1998 NBA playoffs

Overview

The New Jersey Nets made the playoffs for the first time since 1994, but did not appear again until 2002. Their presence was a mere asterisk compared to what they accomplished in 2002, getting swept by the eventual champion Bulls.

The Minnesota Timberwolves won their first playoff game in franchise history by winning Game 2 of their series against the Seattle SuperSonics. However, the SuperSonics prevailed in five games despite the Timberwolves taking a 2–1 series lead.

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost to Indiana in the first round 3–1 and did not appear again until 2006. It would also be the final playoff appearance for the Cavaliers without LeBron James on the roster.

The Heat–Knicks series was extremely notable for two reasons

• Game 4: A fight broke out between Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning at the end of the game (in which the Knicks won 90–85). A lasting image of the fight was Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy clinging to Mourning's leg. Both players were suspended for two games. Johnson and Mourning had bad blood dating back to their stint as Charlotte Hornets teammates.
• Game 5: The New York Knicks became the fourth seventh seed to knock off a second seeded team in the first round of the playoffs. This would not occur again until 2010.

Game 5 of the Jazz–Rockets series would be the final game of Clyde Drexler's career.

The Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1991. They were ultimately swept by the Jazz.

The Indiana Pacers entered the postseason with a franchise record 58 wins. Although they would lose to the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, this team was later named by Pacers.com as the greatest in franchise history primarily due to their record, even better than the 2000 team that won the Eastern Conference Title. The Eastern Conference Finals series between the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers was extremely notable for several reasons:

• Game 4: Reggie Miller's game winning 3 pointer with 0.7 seconds, which has been marked one of the greatest postseason moments in NBA History. Michael Jordan attempted a game winning 3 pointer of his own, but it rimmed out, effectively tying the series at 2–2.
• Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals: With a win, the Pacers took the Bulls to the limit by becoming 1 of only 2 teams to force a Game 7 in the Bulls' title years (the Knicks achieved this in 1992).
• Game 7: This was the first (and as of 2025, only) Game 7 to take place at the United Center.https://www.nba.com/pacers/running-at-the-bulls-oral-history-1997-98-pacers-pt-2
• Game 7: This was the last Game 7 the Bulls would play until 2009.

For the first time since 1989 NBA Finals, there was a rematch of the same two teams: the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. This would not happen again until 2014.

Game 6 of the NBA Finals was extremely notable for several reasons:

• In the waning moments of the game Michael Jordan made the title winning shot over Bryon Russell. This moment was marked as one of the greatest moments in NBA playoff history.
• It was the highest rated and most watched game in NBA History, with 72 million viewers watching at least part of the game and an average of 35.9 million viewers in the U.S.
• It was the last Chicago Bulls postseason game until 2005 and the last involving the Michael Jordan-led Bulls.
• Michael Jordan's final NBA playoff game.
• Phil Jackson's final game as coach of the Chicago Bulls (he would go on to coach the Los Angeles Lakers two seasons later).
• As of 2026, this remains the most recent NBA Finals game for the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz.

Bracket

Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Teams with home court advantage are shown in Italics.

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

| RD1-seed01=E1 | RD1-team01=Chicago* | RD1-score01=3 | RD1-seed02=E8 | RD1-team02=New Jersey | RD1-score02=0

| RD1-seed03=E4 | RD1-team03=Charlotte | RD1-score03=3 | RD1-seed04=E5 | RD1-team04=Atlanta | RD1-score04=1

| RD1-seed05=E3 | RD1-team05=Indiana | RD1-score05=3 | RD1-seed06=E6 | RD1-team06=Cleveland | RD1-score06=1

| RD1-seed07= E2 | RD1-team07=*Miami** | RD1-score07=2 | RD1-seed08=E7 | RD1-team08=New York | RD1-score08=3

| RD1-seed09=W1 | RD1-team09=Utah* | RD1-score09=3 | RD1-seed10=W8 | RD1-team10=Houston | RD1-score10=2

| RD1-seed11=W4 | RD1-team11=Phoenix | RD1-score11=1 | RD1-seed12=W5 | RD1-team12=San Antonio | RD1-score12=3

| RD1-seed13=W3 | RD1-team13=LA Lakers | RD1-score13=3 | RD1-seed14=W6 | RD1-team14=Portland | RD1-score14=1

| RD1-seed15=W2 | RD1-team15=Seattle* | RD1-score15=3 | RD1-seed16=W7 | RD1-team16=Minnesota | RD1-score16=2

| RD2-seed01=E1 | RD2-team01=Chicago* | RD2-score01=4 | RD2-seed02=E4 | RD2-team02=Charlotte | RD2-score02=1

| RD2-seed03=E3 | RD2-team03=Indiana | RD2-score03=4 | RD2-seed04=E7 | RD2-team04=New York | RD2-score04=1

| RD2-seed05=W1 | RD2-team05=Utah* | RD2-score05=4 | RD2-seed06=W5 | RD2-team06=San Antonio | RD2-score06=1

| RD2-seed07=W3 | RD2-team07=LA Lakers | RD2-score07=4 | RD2-seed08=W2 | RD2-team08=Seattle* | RD2-score08=1

| RD3-seed01=E1 | RD3-team01=Chicago* | RD3-score01=4 | RD3-seed02=E3 | RD3-team02=Indiana | RD3-score02=3

| RD3-seed03=W1 | RD3-team03=Utah* | RD3-score03=4 | RD3-seed04=W3 | RD3-team04=LA Lakers | RD3-score04=0

| RD4-seed01=E1 | RD4-team01=Chicago* | RD4-score01=4 | RD4-seed02=W1 | RD4-team02=Utah* | RD4-score02=2 |* Division winner |Bold Series winner |Italic Team with home-court advantage}}

Playoff qualifying

Western Conference

Home court advantage

The Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls tied for the best record in the NBA. However, Utah won the season series 2–0 and was awarded home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Clinched a playoff berth

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:

1. Utah Jazz (62–20, clinched Midwest division)
2. Seattle SuperSonics (61–21, clinched Pacific division)
3. Los Angeles Lakers (61–21)
4. Phoenix Suns (56–26)
5. San Antonio Spurs (56–26)
6. Portland Trail Blazers (46–36)
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (45–37)
8. Houston Rockets (41-41)

Eastern Conference

Best record in conference

The Chicago Bulls clinched the best record in the East, and earned home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Clinched a playoff berth

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:

1. Chicago Bulls (62–20, clinched Central division)
2. Miami Heat (55–27, clinched Atlantic division)
3. Indiana Pacers (58–24)
4. Charlotte Hornets (51–31)
5. Atlanta Hawks (50–32)
6. Cleveland Cavaliers (47–35)
7. New York Knicks (43–39)
8. New Jersey Nets (43–39)

First round

Eastern Conference first round

(1) [[Chicago Bulls]] vs. (8) [[New Jersey Nets]]

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

(2) [[Miami Heat]] vs. (7) [[New York Knicks]]

Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson fight.

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

(3) [[Indiana Pacers]] vs. (6) [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]

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

(4) [[Charlotte Hornets]] vs. (5) [[Atlanta Hawks]]

This was the first playoff meeting between the Hawks and the Hornets.

Western Conference first round

(1) [[Utah Jazz]] vs. (8) [[Houston Rockets]]

Game 5 is Clyde Drexler's final NBA game.

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning two series apiece.

(2) [[Seattle SuperSonics]] vs. (7) [[Minnesota Timberwolves]]

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

(3) [[Los Angeles Lakers]] vs. (6) [[Portland Trail Blazers]]

This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning five of the first seven meetings.

(4) [[Phoenix Suns]] vs. (5) [[San Antonio Spurs]]

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

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference semifinals

(1) [[Chicago Bulls]] vs. (4) [[Charlotte Hornets]]

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

(3) [[Indiana Pacers]] vs. (7) [[New York Knicks]]

Reggie Miller hits the game-tying 3 with 5.1 seconds left to force OT.

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

Western Conference semifinals

(1) [[Utah Jazz]] vs. (5) [[San Antonio Spurs]]

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning the first two meetings.

(2) [[Seattle SuperSonics]] vs. (3) [[Los Angeles Lakers]]

This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning four of the first six meetings.

Conference finals

Eastern Conference finals

(1) [[Chicago Bulls]] vs. (3) [[Indiana Pacers]]

Reggie Miller hits the game-winning 3 with 0.7 seconds left.

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

Western Conference finals

(1) [[Utah Jazz]] vs. (3) [[Los Angeles Lakers]]

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.

NBA Finals: (E1) Chicago Bulls vs. (W1) Utah Jazz

Main article: 1998 NBA Finals

Luc Longley hits the game-tying shot with 14.3 seconds left to force OT. Utah scores the fewest points in any playoff game in NBA history (54) and loses by the biggest margin in NBA Finals history (42). Main article: Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals

Michael Jordan hits the game-winning shot with 5.2 seconds left; this was Jordan's final NBA game with the Bulls.

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

Statistical leaders

References

References

1. "Team Rivalry Finder — Brooklyn Nets versus Chicago Bulls (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
2. "Team Rivalry Finder — Miami Heat versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
3. "Team Rivalry Finder — Cleveland Cavaliers versus Indiana Pacers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
4. "Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Charlotte Hornets (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
5. "Team Rivalry Finder — Houston Rockets versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
6. "Team Rivalry Finder — Minnesota Timberwolves versus Oklahoma City Thunder (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
7. "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
8. "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
9. "Team Rivalry Finder — Charlotte Hornets versus Chicago Bulls (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
10. "Team Rivalry Finder — Indiana Pacers versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
11. "Team Rivalry Finder — San Antonio Spurs versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
12. "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Oklahoma City Thunder (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
13. "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Indiana Pacers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
14. "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
15. "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.