1992 NBA playoffs


The 1992 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament following the National Basketball Association's 1991-92 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls defeating the Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Michael Jordan was named Bill Russell [NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals MVP] for the second straight year.
The Blazers won their second Western Conference title in the past three years, and third overall in franchise history, behind the leadership of Clyde Drexler.
The Jazz made the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. They returned in 1994 and 1996 before finally breaking through in 1997.
The fourth-year Miami Heat season|Miami Heat] became the first of the 1988 and 1989 expansion teams to make the playoffs, though they were swept in the first round by the Bulls. In 2006, the Heat would become the first of these teams to win the NBA title.
This was the first year since 1987 that the Bulls and Pistons did not meet in the playoffs. They did not meet again until 2007.
Likewise, it was the second straight year the Bulls and New York Knicks met in the playoffs with the Knicks taking the Bulls to a Game 7 in their Eastern Conference Semifinal series before losing.
This was the first time since 1986, that the Pistons did not reach the Eastern Conference Finals, as well as, losing in the first round.
The Clippers made it to the playoffs for the first time since 1976, when they were the Buffalo Braves. It was also the first time since the Clippers' arrival in Los Angeles in 1984 that both of Los Angeles' NBA teams, the Clippers and Lakers, qualified for postseason play together.
Despite Magic Johnson's stunning retirement due to testing HIV positive prior to the start of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles Lakers] still managed to make their 16th straight NBA playoff appearance. It was their first appearance since 1974 without Johnson, Michael Cooper, or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Two games were postponed due to the Los Angeles riots following the Rodney King verdict, one being the Trail Blazers at the Lakers and the other was the Jazz at the Clippers. For safety purposes, both the Lakers and Clippers decided to move their home games to a nearby alternate venue; the Lakers played at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada for Game 4, the Clippers at Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California for Game 4.
Game 4 of the Blazers-Suns series was the last game ever played at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. It was a long game that lasted two overtimes and broke the NBA's playoff game record for points scored in one game, the Trail Blazers outlasting the Suns by a score of 153–151.
The Celtics' first-round sweep of the Pacers would be their last playoff series win until 2002. After losing in the second round to Cleveland, Larry Bird retired after 13 seasons. As for the Cavs, it was their first Conference Finals appearance since 1976, but fell to the Bulls in 6 games. They would not return again until 2007.

Playoff seeds

Eastern Conference

  1. 1991–92 [Chicago Bulls season|Chicago Bulls]
  2. Boston Celtics season|Boston Celtics]
  3. Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland Cavaliers]
  4. New York Knicks season|New York Knicks]
  5. Detroit Pistons season|Detroit Pistons]
  6. New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey Nets]
  7. Indiana Pacers season|Indiana Pacers]
  8. Miami Heat

    Western Conference

  9. Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland Trail Blazers]
  10. Utah Jazz season|Utah Jazz]
  11. Golden State Warriors season|Golden State Warriors]
  12. Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix Suns]
  13. San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio Spurs]
  14. Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle SuperSonics]
  15. Los Angeles Clippers season|Los Angeles Clippers]
  16. Los Angeles Lakers

    Bracket

First round

Eastern Conference first round

(1) Chicago Bulls">1991–92 Chicago Bulls season">Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Miami Heat">1991–92 Miami Heat season">Miami Heat

  • The first playoff game in Miami Heat history.
Chicago won 4–0 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the Heat.

(2) Boston Celtics">1991–92 Boston Celtics season">Boston Celtics vs. (7) Indiana Pacers">1991–92 Indiana Pacers season">Indiana Pacers

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


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

(3) Cleveland Cavaliers">1991–92 Cleveland Cavaliers season">Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (6) New Jersey Nets">1991–92 New Jersey Nets season">New Jersey Nets

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Cavaliers and the Nets.

(4) New York Knicks">1991–92 New York Knicks season">New York Knicks vs. (5) Detroit Pistons">1991–92 Detroit Pistons season">Detroit Pistons

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.
Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series

Western Conference first round

(1) Portland Trail Blazers">1991–92 Portland Trail Blazers season">Portland Trail Blazers vs. (8) Los Angeles Lakers">1991–92 Los Angeles Lakers season">Los Angeles Lakers

  • Terry Porter hits the game-tying 3 with 29.6 seconds left to force OT.
Lakers played a home game at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas due to 1992 Los Angeles riots
Portland won 4–1 in the regular-season series


This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning four of the first five meetings.
Los Angeles leads 4–1 in all-time playoff series

(2) Utah Jazz">1991–92 Utah Jazz season">Utah Jazz vs. (7) Los Angeles Clippers">1991–92 Los Angeles Clippers season">Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Clippers played a home game at Anaheim Convention Center due to 1992 Los Angeles riots
Utah won 3–1 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Clippers and the Jazz.

(3) Golden State Warriors">1991–92 Golden State Warriors season">Golden State Warriors vs. (6) Seattle SuperSonics">1991–92 Seattle SuperSonics season">Seattle SuperSonics

Golden State won 3–2 in the regular-season series


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

(4) Phoenix Suns">1991–92 Phoenix Suns season">Phoenix Suns vs. (5) San Antonio Spurs">1991–92 San Antonio Spurs season">San Antonio Spurs

Phoenix won 3–1 in the regular-season series


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

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference semifinals

(1) Chicago Bulls">1991–92 Chicago Bulls season">Chicago Bulls vs. (4) New York Knicks">1991–92 New York Knicks season">New York Knicks

  • The Knicks' only playoff victory in Chicago to date.
  • This game featured Michael Jordan's famous steal and strip.
Chicago won 4–0 in the regular-season series


This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first three meetings.
Chicago leads 3–0 in all-time playoff series

(2) Boston Celtics">1991–92 Boston Celtics season">Boston Celtics vs. (3) Cleveland Cavaliers">1991–92 Cleveland Cavaliers season">Cleveland Cavaliers

  • Larry Nance hits the game-tying free throws with 29.3 seconds left to force OT.
  • Larry Bird's final NBA game.
Boston won 3–1 in the regular-season series


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

Western Conference semifinals

(1) Portland Trail Blazers">1991–92 Portland Trail Blazers season">Portland Trail Blazers vs. (4) Phoenix Suns">1991–92 Phoenix Suns season">Phoenix Suns

  • Terry Porter hits the game-tying 3-point play with 33.6 seconds left in regulation to force the first OT; Kevin Johnson hits the game-tying jumper with 2.7 seconds left in the first OT to force the second OT.
Phoenix won 3–2 in the regular-season series


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

(2) Utah Jazz">1991–92 Utah Jazz season">Utah Jazz vs. (6) Seattle SuperSonics">1991–92 Seattle SuperSonics season">Seattle SuperSonics

Seattle won 3–1 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the SuperSonics and the Jazz.

Conference finals

Eastern Conference finals

(1) Chicago Bulls">1991–92 Chicago Bulls season">Chicago Bulls vs. (3) Cleveland Cavaliers">1991–92 Cleveland Cavaliers season">Cleveland Cavaliers

Chicago won 3–2 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

Western Conference finals

(1) Portland Trail Blazers">1991–92 Portland Trail Blazers season">Portland Trail Blazers vs. (2) Utah Jazz">1991–92 Utah Jazz season">Utah Jazz

  • Delaney Rudd hits the game-tying 3 with 5.5 seconds left to force OT.
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.
Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series

NBA Finals: (E1) Chicago Bulls vs. (W1) Portland Trail Blazers

  • Michael Jordan scores 35 points in the first half, along with a then-record six 3-pointers.
  • Kevin Duckworth hits the game-tying shot with 17.3 seconds left.
  • Chicago overcomes a 79–64 deficit at the start of the 4th quarter to win their second straight title.
Chicago won 2–0 in the regular-season series


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

Statistical leaders