>4</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>W2</td><td>Houston</td><td>3</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>W2</td><td>Houston</td><td>3</td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>W7</td><td>LA Clippers</td><td>2</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
First round
(1) New York Knicks vs. (8) Indiana Pacers
• John Starks is ejected after headbutting Reggie Miller.
<table><thead><tr><th>New York won 3–1 in the regular-season series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>December 29, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Indiana Pacers 91, New York Knicks 97</td></tr><tr><td>Madison Square Garden, New York City</td></tr><tr><td>December 30, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>New York Knicks 94, Indiana Pacers 90</td></tr><tr><td>Market Square Arena, Indianapolis</td></tr><tr><td>March 14, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Indiana Pacers 90, New York Knicks 121</td></tr><tr><td>Madison Square Garden, New York City</td></tr><tr><td>April 16, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>New York Knicks 94, Indiana Pacers 100</td></tr><tr><td>Market Square Arena, Indianapolis</td></tr></tbody></table>
This was the first playoff meeting between the Pacers and the Knicks.
(2) Chicago Bulls vs. (7) Atlanta Hawks
• Michael Jordan hits the half-court shot at the buzzer to end the first half.
<table><thead><tr><th>Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>November 7, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Atlanta Hawks 100, Chicago Bulls 99</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois</td></tr><tr><td>December 8, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls 114, Atlanta Hawks 123</td></tr><tr><td>The Omni, Atlanta</td></tr><tr><td>February 27, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Atlanta Hawks 92, Chicago Bulls 112</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois</td></tr><tr><td>April 9, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls 88, Atlanta Hawks 87</td></tr><tr><td>The Omni, Atlanta</td></tr></tbody></table>
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning both meetings.
<table><thead><tr><th>Atlanta leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1967</td></tr><tr><td>St. Louis Hawks 3, Chicago Bulls 0</td></tr><tr><td>1967 Western Division Semifinals</td></tr><tr><td>1970</td></tr><tr><td>Atlanta Hawks 4, Chicago Bulls 1</td></tr><tr><td>1970 Western Division Semifinals</td></tr></tbody></table>
(3) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (6) New Jersey Nets
• Bernard King's final NBA game.
• Maurice Cheeks and Dražen Petrović's final NBA game; Petrović dies a month later in a car crash. • This would be the last playoff series victory for Cleveland without LeBron James until (/wiki/2024NBAplayoffs).
<table><thead><tr><th>Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>December 26, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>New Jersey Nets 119, Cleveland Cavaliers 114</td></tr><tr><td>The Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio</td></tr><tr><td>January 13, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Cleveland Cavaliers 98, New Jersey Nets 104</td></tr><tr><td>Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey</td></tr><tr><td>April 4, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>New Jersey Nets 99, Cleveland Cavaliers 105</td></tr><tr><td>The Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio</td></tr><tr><td>April 10, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Cleveland Cavaliers 100, New Jersey Nets 99</td></tr><tr><td>Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey</td></tr></tbody></table>
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Cavaliers winning the first meeting.
<table><thead><tr><th>Cleveland leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1992</td></tr><tr><td>Cleveland Cavaliers 3, New Jersey Nets 1</td></tr><tr><td>1992 Eastern Conference First Round</td></tr></tbody></table>
(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) Charlotte Hornets
• Celtics forward Reggie Lewis' final NBA game, he collapses on the court and did not play for the rest of the series; he dies 3 months later from a heart defect.
• Xavier McDaniel hits the game-tying jumper with 25.8 seconds left in regulation to force the first OT; Kevin McHale hits the game-tying jumper with 6 seconds left in the first OT to force the second OT.
• Alonzo Mourning hits the series-winning shot with 4 tenths left; also Kevin McHale's final NBA game.
<table><thead><tr><th>Boston won 3–1 in the regular-season series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>November 11, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Boston Celtics 109, Charlotte Hornets 99</td></tr><tr><td>Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina</td></tr><tr><td>November 27, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Charlotte Hornets 102, Boston Celtics 111</td></tr><tr><td>Boston Garden, Boston</td></tr><tr><td>January 5, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Boston Celtics 107, Charlotte Hornets 103</td></tr><tr><td>Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina</td></tr><tr><td>March 14, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Charlotte Hornets 96, Boston Celtics 93</td></tr><tr><td>Boston Garden, Boston</td></tr></tbody></table>
This was the first playoff meeting between the Celtics and the Hornets.
(1) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) Los Angeles Lakers
• Dan Majerle hits the game-tying shot with 13.6 seconds left to force OT; After losing the first two games of the series, at the post game press conference Suns head coach Paul Westphal said that they would go to LA and win the next two games and then come back to Phoenix and win game 5, "and everyone will say what a great series it was."
<table><thead><tr><th>Phoenix won 5–0 in the regular-season series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>December 4, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Lakers 93, Phoenix Suns 103</td></tr><tr><td>America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona</td></tr><tr><td>December 18, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Phoenix Suns 116, Los Angeles Lakers 100</td></tr><tr><td>Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California</td></tr><tr><td>February 5, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Lakers 104, Phoenix Suns 132</td></tr><tr><td>America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona</td></tr><tr><td>March 24, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Phoenix Suns 120, Los Angeles Lakers 105</td></tr><tr><td>Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California</td></tr><tr><td>April 6, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Lakers 114, Phoenix Suns 115</td></tr><tr><td>America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona</td></tr></tbody></table>
This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning six of the first seven meetings.
<table><thead><tr><th>Los Angeles leads 6–1 in all-time playoff series.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1970</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Lakers 4, Phoenix Suns 3</td></tr><tr><td>1970 Western Division Semifinals</td></tr><tr><td>1980</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Lakers 4, Phoenix Suns 1</td></tr><tr><td>1980 Western Conference Semifinals</td></tr><tr><td>1982</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Lakers 4, Phoenix Suns 0</td></tr><tr><td>1982 Western Conference Semifinals</td></tr><tr><td>1984</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Lakers 4, Phoenix Suns 2</td></tr><tr><td>1984 Western Conference Finals</td></tr><tr><td>1985</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Lakers 3, Phoenix Suns 0</td></tr><tr><td>1985 Western Conference First Round</td></tr><tr><td>1989</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Lakers 4, Phoenix Suns 0</td></tr><tr><td>1989 Western Conference Finals</td></tr><tr><td>1990</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Lakers 1, Phoenix Suns 4</td></tr><tr><td>1990 Western Conference Semifinals</td></tr></tbody></table>
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Los Angeles Clippers
<table><thead><tr><th>Houston won 4–0 in the regular-season series.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>November 24, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Clippers 83, Houston Rockets 88</td></tr><tr><td>The Summit, Houston, Texas</td></tr><tr><td>January 12, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Houston Rockets 113, Los Angeles Clippers 103</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles</td></tr><tr><td>March 2, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Houston Rockets 99, Los Angeles Clippers 83</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles</td></tr><tr><td>April 6, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Clippers 101, Houston Rockets 114</td></tr><tr><td>The Summit, Houston, Texas</td></tr></tbody></table>
This was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the Clippers.
(3) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (6) Utah Jazz
<table><thead><tr><th>Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>January 14, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Seattle SuperSonics 89, Utah Jazz 96</td></tr><tr><td>Delta Center, Salt Lake City</td></tr><tr><td>January 18, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Utah Jazz 96, Seattle SuperSonics 106</td></tr><tr><td>Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle</td></tr><tr><td>February 11, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Utah Jazz 101, Seattle SuperSonics 96</td></tr><tr><td>Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle</td></tr><tr><td>March 19, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Seattle SuperSonics 108, Utah Jazz 97</td></tr><tr><td>Delta Center, Salt Lake City</td></tr></tbody></table>
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning the first meeting.
<table><thead><tr><th>Utah leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1992</td></tr><tr><td>Seattle SuperSonics 1, Utah Jazz 4</td></tr><tr><td>1992 Western Conference Semifinals</td></tr></tbody></table>
(4) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (5) San Antonio Spurs
• Sean Elliott hits the game-tying lay-up with 1:27 left to force OT.
<table><thead><tr><th>Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>November 24, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>San Antonio Spurs 91, Portland Trail Blazers 95</td></tr><tr><td>Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon</td></tr><tr><td>January 9, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Portland Trail Blazers 93, San Antonio Spurs 109</td></tr><tr><td>HemisFair Arena, San Antonio</td></tr><tr><td>March 13, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Portland Trail Blazers 99, San Antonio Spurs 108</td></tr><tr><td>HemisFair Arena, San Antonio</td></tr><tr><td>April 18, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>San Antonio Spurs 101, Portland Trail Blazers 105</td></tr><tr><td>Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon</td></tr></tbody></table>
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Trail Blazers winning the first meeting.
<table><thead><tr><th>Portland leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1990</td></tr><tr><td>Portland Trail Blazers 4, San Antonio Spurs 3</td></tr><tr><td>1990 Western Conference Semifinals</td></tr></tbody></table>
Conference semifinals
(1) New York Knicks vs. (5) Charlotte Hornets
• Alonzo Mourning hits the game-tying shot with 30.9 seconds left in regulation to force the first OT, then hits the game-tying free throws with 12 seconds left in the first OT to force the second OT.
<table><thead><tr><th>New York won 3–1 in the regular-season series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>December 10, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Charlotte Hornets 110, New York Knicks 103 (OT)</td></tr><tr><td>Madison Square Garden, New York City</td></tr><tr><td>January 20, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Charlotte Hornets 91, New York Knicks 114</td></tr><tr><td>Madison Square Garden, New York City</td></tr><tr><td>February 17, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>New York Knicks 124, Charlotte Hornets 116</td></tr><tr><td>Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina</td></tr><tr><td>April 14, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>New York Knicks 111, Charlotte Hornets 107</td></tr><tr><td>Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina</td></tr></tbody></table>
This was the first playoff meeting between the Hornets and the Knicks.
(2) Chicago Bulls vs. (3) Cleveland Cavaliers
• Michael Jordan hits the series-winning shot at the buzzer against Cleveland for the second time in his career.
<table><thead><tr><th>Cleveland won 3–2 in the regular-season series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>November 6, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls 101, Cleveland Cavaliers 96</td></tr><tr><td>The Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio</td></tr><tr><td>December 9, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Cleveland Cavaliers 91, Chicago Bulls 108</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois</td></tr><tr><td>January 6, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls 95, Cleveland Cavaliers 117</td></tr><tr><td>The Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio</td></tr><tr><td>February 13, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Cleveland Cavaliers 116, Chicago Bulls 111</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois</td></tr><tr><td>April 18, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls 94, Cleveland Cavaliers 103</td></tr><tr><td>The Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio</td></tr></tbody></table>
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first three meetings.
<table><thead><tr><th>Chicago leads 3–0 in all-time playoff series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1988</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls 3, Cleveland Cavaliers 2</td></tr><tr><td>1988 Eastern Conference First Round</td></tr><tr><td>1989</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls 3, Cleveland Cavaliers 2</td></tr><tr><td>1989 Eastern Conference First Round</td></tr><tr><td>1992</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls 4, Cleveland Cavaliers 2</td></tr><tr><td>1992 Eastern Conference Finals</td></tr></tbody></table>
(1) Phoenix Suns vs. (5) San Antonio Spurs
• Charles Barkley hits the series-winning shot with 1.8 seconds left, also the Spurs played their final game at the HemisFair Arena before moving to the Alamodome the following season.
<table><thead><tr><th>Phoenix won 3–1 in the regular-season series.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>January 3, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Phoenix Suns 113, San Antonio Spurs 114 (OT)</td></tr><tr><td>HemisFair Arena, San Antonio</td></tr><tr><td>January 29, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>San Antonio Spurs 110, Phoenix Suns 125</td></tr><tr><td>America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona</td></tr><tr><td>February 23, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Phoenix Suns 105, San Antonio Spurs 103</td></tr><tr><td>HemisFair Arena, San Antonio</td></tr><tr><td>April 24, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>San Antonio Spurs 97, Phoenix Suns 99</td></tr><tr><td>America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona</td></tr></tbody></table>
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning the first meeting.
<table><thead><tr><th>Phoenix leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1992</td></tr><tr><td>Phoenix Suns 3, San Antonio Spurs 0</td></tr><tr><td>1992 Western Conference First Round</td></tr></tbody></table>
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (3) Seattle SuperSonics
• This game marked the final time the NBA Playoffs aired exclusively on local TV.
• Ricky Pierce hits the game-tying shot with 23.9 seconds left to force OT.
<table><thead><tr><th>Seattle won 3–1 in the regular-season series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>November 6, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Seattle SuperSonics 111, Houston Rockets 94</td></tr><tr><td>Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, Japan</td></tr><tr><td>November 7, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Houston Rockets 85, Seattle SuperSonics 89</td></tr><tr><td>Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, Japan</td></tr><tr><td>March 21, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Seattle SuperSonics 100, Houston Rockets 89</td></tr><tr><td>The Summit, Houston, Texas</td></tr><tr><td>April 17, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Houston Rockets 86, Seattle SuperSonics 81</td></tr><tr><td>Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle</td></tr></tbody></table>
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning the first three meetings.
<table><thead><tr><th>Seattle leads 3–0 in all-time playoff series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1982</td></tr><tr><td>Houston Rockets 1, Seattle SuperSonics 2</td></tr><tr><td>1982 Western Conference First Round</td></tr><tr><td>1987</td></tr><tr><td>Houston Rockets 2, Seattle SuperSonics 4</td></tr><tr><td>1987 Western Conference Semifinals</td></tr><tr><td>1989</td></tr><tr><td>Houston Rockets 0, Seattle SuperSonics 3</td></tr><tr><td>1989 Western Conference First Round</td></tr></tbody></table>
Conference finals
(1) New York Knicks vs. (2) Chicago Bulls
• John Starks' famous dunk on Horace Grant with 47.3 seconds left in the game.
• Michael Jordan scores 54 points, the most against the Knicks in a playoff game by any player.
• B. J. Armstrong hits the clutch three with 1:16 left; Charles Smith gets denied four straight times (Horace Grant, Michael Jordan, and Scottie Pippen) near the end of the game.
<table><thead><tr><th>New York won 3–1 in the regular-season series.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>November 28, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls 75, New York Knicks 112</td></tr><tr><td>Madison Square Garden, New York City</td></tr><tr><td>December 25, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>New York Knicks 77, Chicago Bulls 89</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois</td></tr><tr><td>February 12, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>New York Knicks 104, Chicago Bulls 98</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois</td></tr><tr><td>April 25, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls 84, New York Knicks 89</td></tr><tr><td>Madison Square Garden, New York City</td></tr></tbody></table>
This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first four meetings.
<table><thead><tr><th>Chicago leads 4–0 in all-time playoff series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1981</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls 2, New York Knicks 0</td></tr><tr><td>1981 Eastern Conference First Round</td></tr><tr><td>1989</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls 4, New York Knicks 2</td></tr><tr><td>1989 Eastern Conference Semifinals</td></tr><tr><td>1991</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls 3, New York Knicks 0</td></tr><tr><td>1991 Eastern Conference First Round</td></tr><tr><td>1992</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls 4, New York Knicks 3</td></tr><tr><td>1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals</td></tr></tbody></table>
(1) Phoenix Suns vs. (3) Seattle SuperSonics
<table><thead><tr><th>Seattle won 3–2 in the regular-season series.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>November 16, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Seattle SuperSonics 108, Phoenix Suns 117</td></tr><tr><td>America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona</td></tr><tr><td>December 26, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Seattle SuperSonics 110, Phoenix Suns 113</td></tr><tr><td>America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona</td></tr><tr><td>January 12, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Phoenix Suns 113, Seattle SuperSonics 122</td></tr><tr><td>Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle</td></tr><tr><td>February 13, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Phoenix Suns 94, Seattle SuperSonics 95</td></tr><tr><td>Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle</td></tr><tr><td>April 16, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Seattle SuperSonics 108, Phoenix Suns 102</td></tr><tr><td>America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona</td></tr></tbody></table>
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series.
<table><thead><tr><th>Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1976</td></tr><tr><td>Phoenix Suns 4, Seattle SuperSonics 2</td></tr><tr><td>1976 Western Conference Semifinals</td></tr><tr><td>1979</td></tr><tr><td>Phoenix Suns 3, Seattle SuperSonics 4</td></tr><tr><td>1979 Western Conference Finals</td></tr></tbody></table>
NBA Finals: (W1) Phoenix Suns vs. (E2) Chicago Bulls
1993 NBA playoffs
• The team with home-court advantage in the NBA Finals loses the first two games at home for the first time ever.
• This game marks the second time in NBA Finals history that a game goes to triple OT after game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals (in which the Suns lost to the Boston Celtics); Horace Grant hits the game-tying 3-point play with 1:33 left in regulation to force the first OT; Tom Chambers hits the game-tying lay-up with 50.9 seconds left in the first OT to force the second OT; Dan Majerle hits the game-tying shot with 3.2 seconds left in the second OT to force the third OT.
• John Paxson hits the title-winning 3 with 3.9 seconds left; Horace Grant then blocks Kevin Johnson just before the buzzer.
<table><thead><tr><th>Tied 1–1 in the regular-season series</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>November 22, 1992</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls 128, Phoenix Suns 111</td></tr><tr><td>America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona</td></tr><tr><td>March 30, 1993</td></tr><tr><td>Recap</td></tr><tr><td>Phoenix Suns 113, Chicago Bulls 109</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois</td></tr></tbody></table>
This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the Suns.
Statistical leaders
1993 NBA playoffs
<table><thead><tr><th>Category</th><th>Game high</th><th>Average</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Player</td><td>Team</td><td>High</td><td>Player</td><td>Team</td><td>Avg.</td><td>GP</td></tr><tr><td>Points</td><td>Michael Jordan</td><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>55</td><td>Michael Jordan</td><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>35.1</td><td>19</td></tr><tr><td>Rebounds</td><td>Charles Barkley</td><td>Phoenix Suns</td><td>24</td><td>A.C. Green</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>14.6</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Assists</td><td>Kevin Johnson</td><td>Phoenix Suns</td><td>16</td><td>John Stockton</td><td>Utah Jazz</td><td>11.0</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Steals</td><td>Charles Barkley</td><td>Phoenix Suns</td><td>7</td><td>Ron Harper</td><td>Los Angeles Clippers</td><td>3.0</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Blocks</td><td>Derrick Coleman Hakeem Olajuwon</td><td>New Jersey Nets Houston Rockets</td><td>9</td><td>Hakeem Olajuwon</td><td>Houston Rockets</td><td>4.8</td><td>12</td></tr></tbody></table>