2004 NBA Playoffs

The 2004 NBA Playoffs were the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2003-04 season. Consisting of 16 teams in 2 conferences, the playoffs involved about two months of play. The playoffs were conducted in 7-game series, with the team with the better record holding home court advantage. The Detroit Pistons, the third-seeded team in the Eastern Conference, won the 2004 NBA Playoffs by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers, four games to one in the NBA Finals.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, after missing the playoffs their first seven seasons and losing in the first round the next seven years, won their first two playoff series in 2004 before falling to the Lakers in the Western Conference finals.

The Indiana Pacers made the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since their NBA Finals run in 2000, after which they significantly changed the makeup of their team (yet continued to make the playoffs every year).

The 2004 playoffs marked the first postseason appearance for the Memphis Grizzlies in their nine-year history which began as the Vancouver Grizzlies.

2004 also saw the Utah Jazz missing the playoffs for the first time since 1983.

2004 also marked the first time in 14 years that all Texas teams made the playoffs, and the second time (first in 10 years) that all former ABA teams made the playoffs.

Bracket

16TeamBracket

RD1=First Round
RD2=Conference Semifinals
RD3=Conference Finals
RD4=NBA Finals
group1=Western Conference
group2=Eastern Conference

RD1-seed01=1
RD1-team01=Minnesota
RD1-score01=4
RD1-seed02=8
RD1-team02=Denver
RD1-score02=1

RD1-seed03=4
RD1-team03=Sacramento
RD1-score03=4
RD1-seed04=5
RD1-team04=Dallas
RD1-score04=1

RD1-seed05=3
RD1-team05=San Antonio
RD1-score05=4
RD1-seed06=6
RD1-team06=Memphis
RD1-score06=0

RD1-seed07=2
RD1-team07=L.A. Lakers
RD1-score07=4
RD1-seed08=7
RD1-team08=Houston
RD1-score08=1

RD1-seed09=1
RD1-team09=Indiana
RD1-score09=4
RD1-seed10=8
RD1-team10=Boston
RD1-score10=0

RD1-seed11=4
RD1-team11=Miami
RD1-score11=4
RD1-seed12=5
RD1-team12=New Orleans
RD1-score12=3

RD1-seed13=3
RD1-team13=Detroit
RD1-score13=4
RD1-seed14=6
RD1-team14=Milwaukee
RD1-score14=1

RD1-seed15=2
RD1-team15=New Jersey
RD1-score15=4
RD1-seed16=7
RD1-team16=New York
RD1-score16=0

RD2-seed01=1
RD2-team01=Minnesota
RD2-score01=4
RD2-seed02=4
RD2-team02=Sacramento
RD2-score02=3

RD2-seed03=3
RD2-team03=San Antonio
RD2-score03=2
RD2-seed04=2
RD2-team04=L.A. Lakers
RD2-score04=4

RD2-seed05=1
RD2-team05=Indiana
RD2-score05=4
RD2-seed06=4
RD2-team06=Miami
RD2-score06=2

RD2-seed07=3
RD2-team07=Detroit
RD2-score07=4
RD2-seed08=2
RD2-team08=New Jersey
RD2-score08=3

RD3-seed01=1
RD3-team01=Minnesota
RD3-score01=2
RD3-seed02=2
RD3-team02=L.A. Lakers
RD3-score02=4

RD3-seed03=1
RD3-team03=Indiana
RD3-score03=2
RD3-seed04=3
RD3-team04=Detroit
RD3-score04=4

RD4-seed01=W2
RD4-team01=L.A. Lakers
RD4-score01=1
RD4-seed02=E3
RD4-team02=Detroit
RD4-score02=4

Playoff qualifying

Western Conference

Best record in conference

The Minnesota Timberwolves clinched the best record in the Western Conference, and had home court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs. However, when Minnesota lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers gained home court advantage for the NBA Finals because the Lakers posted a better regular season record at 56-26 than the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons at 54-28.

Clinched a playoff berth

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:

# Minnesota Timberwolves (clinched Midwest division)
# Los Angeles Lakers (clinched Pacific division)
# San Antonio Spurs
# Sacramento Kings
# Dallas Mavericks
# Memphis Grizzlies
# Houston Rockets
# Denver Nuggets

Eastern Conference

Best record in NBA

The Indiana Pacers clinched the best record in the NBA, and had home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs.

Clinched a playoff berth

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:

# Indiana Pacers (clinched Central division)
# New Jersey Nets (clinched Atlantic division)
# Detroit Pistons
# Miami Heat
# New Orleans Hornets
# Milwaukee Bucks
# New York Knicks
# Boston Celtics

Western Conference

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers

First Round

(1) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (8) Denver Nuggets:"Timberwolves win series 4-1"
*Game 1 @ Target Center, Minnesota: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040418/DENMIN/recap.html Minnesota 106, Denver 92] TNT 9:30et
*Game 2 @ Target Center, Minnesota: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040421/DENMIN/recap.html Minnesota 95, Denver 81]
*Game 3 @ Pepsi Center, Denver: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040424/MINDEN/recap.html Denver 107, Minnesota 86] ESPN 10:30et
*Game 4 @ Pepsi Center, Denver: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040427/MINDEN/recap.html Minnesota 84, Denver 82] TNT 10:30et
*Game 5 @ Target Center, Minnesota: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040430/DENMIN/recap.html Minnesota 102, Denver 91] ESPN 9:30et (2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) Houston Rockets:"Lakers win series 4-1"
*Game 1 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040417/HOULAL/recap.html Los Angeles 72, Houston 71] ESPN 10:30et
*Game 2 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040419/HOULAL/recap.html Los Angeles 98, Houston 84] TNT 10:30et
*Game 3 @ Toyota Center (Houston), Houston: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040423/LALHOU/recap.html Houston 102, Los Angeles 91] ESPN 9:30et
*Game 4 @ Toyota Center (Houston), Houston: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040425/LALHOU/recap.html Los Angeles 92, Houston 88] (OT) ABC 3:30et
*Game 5 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040428/HOULAL/recap.html Los Angeles 97, Houston 78] TNT 10:30et

(3) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Memphis Grizzlies:"Spurs win series 4-0"
*Game 1 @ AT&T Center, San Antonio: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040417/MEMSAS/recap.html San Antonio 98, Memphis 74] ESPN 8:00et
*Game 2 @ AT&T Center, San Antonio: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040419/MEMSAS/recap.html San Antonio 87, Memphis 70] TNT 8:00et
*Game 3 @ FedExForum, Memphis: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040422/SASMEM/recap.html San Antonio 95, Memphis 93]
*Game 4 @ FedExForum, Memphis: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040422/SASMEM/recap.html San Antonio 110, Memphis 97] TNT 9:30et (4) Sacramento Kings vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks:"Kings win series 4-1"
*Game 1 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040418/DALSAC/recap.html Sacramento 116, Dallas 105] ABC 3:30et
*Game 2 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040420/DALSAC/recap.html Sacramento 83, Dallas 79] TNT 10:30et
*Game 3 @ American Airlines Center, Dallas: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040424/SACDAL/recap.html Dallas 104, Sacramento 79] ESPN 9:30et
*Game 4 @ American Airlines Center, Dallas: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040426/SACDAL/recap.html Sacramento 94, Dallas 92] TNT 9:30et
*Game 5 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040429/DALSAC/recap.html Sacramento 119, Dallas 118] TNT 10:30et

Conference Semifinals

(1) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (4) Sacramento Kings:"Timberwolves win series 4-3"
*Game 1 @ Target Center, Minnesota: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040504/SACMIN/recap.html Sacramento 104, Minnesota 98] TNT 9:30et
*Game 2 @ Target Center, Minnesota: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040508/SACMIN/recap.html Minnesota 94, Sacramento 89] ESPN 9:30et
*Game 3 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040510/MINSAC/recap.html Minnesota 114, Sacramento 113] (OT) TNT 10:30et
*Game 4 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040512/MINSAC/recap.html Sacramento 87, Minnesota 81] TNT 10:30et
*Game 5 @ Target Center, Minnesota: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040514/SACMIN/recap.html Minnesota 86, Sacramento 74] TNT 9:30et
*Game 6 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040516/MINSAC/recap.html Sacramento 104, Minnesota 87] ABC 3:30et
*Game 7 @ Target Center, Minnesota: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040519/SACMIN/recap.html Minnesota 83, Sacramento 80] TNT 9:00et

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) San Antonio Spurs:"Lakers win series 4-2"
*Game 1 @ AT&T Center, San Antonio: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040502/LALSAS/recap.html San Antonio 88, Los Angeles 78] ABC 3:30pm/2:30ct
*Game 2 @ AT&T Center, San Antonio: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040505/LALSAS/recap.html San Antonio 95, Los Angeles 85] TNT 9:30pm/8:30ct
*Game 3 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040509/SASLAL/recap.html Los Angeles 105, San Antonio 81] ABC 3:30pm/12:30pt
*Game 4 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040511/SASLAL/recap.html Los Angeles 98, San Antonio 90] TNT 10:30pm/7:30pt
*Game 5 @ AT&T Center, San Antonio: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040513/LALSAS/recap.html Los Angeles 74, San Antonio 73] ABC 8:00pm/7:00ct
*Game 6 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040515/SASLAL/recap.html Los Angeles 88, San Antonio 76] TNT 10:30pm/7:30pt

Conference Finals

(1) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers:"Lakers win series 4-2"
*Game 1 @ Target Center, Minnesota: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040521/LALMIN/recap.html Los Angeles 97, Minnesota 88] TNT 9:00pm/8:00ct
*Game 2 @ Target Center, Minnesota: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040523/LALMIN/recap.html Minnesota 89, Los Angeles 71] TNT 9:00pm/8:00ct
*Game 3 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040525/MINLAL/recap.html Los Angeles 100, Minnesota 89] TNT 9:00pm/6:00pt
*Game 4 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040527/MINLAL/recap.html Los Angeles 92, Minnesota 85] TNT 9:00pm/6:00pt
*Game 5 @ Target Center, Minnesota: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040529/LALMIN/recap.html Minnesota 98, Los Angeles 96] TNT 9:00pm/8:00ct
*Game 6 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040531/MINLAL/recap.html Los Angeles 96, Minnesota 90] TNT 9:00pm/6:00pt

Eastern Conference

Champion: Detroit Pistons

First Round

(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (8) Boston Celtics:"Pacers win series 4-0"
*Game 1 @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indiana: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040417/BOSIND/recap.html Indiana 104, Boston 88]
*Game 2 @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indiana: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040420/BOSIND/recap.html Indiana 103, Boston 90]
*Game 3 @ FleetCenter, Boston: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040423/INDBOS/recap.html Indiana 108, Boston 85]
*Game 4 @ FleetCenter, Boston: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040425/INDBOS/recap.html Indiana 90, Boston 75]

(2) New Jersey Nets vs. (7) New York Knicks:"Nets win series 4-0"
*Game 1 @ Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040417/NYKNJN/recap.html New Jersey 107, New York 83]
*Game 2 @ Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040420/NYKNJN/recap.html New Jersey 99, New York 81]
*Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040422/NJNNYK/recap.html New Jersey 81, New York 78]
*Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040425/NJNNYK/recap.html New Jersey 100, New York 94]

(3) Detroit Pistons vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks:"Pistons win series 4-1"
*Game 1 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040418/MILDET/recap.html Detroit 108, Milwaukee 82]
*Game 2 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040421/MILDET/recap.html Milwaukee 92, Detroit 88]
*Game 3 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040424/DETMIL/recap.html Detroit 95, Milwaukee 85]
*Game 4 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040426/DETMIL/recap.html Detroit 109, Milwaukee 92]
*Game 5 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040429/MILDET/recap.html Detroit 91, Milwaukee 77] (4) Miami Heat vs. (5) New Orleans Hornets:"Heat win series 4-3"
*Game 1 @ AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040418/NOHMIA/recap.html Miami 81, New Orleans 79]
*Game 2 @ AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040421/NOHMIA/recap.html Miami 93, New Orleans 63]
*Game 3 @ New Orleans Arena, New Orleans: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040424/MIANOH/recap.html New Orleans 77, Miami 71]
*Game 4 @ New Orleans Arena, New Orleans: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040427/MIANOH/recap.html New Orleans 96, Miami 85]
*Game 5 @ AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040430/NOHMIA/recap.html Miami 87, New Orleans 83]
*Game 6 @ New Orleans Arena, New Orleans: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040502/MIANOH/recap.html New Orleans 89, Miami 83]
*Game 7 @ AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040504/NOHMIA/recap.html Miami 85, New Orleans 77]

Conference Semifinals

(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (4) Miami Heat:"Pacers win series 4-2"
*Game 1 @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indiana: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040506/MIAIND/recap.html Indiana 94, Miami 81]
*Game 2 @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indiana: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040508/MIAIND/recap.html Indiana 91, Miami 80]
*Game 3 @ AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040510/INDMIA/recap.html Miami 94, Indiana 87]
*Game 4 @ AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040512/INDMIA/recap.html Miami 100, Indiana 88]
*Game 5 @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indiana: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040515/MIAIND/recap.html Indiana 94, Miami 83]
*Game 6 @ AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040518/INDMIA/recap.html Indiana 73, Miami 70]

(2) New Jersey Nets vs. (3) Detroit Pistons:"Pistons win series 4-3"
*Game 1 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040503/NJNDET/recap.html Detroit 78, New Jersey 56]
*Game 2 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040507/NJNDET/recap.html Detroit 95, New Jersey 80]
*Game 3 @ Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040509/DETNJN/recap.html New Jersey 82, Detroit 64]
*Game 4 @ Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040511/DETNJN/recap.html New Jersey 94, Detroit 79]
*Game 5 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040514/NJNDET/recap.html New Jersey 127, Detroit 120] (3OT)
*Game 6 @ Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040516/DETNJN/recap.html Detroit 81, New Jersey 75]
*Game 7 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040520/NJNDET/recap.html Detroit 90, New Jersey 69]

Conference Finals

(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (3) Detroit Pistons:"Pistons win series 4-2"
*Game 1 @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indiana: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040522/DETIND/recap.html Indiana 78, Detroit 74] ESPN 8:00pm/7:00ct
*Game 2 @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indiana: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040524/DETIND/recap.html Detroit 72, Indiana 67] ESPN 8:00pm/7:00ct
*Game 3 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040526/INDDET/recap.html Detroit 85, Indiana 78] ESPN 8:00pm
*Game 4 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040528/INDDET/recap.html Indiana 83, Detroit 68] ESPN 8:00pm
*Game 5 @ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indiana: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040530/DETIND/recap.html Detroit 83, Indiana 65] ESPN 8:00pm/7:00ct
*Game 6 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040601/INDDET/recap.html Detroit 69, Indiana 65] ESPN 8:00pm

NBA Finals

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Detroit Pistons:"Pistons win series, 4-1"

*Game 1 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040606/DETLAL/recap.html Detroit 87, Los Angeles 75] ABC 9:00pm/6:00pt
*Game 2 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040608/DETLAL/recap.html Los Angeles 99, Detroit 91] (OT) ABC 9:00pm/6:00pt
*Game 3 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040610/LALDET/recap.html Detroit 88, Los Angeles 68] ABC 9:00pm
*Game 4 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040613/LALDET/recap.html Detroit 88, Los Angeles 80] ABC 9:00pm
*Game 5 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit: [http://www.nba.com/games/20040615/LALDET/recap.html Detroit 100, Los Angeles 87] ABC 9:00pm

External links

* [http://www.nba.com/playoffs2004/ NBA.com's section for the 2004 NBA Playoffs]