1991 NBA playoffs


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

First round

Eastern Conference first round

(1) [Chicago Bulls] vs. (8) [New York Knicks]

Chicago won 4–0 in the regular-season series


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


(2) [Boston Celtics] vs. (7) [Indiana Pacers]

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Celtics and the Pacers.

(3) [Detroit Pistons] vs. (6) [Atlanta Hawks]

Detroit won 5–0 in the regular-season series


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


(4) [Milwaukee Bucks] vs. (5) [Philadelphia 76ers]

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


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


Western Conference first round

(1) [Portland Trail Blazers] vs. (8) [Seattle SuperSonics]

Portland won 4–0 in the regular-season series


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


(2) [San Antonio Spurs] vs. (7) [Golden State Warriors]

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Warriors and the Spurs.

(3) [Los Angeles Lakers] vs. (6) [Houston Rockets]

  • Byron Scott hits the clutch shot with 15 seconds left.
Los Angeles won 3–1 in the regular-season series


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


(4) [Phoenix Suns] vs. (5) [Utah Jazz]

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


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


Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference semifinals

(1) [Chicago Bulls] vs. (5) [Philadelphia 76ers]

Philadelphia won 3–1 in the regular-season series


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


(2) [Boston Celtics] vs. (3) [Detroit Pistons]

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


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


Western Conference semifinals

(1) [Portland Trail Blazers] vs. (5) [Utah Jazz]

  • This was the last game ever played at the Salt Palace.
Portland won 3–1 in the regular-season series


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


(3) [Los Angeles Lakers] vs. (7) [Golden State Warriors]

  • Sam Perkins hits the game-tying lay-up with 2.4 seconds left to force OT.
Los Angeles won 3–2 in the regular-season series


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


Conference finals

Eastern Conference finals

(1) [Chicago Bulls] vs. (3) [Detroit Pistons]

  • In their last show of defiance, Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, and Mark Aguirre of the Pistons walked off the court with 7.9 seconds left in Game 4 so as not to congratulate the Bulls. Only Joe Dumars and John Salley shook hands with any of the Bulls. The Pistons walked off the court without shaking hands with the Bulls, supposedly due to comments by Michael Jordan in a pre-game interview, where he stated that “The Pistons are undeserving champions”, and that “The Bad Boys are bad for basketball.”
Chicago won 3–2 in the regular-season series


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


Western Conference finals

(1) [Portland Trail Blazers] vs. (3) [Los Angeles Lakers]

Portland won 3–2 in the regular-season series


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


NBA Finals: (E1) Chicago Bulls vs. (W3) Los Angeles Lakers

Tied 1–1 in the regular-season series


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