2003 NBA playoffs


The 2003 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2002–03 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs defeating the Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Nets, 4 games to 2, in the NBA Finals. Tim Duncan was named NBA Finals MVP for the second time.
This postseason featured the most series decided by 6 games in NBA Playoff history.
This postseason is notable for being the first time since 1974 that all series were conducted in a best-of-seven format; From 1984 to 2002, the first-round series were best-of-five. It is also notable as the only time the conference quarterfinal round did not include any series sweeps.
This is the first time that the NBA Playoffs carried more games on cable television than regular broadcast television, and marks the debut for the NBA Playoffs to be aired on NBA TV, and the return broadcast on ESPN and ABC after the NBA departed from NBC and TBS.
The Detroit Pistons advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars-led team was swept by the Chicago Bulls in 1991, ending the Pistons' quest for a third consecutive title. The Pistons would go on to appear in six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals through 2008, the most consecutive appearances for any Eastern Conference team since the Bill Russell-led Boston Celtics.
The Dallas Mavericks ended a long conference finals drought by making it there for the first time since 1988.
As of 2020, the 49-win Nets are the most recent NBA Finals participant to win fewer than 50 games in an 82-game season.
The Boston Celtics were swept in a postseason series for the first time since 1983.

Playoff qualifying

Western Conference

Eastern Conference

Bracket

Western Conference

Champion: San Antonio Spurs

First Round

(1) [San Antonio Spurs] vs. (8) [Phoenix Suns]

In Game 1, after Amar'e Stoudemire banks in a game-tying 3 with 7.9 seconds left in regulation, Stephon Marbury hits the game-winning 3 at the buzzer in OT.
Phoenix won 3–1 in the regular-season series


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

(2) [Sacramento Kings] vs. (7) [Utah Jazz]

Game 5 is John Stockton's final NBA game. It was also Karl Malone's last game in Utah as he joined the Los Angeles Lakers during the following offseason.
Sacramento won 3–1 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

(3) [Dallas Mavericks] vs. (6) [Portland Trail Blazers]

The Trail Blazers became the third NBA team to force a Game 7 after being down 0–3.
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


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

(4) [Minnesota Timberwolves] vs. (5) [Los Angeles Lakers]

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


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

Conference Semifinals

(1) [San Antonio Spurs] vs. (5) [Los Angeles Lakers]

San Antonio 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) [Sacramento Kings] vs. (3) [Dallas Mavericks]

Sacramento won 3–1 in the regular-season series


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

Conference Finals

(1) [San Antonio Spurs] vs. (3) [Dallas Mavericks]

Steve Kerr puts on a shooting performance for the ages connecting on 4 3-pointers closing out Dallas in game 6. Dirk Nowitzki missed the final three games with a knee injury.
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


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

Eastern Conference

Champion: New Jersey Nets

First Round

(1) [Detroit Pistons] vs. (8) [Orlando Magic]

The Pistons became the 7th team in NBA history to overcome a 3–1 series deficit.
Detroit won 2–1 in the regular-season series


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

(2) [New Jersey Nets] vs. (7) [Milwaukee Bucks]

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


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

(3) [Indiana Pacers] vs. (6) [Boston Celtics]

Tied 2–2 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

(4) [Philadelphia 76ers] vs. (5) [New Orleans Hornets]

New Orleans won 2–1 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the 76ers and the New Orleans Pelicans/Hornets franchise.

Conference Semifinals

(1) [Detroit Pistons] vs. (4) [Philadelphia 76ers]

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning the first meeting. All previous series took place while the Nationals/76ers franchise were in Syracuse and the Pistons franchise were in Fort Wayne.
Philadelphia leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series

(2) New Jersey Nets">Brooklyn Nets">New Jersey Nets vs. (6) [Boston Celtics]

New Jersey won 3–1 in the regular-season series


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

Conference Finals

(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (2) New Jersey Nets

Detroit won 2–1 in the regular-season series


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

NBA Finals: (W1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (E2) New Jersey Nets

Tied 1–1 in the regular-season series


This was the first NBA playoff meeting between the Nets and the Spurs. As members of the ABA, both teams met in the 1976 ABA Semifinals, where the Nets won 4–3.