2000 NBA playoffs
The 2000 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1999-2000 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers four games to two. Shaquille O'Neal was named NBA Finals MVP.
The San Antonio Spurs were the champions going into the playoffs, but following a season-ending injury to fourth-year star Tim Duncan, were eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in the first round, marking the first time since 1987 that a title-winning team did not repeat. They were also the first defending champion to be eliminated in the first round since the Philadelphia 76ers in 1984.
The Lakers' win was the first title for both O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, and the first Lakers championship since the 1988 NBA Finals. A. C. Green, the only player left from the Lakers' Showtime era, was in the Lakers starting lineup for this series as well.
For the Pacers, it was their first Eastern Conference title after four previous appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals; however, after this season, the team was radically altered with key players Dale Davis, Derrick McKey and Mark Jackson moving to other teams and Rik Smits retiring. Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals was the last game Patrick Ewing ever played as a Knick, and New York would not win another playoff series until 2013.
The Trail Blazers defeated the Timberwolves and the Jazz in the first two rounds before falling to the Lakers in the conference final. The Trail Blazers would not win another playoff series until 2014.
This season's playoffs also marked the debut of the five-year-old expansion Toronto Raptors. For the third straight year, New York eliminated Miami; it was their fourth consecutive postseason meeting.
This was also the first NBA postseason not have any back-to-backs at all.
Playoff qualifying
Eastern Conference
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:- Indiana Pacers
- Miami Heat
- New York Knicks
- Charlotte Hornets
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Toronto Raptors
- Detroit Pistons
- Milwaukee Bucks
Western Conference
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Utah Jazz
- Portland Trail Blazers
- San Antonio Spurs
- Phoenix Suns
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Seattle SuperSonics
- Sacramento Kings
Bracket
Western Conference
Champion: Los Angeles LakersFirst Round
(1) [Los Angeles Lakers] vs. (8) [Sacramento Kings]
- Shaquille O'Neal scores playoff career-high 46 points in Game One.
- Kobe Bryant scores playoff career-high 32 points in Game Two.
- Bryant scores a new career-high 35 points in Game Three.
| Los Angeles won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning six of the first seven meetings.
| Los Angeles leads 6–1 in all-time playoff series |
(2) [Utah Jazz] vs. (7) [Seattle SuperSonics]
| Tied 2–2 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 |
(3) [Portland Trail Blazers] vs. (6) [Minnesota Timberwolves]
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Timberwolves and the Trail Blazers.
(4) [San Antonio Spurs] vs. (5) [Phoenix Suns]
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning two series apiece.
| Tied 2–2 in all-time playoff series |
Conference Semifinals
(1) [Los Angeles Lakers] vs. (5) [Phoenix Suns]
- Kobe Bryant hits the game-winner with 2.6 seconds left in Game 2.
| Los Angeles won 4–0 in the regular-season series |
This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning six of the first eight meetings.
| Los Angeles leads 6–2 in all-time playoff series |
(2) [Utah Jazz] vs. (3) [Portland Trail Blazers]
- In Game 5, Scottie Pippen hits the series-winning 3 with 7.3 seconds left. Game 5 is Jeff Hornacek's final NBA game.
| Portland won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Trail Blazers winning three of the first five meetings.
| Portland leads 3–2 in all-time playoff series |
Conference Finals
(1) [Los Angeles Lakers] vs. (3) [Portland Trail Blazers]
- In Game 3, Arvydas Sabonis' potential game-tying shot was blocked by Kobe Bryant.
- In Game 7, the Lakers overcame a 16-point deficit and sealed the victory with Kobe Bryant delivering an alley-oop to Shaquille O'Neal.
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning six of the first eight meetings.
| Los Angeles leads 6–2 in all-time playoff series |
Eastern Conference
Champion: Indiana PacersFirst Round
(1) [Indiana Pacers] vs. (8) [Milwaukee Bucks]
- In Game 5, Travis Best hits the eventual series-winning 3 with 16.5 left. Also Reggie Miller scores 18 points in the 4th quarter of game 5.
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pacers winning the first meeting.
| Indiana leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
(4) [Charlotte Hornets] vs. (5) [Philadelphia 76ers]
| Charlotte won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the first playoff meeting between the 76ers and the Charlotte Hornets.
(3) [New York Knicks] vs. (6) [Toronto Raptors]
- In Game 2, Latrell Sprewell hits the game-winner with 7.9 left.
| Toronto won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Knicks and the Raptors.
(2) [Miami Heat] vs. (7) [Detroit Pistons]
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Pistons and the Heat.
Conference Semifinals
(1) [Indiana Pacers] vs. (5) [Philadelphia 76ers]
and Reggie Miller both scored 40 points to lead the Pacers to the series-opening victory.| 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 |
(2) [Miami Heat] vs. (3) [New York Knicks]
- Allan Houston makes game winning free throws with 17.6 seconds left in Game Six.
- Patrick Ewing makes game winning dunk over Alonzo Mourning with 1 minute left in Game Seven.
| Miami won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning two of the first three meetings.
| New York leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series |
Conference Finals
(1) [Indiana Pacers] vs. (3) [New York Knicks]
- In Game 6, Reggie Miller scores 17 points in the 4th quarter to help the Pacers reach the NBA Finals.
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning three of the first five meetings.
| New York leads 3–2 in all-time playoff series |
NBA Finals
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Indiana Pacers
- In Game 4, Kobe Bryant came back from his injury from Game 2 and after his teammate, Shaquille O'Neal fouled out of the game in OT, he took over the game. He followed in a missed shot by Brian Shaw with 5.9 seconds left to give the Lakers a 3-point lead, and after a potential game-winning three by Reggie Miller bounced off the rim, the Lakers took a 3-1 series lead. Game 6 is Rik Smits final NBA game.
| Tied 1–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Pacers and the Lakers.