1979 NBA playoffs

Bracket

| RD2-group1 = Eastern Conference | RD2-group2 = Western Conference

| RD1-seed01=E4 | RD1-team01=Houston | RD1-score01=0 | RD1-seed02=E5 | RD1-team02=Atlanta | RD1-score02=2

| RD1-seed03=E3 | RD1-team03=Philadelphia | RD1-score03=2 | RD1-seed04=E6 | RD1-team04=New Jersey | RD1-score04=0

| RD1-seed05=W4 | RD1-team05=Denver | RD1-score05=1 | RD1-seed06=W5 | RD1-team06=Los Angeles | RD1-score06=2

| RD1-seed07=W3 | RD1-team07=Phoenix | RD1-score07=2 | RD1-seed08=W6 | RD1-team08=Portland | RD1-score08=1

| RD2-seed01=E1 | RD2-team01=Washington* | RD2-score01=4 | RD2-seed02=E5 | RD2-team02=Atlanta | RD2-score02=3

| RD2-seed03=E3 | RD2-team03=Philadelphia | RD2-score03=3 | RD2-seed04=E2 | RD2-team04=San Antonio* | RD2-score04=4

| RD2-seed05=W1 | RD2-team05=Seattle* | RD2-score05=4 | RD2-seed06=W5 | RD2-team06=Los Angeles | RD2-score06=1

| RD2-seed07=W3 | RD2-team07=Phoenix | RD2-score07=4 | RD2-seed08=W2 | RD2-team08=Kansas City* | RD2-score08=1

| RD3-seed01=E1 | RD3-team01=Washington* | RD3-score01=4 | RD3-seed02=E2 | RD3-team02=San Antonio* | RD3-score02=3

| RD3-seed03=W1 | RD3-team03=Seattle* | RD3-score03=4 | RD3-seed04=W3 | RD3-team04=Phoenix | RD3-score04=3

| RD4-seed01=E1 | RD4-team01=Washington** | RD4-score01=1 | RD4-seed02=W1 | RD4-team02=Seattle | RD4-score02=4 |* Division winner |Bold Series winner |Italic Team with home-court advantage}}

First round

Eastern Conference first round

(3) [[1978–79 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia 76ers]] vs. (6) [[1978–79 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey Nets]]

Game two was the only NBA playoff game at the Rutgers Athletic Center.

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

(4) [[1978–79 Houston Rockets season|Houston Rockets]] vs. (5) [[1978–79 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta Hawks]]

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning the only previous meeting.

Western Conference first round

(3) [[1978–79 Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix Suns]] vs. (6) [[1978–79 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland Trail Blazers]]

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

(4) [[1978–79 Denver Nuggets season|Denver Nuggets]] vs. (5) [[1978–79 Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles Lakers]]

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference semifinals

(1) [[1978–79 Washington Bullets season|Washington Bullets]] vs. (5) [[1978–79 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta Hawks]]

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Wizards/Bullets winning two of the first three meetings.

(2) [[1978–79 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio Spurs]] vs. (3) [[1978–79 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia 76ers]]

• Maurice Cheeks hits game winning shot with 10 seconds remaining.

This was the first meeting between these two teams.

Western Conference semifinals

(1) [[1978–79 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle SuperSonics]] vs. (5) [[1978–79 Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles Lakers]]

• This would be the last playoff series for Los Angeles without Magic Johnson until 1992.

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning the first meeting.

(2) [[1978–79 Kansas City Kings season|Kansas City Kings]] vs. (3) [[1978–79 Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix Suns]]

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

Conference finals

Eastern Conference finals

(1) [[1978–79 Washington Bullets season|Washington Bullets]] vs. (2) [[1978–79 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio Spurs]]

• Bob Dandridge hits series-winning shot with 8 seconds remaining; Washington becomes the 3rd team in NBA history to overcome a 3–1 series deficit.

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bullets winning the first meeting.

Western Conference finals

(1) [[1978–79 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle SuperSonics]] vs. (3) [[1978–79 Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix Suns]]

With the score 112–104 in favor of Seattle with just 20 seconds left, it appeared to be all over, but the Phoenix Suns would not quit easily. After the Suns scored 4 unanswered points, Paul Westphal stole an inbounds pass and drove to the basket for a score, getting fouled by Wally Walker. This made it a 2-point game and sent Westphal to the line with just 4 seconds left. Suns coach John MacLeod called a timeout to decide what to do on the free throw attempt. The Suns elected to intentionally miss and try to score off an offensive rebound, but the rebound went to the Sonics' Jack Sikma, who was intentionally fouled and made both free throws to give the Sonics the Western Conference for the 2nd straight year.

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning the previous meeting.

NBA Finals: (E1) Washington Bullets vs. (W1) Seattle SuperSonics

Main article: 1979 NBA Finals

• Larry Wright makes the game winning free throws with one second remaining.
• Dennis Johnson blocks Kevin Grevey with 4 seconds left to seal it.

This was the second Finals meeting between these two teams, with the Bullets winning the first meeting.

References

References

1. "Team Rivalry Finder — Brooklyn Nets versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
2. "Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Houston Rockets (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
3. "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
4. "Team Rivalry Finder — Denver Nuggets versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
5. "Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Washington Wizards (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
6. "Team Rivalry Finder — Philadelphia 76ers versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
7. "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Oklahoma City Thunder (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
8. "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus Sacramento Kings (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
9. "Team Rivalry Finder — San Antonio Spurs versus Washington Wizards (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
10. "Team Rivalry Finder — Oklahoma City Thunder versus Phoenix Suns (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
11. "Team Rivalry Finder — Oklahoma City Thunder versus Washington Wizards (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.