2004 NBA playoffs

2004 NBA playoffs

Dates	April 17–June 15, 2004
Season	2003–04
Teams	16
Champions	Detroit Pistons (3rd title)
Runners-up	Los Angeles Lakers (25th finals appearance)
Semifinalists	Indiana Pacers Minnesota Timberwolves
← 2003 2005 →

The 2004 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2003–04 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. Chauncey Billups was named NBA Finals MVP.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, after missing the playoffs their first seven seasons and losing in the first round the next seven, won their first two playoff series in 2004 before losing to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. As of 2019, these are the Wolves' only two series victories. The Timberwolves would not make the playoffs again until 2018.

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 still made the playoffs every year). Game 2 of the series with the Pistons was pivotal, as Tayshaun Prince blocked a lay-up by Reggie Miller late in the game to preserve the victory; the Pistons won 4–2.

The 2004 playoffs was the first appearance for the Memphis Grizzlies in their 9-year history which began in Vancouver. However, they failed to win a single game in their first 3 playoff appearances (2004, 2005, 2006), before earning their first playoff game and series victories in 2011.

This was the last playoff appearance for the New York Knicks until 2011, when they would be swept in the first round.

The Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz missed the playoffs for the first time since 1982 and 1983, respectively.

This was the Denver Nuggets' first playoff appearance since 1995.

The New Orleans Hornets made their final postseason appearance as a member of the East. They would not make the playoffs again until 2008, as a member of the West (the result of a realignment with the addition of the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2004–05 NBA season). Their playoff series with the Miami Heat, led by Dwyane Wade, was the last playoff series where the home team won all 7 games until 2008's Boston–Atlanta and Boston–Cleveland playoff series.

2004 was 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.

The Rockets returned to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. They lost to the Lakers in five games of the opening round. This was Steve Francis' only career playoff appearance.

Playoff qualifying[]

Eastern Conference[]

Best record in NBA[]

The Indiana Pacers clinched the best record in the NBA, and had earned home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs. However, when Indiana lost to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, home court advantage for the NBA Finals switched to the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers, who had 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 East:

1. Indiana Pacers (61–21) (clinched Central division)
2. Detroit Pistons (54–28)
3. New Jersey Nets (47–35) (clinched Atlantic division)
4. Miami Heat (42–40)
5. New Orleans Hornets (41–41)
6. Milwaukee Bucks (41–41)
7. New York Knicks (39–43)
8. Boston Celtics (36–46)

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:

1. Minnesota Timberwolves (58–24) (clinched Midwest division)
2. San Antonio Spurs (57–25)
3. Los Angeles Lakers (56–26) (clinched Pacific division)
4. Sacramento Kings (55–27)
5. Dallas Mavericks (52–30)
6. Memphis Grizzlies (50–32)
7. Houston Rockets (45–37)
8. Denver Nuggets (43–39)

Bracket[]

Conference Quarterfinals

Conference Semifinals

Conference Finals

NBA Finals

E1

Indiana*

4

E8

Boston

0

E1

Indiana*

4

E4

Miami

2

E4

Miami

4

E5

New Orleans

3

E1

Indiana*

2

Eastern Conference

E3

Detroit

4

E3

Detroit

4

E6

Milwaukee

1

E3

Detroit

4

E2

New Jersey*

3

E2

New Jersey*

4

E7

New York

0

E3

Detroit

4

W2

LA Lakers*

1

W1

Minnesota*

4

W8

Denver

1

W1

Minnesota*

4

W4

Sacramento

3

W4

Sacramento

4

W5

Dallas

1

W1

Minnesota*

2

Western Conference

W2

LA Lakers*

4

W3

San Antonio

4

W6

Memphis

0

W3

San Antonio

2

W2

LA Lakers*

4

W2

LA Lakers*

4

W7

Houston

1

* Division winner
Bold Series winner
Italic Team with home-court advantage

First Round[]

All times are in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4)

Eastern Conference First Round[]

(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (8) Boston Celtics[]

Regular-season series show

Indiana won 3–1 in the regular-season series
November 11, 2003 Recap Boston Celtics 78, Indiana Pacers 76 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana January 2, 2004 Recap Indiana Pacers 103, Boston Celtics 90 FleetCenter, Boston, Massachusetts January 31, 2004 Recap Boston Celtics 98, Indiana Pacers 99 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana March 12, 2004 Recap Indiana Pacers 99, Boston Celtics 81 FleetCenter, Boston, Massachusetts

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

Previous playoff series^[1] show

Boston leads 3–0 in all-time playoff series
1991 Boston Celtics 3, Indiana Pacers 2 1991 Eastern Conference First Round 1992 Boston Celtics 3, Indiana Pacers 0 1992 Eastern Conference First Round 2003 Boston Celtics 4, Indiana Pacers 2 2003 Eastern Conference First Round

(2) New Jersey Nets vs. (7) New York Knicks[]

Regular-season series show

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

November 14, 2003 Recap New York Knicks 80, New Jersey Nets 85 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey January 4, 2004 Recap New Jersey Nets 95, New York Knicks 85 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York March 19, 2004 Recap New Jersey Nets 65, New York Knicks 79 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York April 2, 2004 Recap New York Knicks 83, New Jersey Nets 108 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey

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

Previous playoff series^[2] show

New York leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
1983 New Jersey Nets 0, New York Knicks 2 1983 Eastern Conference First Round 1994 New Jersey Nets 1, New York Knicks 3 1994 Eastern Conference First Round

(3) Detroit Pistons vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks[]

Regular-season series show

Detroit won 3–1 in the regular-season series

November 7, 2003 Recap Milwaukee Bucks 99, Detroit Pistons 105 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan December 23, 2003 Recap Detroit Pistons 78, Milwaukee Bucks 83 Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin January 17, 2004 Recap Detroit Pistons 99, Milwaukee Bucks 94 Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin February 18, 2004 Recap Milwaukee Bucks 98, Detroit Pistons 102 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan

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

Previous playoff series^[3] show

Detroit leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
1976 Detroit Pistons 2, Milwaukee Bucks 1 1976 Western Conference First Round 1989 Detroit Pistons 4, Milwaukee Bucks 0 1989 Eastern Conference Semifinals

(4) Miami Heat vs. (5) New Orleans Hornets[]

Regular-season series show

Miami won 3–1 in the regular-season series

November 25, 2003 Recap New Orleans Hornets 87, Miami Heat 91 American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida January 31, 2004 Recap Miami Heat 94, New Orleans Hornets 70 New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana March 10, 2004 Recap Miami Heat 84, New Orleans Hornets 95 New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana March 16, 2004 Recap New Orleans Hornets 83, Miami Heat 96 American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida

• In Game 1, Dwyane Wade hits the game winner with 1.3 seconds left.

This was the first playoff meeting between the Heat and the New Orleans Pelicans/Hornets franchise.^[4]

Western Conference First Round[]

(1) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (8) Denver Nuggets[]

Regular-season series show

Minnesota won 3–1 in the regular-season series

November 18, 2003 Recap Denver Nuggets 76, Minnesota Timberwolves 89 Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota January 26, 2004 Recap Minnesota Timberwolves 97, Denver Nuggets 95 Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado March 21, 2004 Recap Denver Nuggets 77, Minnesota Timberwolves 98 Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota March 24, 2004 Recap Minnesota Timberwolves 92, Denver Nuggets 101 Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado

This was the first playoff meeting between the Nuggets and the Timberwolves.^[5]

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) Houston Rockets[]

Regular-season series show

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
December 25, 2003 Recap Houston Rockets 99, Los Angeles Lakers 87 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California February 11, 2004 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 87, Houston Rockets 102 Toyota Center, Houston, Texas March 3, 2004 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 96, Houston Rockets 93 Toyota Center, Houston, Texas April 1, 2004 Recap Houston Rockets 85, Los Angeles Lakers 93 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

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

Previous playoff series^[6] show

Tied 3–3 in all-time playoff series

1981 Houston Rockets 2, Los Angeles Lakers 1 1981 Western Conference First Round 1986 Houston Rockets 4, Los Angeles Lakers 1 1986 Western Conference Finals 1990 Houston Rockets 1, Los Angeles Lakers 3 1990 Western Conference First Round 1991 Houston Rockets 0, Los Angeles Lakers 3 1991 Western Conference First Round 1996 Houston Rockets 3, Los Angeles Lakers 1 1996 Western Conference First Round 1999 Houston Rockets 1, Los Angeles Lakers 3 1999 Western Conference First Round

(3) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Memphis Grizzlies[]

Regular-season series show

Memphis won 3–1 in the regular-season series
November 3, 2003 Recap San Antonio Spurs 80, Memphis Grizzlies 88 The Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee December 15, 2003 Recap Memphis Grizzlies 67, San Antonio Spurs 78 SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas March 1, 2004 Recap Memphis Grizzlies 81, San Antonio Spurs 80 SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas March 9, 2004 Recap San Antonio Spurs 88, Memphis Grizzlies 94 The Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee

This was the first playoff meeting between the Grizzlies and the Spurs.^[7]

(4) Sacramento Kings vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks[]

Regular-season series show

Dallas won 3–1 in the regular-season series

December 25, 2003 Recap Dallas Mavericks 111, Sacramento Kings 103 ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California January 25, 2004 Recap Sacramento Kings 99, Dallas Mavericks 108 American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas March 11, 2004 Recap Dallas Mavericks 102, Sacramento Kings 120 ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California April 1, 2004 Recap Sacramento Kings 117, Dallas Mavericks 127 American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas

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

Previous playoff series^[8] show

Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
2002 Dallas Mavericks 1, Sacramento Kings 4 2002 Western Conference Semifinals 2003 Dallas Mavericks 4, Sacramento Kings 3 2003 Western Conference Semifinals

Conference Semifinals[]

Eastern Conference Semifinals[]

(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (4) Miami Heat[]

Recap

Regular-season series show

Indiana won 3–0 in the regular-season series
January 5, 2004 Recap Indiana Pacers 87, Miami Heat 65 American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida February 8, 2004 Recap Miami Heat 91, Indiana Pacers 97 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana March 28, 2004 Recap Miami Heat 80, Indiana Pacers 87 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana

This was the first playoff meeting between the Pacers and the Heat.^[9]

(3) Detroit Pistons vs. (2) New Jersey Nets[]

• In Game 5, Chauncey Billups hits a half court buzzer beater to send the game to OT. 12 years later, Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors would do the same in Game 1 against the Miami Heat in their second round matchup.

Regular-season series show

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series

November 9, 2003 Recap New Jersey Nets 84, Detroit Pistons 98 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan December 26, 2003 Recap New Jersey Nets 82, Detroit Pistons 79 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan February 10, 2004 Recap Detroit Pistons 78, New Jersey Nets 89 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey March 18, 2004 Recap Detroit Pistons 89, New Jersey Nets 71 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey

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

Previous playoff series^[10] show

Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
1985 Detroit Pistons 3, New Jersey Nets 0 1985 Eastern Conference First Round 2003 Detroit Pistons 0, New Jersey Nets 4 2003 Eastern Conference Finals

Western Conference Semifinals[]

(1) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (4) Sacramento Kings[]

Regular-season series show

Minnesota won 3–1 in the regular-season series

November 5, 2003 Recap Sacramento Kings 125, Minnesota Timberwolves 121 (OT) Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota December 5, 2003 Recap Minnesota Timberwolves 112, Sacramento Kings 109 (OT) ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California February 19, 2004 Recap Sacramento Kings 75, Minnesota Timberwolves 92 Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota April 8, 2004 Recap Minnesota Timberwolves 94, Sacramento Kings 86 ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California

This was the first playoff meeting between the Timberwolves and the Kings.^[11]

(3) San Antonio Spurs vs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers[]

In the final seconds of Game 5, Tim Duncan hits a fadeaway shot over Shaquille O'Neal to give the Spurs the lead, but with 0.4 seconds left, Derek Fisher off the inbounds pass hits a miracle buzzer beater to give the Lakers the victory.

Regular-season series show

Los Angeles won 3–1 in the regular-season series

November 6, 2003 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 120, San Antonio Spurs 117 (2OT) SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas November 28, 2003 Recap San Antonio Spurs 87, Los Angeles Lakers 103 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California December 3, 2003 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 90, San Antonio Spurs 86 SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas April 4, 2004 Recap San Antonio Spurs 95, Los Angeles Lakers 89 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

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

Previous playoff series^[12] show

Los Angeles leads 6–3 in all-time playoff series

1982 Los Angeles Lakers 4, San Antonio Spurs 0 1982 Western Conference Finals 1983 Los Angeles Lakers 4, San Antonio Spurs 2 1983 Western Conference Finals 1986 Los Angeles Lakers 3, San Antonio Spurs 0 1986 Western Conference First Round 1988 Los Angeles Lakers 3, San Antonio Spurs 0 1988 Western Conference First Round 1995 Los Angeles Lakers 2, San Antonio Spurs 4 1995 Western Conference Semifinals 1999 Los Angeles Lakers 0, San Antonio Spurs 4 1999 Western Conference Semifinals 2001 Los Angeles Lakers 4, San Antonio Spurs 0 2001 Western Conference Finals 2002 Los Angeles Lakers 4, San Antonio Spurs 1 2002 Western Conference Semifinals 2003 Los Angeles Lakers 2, San Antonio Spurs 4 2003 Western Conference Semifinals

Conference Finals[]

Eastern Conference Finals[]

(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (3) Detroit Pistons[]

Regular-season series show

Indiana won 3–1 in the regular-season series

October 29, 2003 Recap Indiana Pacers 89, Detroit Pistons 87 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan December 19, 2003 Recap Detroit Pistons 75, Indiana Pacers 80 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana January 20, 2004 Recap Detroit Pistons 69, Indiana Pacers 81 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana April 4, 2004 Recap Indiana Pacers 61, Detroit Pistons 79 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan

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

Previous playoff series^[13] show

Detroit leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1990 Detroit Pistons 3, Indiana Pacers 0 1990 Eastern Conference First Round

Western Conference Finals[]

(1) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers[]

Regular-season series show

Minnesota won 3–1 in the regular-season series

January 6, 2004 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 90, Minnesota Timberwolves 106 Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota January 30, 2004 Recap Minnesota Timberwolves 97, Los Angeles Lakers 84 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California March 12, 2004 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 86, Minnesota Timberwolves 96 Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota March 26, 2004 Recap Minnesota Timberwolves 73, Los Angeles Lakers 90 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

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

Previous playoff series^[14] show

Los Angeles leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
2003 Los Angeles Lakers 4, Minnesota Timberwolves 2 2003 Western Conference First Round

NBA Finals: (W2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (E3) Detroit Pistons[]

• In Game 2, Kobe Bryant hits the game-tying 3 with 2.1 seconds left to force OT.
• Game 4 is Karl Malone's final NBA game.

Regular-season series show

Tied 1–1 in the regular-season series
November 14, 2003 Recap Detroit Pistons 89, Los Angeles Lakers 94 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California November 18, 2003 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 96, Detroit Pistons 106 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan

This was the 12th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning nine of the first 11 meetings.

Previous playoff series^[15] show

Los Angeles leads 9–2 in all-time playoff series

1950 Fort Wayne Pistons 0, Minneapolis Lakers 2 1950 Central Division Finals 1953 Fort Wayne Pistons 2, Minneapolis Lakers 3 1953 Western Division Finals 1954 Fort Wayne Pistons 0, Minneapolis Lakers 2 1954 Western Division Round Robin Semifinals 1955 Fort Wayne Pistons 3, Minneapolis Lakers 1 1955 Western Division Finals 1957 Fort Wayne Pistons 0, Minneapolis Lakers 2 1957 Western Division Semifinals 1959 Detroit Pistons 1, Minneapolis Lakers 2 1959 Western Division Semifinals 1960 Detroit Pistons 0, Minneapolis Lakers 2 1960 Western Division Semifinals 1961 Detroit Pistons 2, Los Angeles Lakers 3 1961 Western Division Semifinals 1962 Detroit Pistons 2, Los Angeles Lakers 4 1962 Western Division Finals 1988 Detroit Pistons 3, Los Angeles Lakers 4 1988 NBA Finals 1989 Detroit Pistons 4, Los Angeles Lakers 0 1989 NBA Finals

References[]

External links[]

• NBA.com's section for the 2004 NBA Playoffs