The 1998 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1997âÂÂ98 season. The tournament concluded with the two-time defending NBA champion and Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls defeating the Western Conference champion Utah Jazz 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. The Bulls achieved a second three peat, a goal unrivaled since the Boston Celtics in 1966. Michael Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP for the sixth and final time.
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 2âÂÂ1 series lead.
The Cleveland Cavaliers lost to Indiana in the first round 3âÂÂ1 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 HeatâÂÂKnicks series was extremely notable for two reasons
Game 5 of the JazzâÂÂRockets 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:
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:
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.
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The Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls tied for the best record in the NBA. However, Utah won the season series 2âÂÂ0 and was awarded home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:
The Chicago Bulls clinched the best record in the East, and earned home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:
This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the Nets.
Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson fight.
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Heat winning the first meeting.
This was the first playoff meeting between the Cavaliers and the Pacers.
This was the first playoff meeting between the Hawks and the Hornets.
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.
This was the first playoff meeting between the Timberwolves and the SuperSonics.
This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning five of the first seven meetings.
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning two of the first three meetings.
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first meeting.
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.
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning the first two meetings.
This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning four of the first six meetings.
Reggie Miller hits the game-winning 3 with 0.7 seconds left.
This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the Pacers.
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.
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).
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.