2005 NBA playoffs - Wikipedia

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2005 NBA playoffs

Tournament details
Dates	April 23–June 23, 2005
Season	2004–05
Teams	16
Final positions
Champions	San Antonio Spurs (3rd title)
Runner-up	Detroit Pistons
Semifinalists	Miami Heat Phoenix Suns
← 2004 2006 →

The 2005 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2004–05 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs defeating the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals. Tim Duncan was named Finals MVP.

The Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards ended long playoff droughts in 2005, meeting each other in the first round. For the Washington Wizards, it was their first playoff appearance since 1997 — even more ironic their opponents for that postseason appearance were the Bulls who swept them on their way to their fifth NBA title. For the Chicago Bulls, it was their first post-Michael Jordan playoff appearance, as their last playoff game was Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals. They consistently placed at or near the bottom of the Central Division in between, and their 47–35 season in 2005 was a 24–game improvement from 2004.

The Phoenix Suns returned to the NBA playoffs after a one season absence. The Houston Rockets and the Memphis Grizzlies entered their second consecutive postseason.

For the Los Angeles Lakers, it marked the first time in 11 seasons (dating back to 1994) and the fifth time in NBA history that they missed the playoffs. This was thus the last time until 2018 that the playoffs would be played entirely outside of Los Angeles. The Minnesota Timberwolves missed the playoffs for the first time since 1996.

This was the last time that the Seattle SuperSonics would be in the playoffs before they relocated to Oklahoma to become the Oklahoma City Thunder.

For the third straight year (fifth overall) the Pacers met the Celtics in the first round. Boston won in 2003 4–2, while Indiana swept Boston in 2004. This time, Indiana won 4–3. It would be Boston's last playoff appearance until 2008.

With their first round series win over the Chicago Bulls, the Washington Wizards won their first playoff series since 1982, and first playoff game since 1988. They also won a best of seven series for the first time since 1979. With their first round sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies, the Phoenix Suns won their first playoff series since 2000.

With their conference semifinals sweep of the Washington Wizards, the Miami Heat became the first team to go 8–0 through the first two rounds after the first round was made into a best-of-7 in the 2003 playoffs. The 2009 Cavaliers, 2010 Magic, 2012 Spurs, 2016 Cavaliers, 2017 Cavaliers and the 2017 Warriors followed suit. No team (until 2016) has made the finals after going 8–0 in the first two rounds, let alone win 12 straight games going to the NBA Finals (until the 2017 Warriors), though the Spurs came close in 2012 when they won their first 10 playoff games, then lost their next four to the Oklahoma City Thunder. In 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team to go 8–0 through the first two rounds and make the NBA Finals.

With their conference semifinals victory over the Dallas Mavericks, the Phoenix Suns advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1993, where they lost to the San Antonio Spurs in five games.

Game 6 of the Spurs–SuperSonics series was the last NBA Playoff game ever played at Key Arena.

With their Game 7 win over the Miami Heat, the Detroit Pistons advanced to their second consecutive NBA Finals.

The NBA Finals marked the first time since 1987 that the two previous champions met in the Finals (the Spurs won in 2003, the Pistons in 2004).

The NBA Finals went to a Game 7 for the first time since 1994.

With their Game 7 win over the Detroit Pistons, the San Antonio Spurs won the NBA Championship. For the Spurs, it was their third title (they also won in the lockout–shortened season of 1998–99).

Beginning with the 2004–05 season, with the addition of the 30th NBA franchise, the Charlotte Bobcats, the NBA realigned its divisions. Each conference now has three divisions of five teams each, and at this point in time, the winner of each division was guaranteed a top three playoff seed, regardless of whether the team had one of the top eight records in its conference. However, the division champion was not guaranteed home court advantage; a division-leading team with a poor record could be ranked number three but face a sixth seed with a better record, which would then have home court advantage. This has since been rectified by the NBA.

The Miami Heat clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference, and had home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:

1. Miami Heat (59–23) (clinched Southeast division)
2. Detroit Pistons (54–28) (clinched Central division)
3. Boston Celtics (45–37) (clinched Atlantic division)
4. Chicago Bulls (47–35)
5. Washington Wizards (45–37)
6. Indiana Pacers (44–38)
7. Philadelphia 76ers (43–39)
8. New Jersey Nets (42–40)

The Phoenix Suns clinched the best record in the NBA, and earned home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs. However, when Phoenix lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, the Spurs gained home court advantage for the NBA Finals.

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:

1. Phoenix Suns (62–20) (clinched Pacific division)
2. San Antonio Spurs (59–23) (clinched Southwest division)
3. Seattle SuperSonics (52–30) (clinched Northwest division)
4. Dallas Mavericks (58–24)
5. Houston Rockets (51–31)
6. Sacramento Kings (50–32)
7. Denver Nuggets (49–33)
8. Memphis Grizzlies (45–37)

First Round

Conference Semifinals

Conference Finals

NBA Finals

E1

Miami*

4

E8

New Jersey

0

E1

Miami*

4

E5

Washington

0

E4

Chicago

2

E5

Washington

4

E1

Miami*

3

Eastern Conference

E2

Detroit*

4

E3

Boston*

3

E6

Indiana

4

E6

Indiana

2

E2

Detroit*

4

E2

Detroit*

4

E7

Philadelphia

1

E2

Detroit*

3

W2

San Antonio*

4

W1

Phoenix*

4

W8

Memphis

0

W1

Phoenix*

4

W4

Dallas

2

W4

Dallas

4

W5

Houston

3

W1

Phoenix*

1

Western Conference

W2

San Antonio*

4

W3

Seattle*

4

W6

Sacramento

1

W3

Seattle*

2

W2

San Antonio*

4

W2

San Antonio*

4

W7

Denver

1

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

Regular-season series

Miami won 3–0 in the regular-season series
November 3, 2004 Recap Miami Heat 100, New Jersey Nets 77 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey March 3, 2005 Recap Miami Heat 106, New Jersey Nets 90 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey March 12, 2005 Recap New Jersey Nets 65, Miami Heat 90 American Airlines Arena, Miami

This was the first playoff meeting between the Nets and the Heat.^[1]

Regular-season series

Detroit won 3–1 in the regular-season series

November 6, 2004 Recap Philadelphia 76ers 91, Detroit Pistons 99 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan January 15, 2005 Recap Philadelphia 76ers 95, Detroit Pistons 99 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan February 16, 2005 Recap Detroit Pistons 93, Philadelphia 76ers 75 Wachovia Center, Philadelphia March 23, 2005 Recap Detroit Pistons 84, Philadelphia 76ers 107 Wachovia Center, Philadelphia

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece. The first meeting took place while the Nationals/76ers franchise were in Syracuse and the Pistons franchise were in Fort Wayne.

Previous playoff series^[2]

Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
1955 Fort Wayne Pistons 3, Syracuse Nationals 4 1955 NBA Finals 2003 Detroit Pistons 4, Philadelphia 76ers 2 2003 Eastern Conference Semifinals

Regular-season series

Indiana won 2–1 in the regular-season series
November 5, 2004 Recap Indiana Pacers 100, Boston Celtics 94 FleetCenter, Boston November 23, 2004 Recap Boston Celtics 96, Indiana Pacers 106 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis January 26, 2005 Recap Indiana Pacers 86, Boston Celtics 100 FleetCenter, Boston

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

Previous playoff series^[3]

Boston leads 3–1 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 2004 Boston Celtics 0, Indiana Pacers 4 2004 Eastern Conference First Round

• Gilbert Arenas hits the game-winning buzzer beater in Game 5.

Regular-season series

Washington won 2–1 in the regular-season series
December 4, 2004 Recap Chicago Bulls 88, Washington Wizards 95 MCI Center, Washington, D.C. February 25, 2005 Recap Washington Wizards 90, Chicago Bulls 97 United Center, Chicago, Illinois April 13, 2005 Recap Chicago Bulls 82, Washington Wizards 93 MCI Center, Washington, D.C.

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

Previous playoff series^[4]

Chicago leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1997 Chicago Bulls 3, Washington Bullets 0 1997 Eastern Conference First Round

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
December 23, 2004 Recap Memphis Grizzlies 102, Phoenix Suns 109 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona January 19, 2005 Recap Memphis Grizzlies 88, Phoenix Suns 79 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona February 1, 2005 Recap Phoenix Suns 97, Memphis Grizzlies 108 FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee March 20, 2005 Recap Phoenix Suns 97, Memphis Grizzlies 91 FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee

This was the first playoff meeting between the Grizzlies and the Suns.^[5]

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
November 26, 2004 Recap San Antonio Spurs 89, Denver Nuggets 75 Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado January 8, 2005 Recap Denver Nuggets 90, San Antonio Spurs 99 SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas March 12, 2005 Recap Denver Nuggets 90, San Antonio Spurs 87 SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas April 1, 2005 Recap San Antonio Spurs 84, Denver Nuggets 102 Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Spurs winning three of the first four meetings.

Previous playoff series^[6]

San Antonio leads 3–1 in all-time playoff series
1983 Denver Nuggets 1, San Antonio Spurs 4 1983 Western Conference Semifinals 1985 Denver Nuggets 3, San Antonio Spurs 2 1985 Western Conference First Round 1990 Denver Nuggets 0, San Antonio Spurs 3 1990 Western Conference First Round 1995 Denver Nuggets 0, San Antonio Spurs 3 1995 Western Conference First Round

Regular-season series

Seattle won 3–1 in the regular-season series
November 10, 2004 Recap Sacramento Kings 78, Seattle SuperSonics 108 KeyArena, Seattle February 1, 2005 Recap Seattle SuperSonics 106, Sacramento Kings 101 ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California February 10, 2005 Recap Sacramento Kings 107, Seattle SuperSonics 115 KeyArena, Seattle April 5, 2005 Recap Seattle SuperSonics 101, Sacramento Kings 122 ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California

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

Previous playoff series^[7]

Seattle leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1996 Sacramento Kings 1, Seattle SuperSonics 3 1996 Western Conference First Round

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
December 2, 2004 Recap Houston Rockets 106, Dallas Mavericks 113 (OT) American Airlines Center, Dallas December 11, 2004 Recap Dallas Mavericks 102, Houston Rockets 78 Toyota Center, Houston, Texas January 12, 2005 Recap Houston Rockets 124, Dallas Mavericks 114 American Airlines Center, Dallas March 6, 2005 Recap Dallas Mavericks 69, Houston Rockets 90 Toyota Center, Houston, Texas

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

Previous playoff series^[8]

Dallas leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
1988 Dallas Mavericks 3, Houston Rockets 1 1988 Western Conference First Round

Regular-season series

Miami won 4–0 in the regular-season series
November 6, 2004 Recap Miami Heat 118, Washington Wizards 106 MCI Center, Washington, D.C. November 9, 2004 Recap Washington Wizards 93, Miami Heat 103 American Airlines Arena, Miami December 13, 2004 Recap Washington Wizards 83, Miami Heat 106 American Airlines Arena, Miami December 15, 2004 Recap Miami Heat 98, Washington Wizards 93 MCI Center, Washington, D.C.

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

• Game 6 is Reggie Miller's final NBA game.

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series

November 19, 2004 Recap Indiana Pacers 97, Detroit Pistons 82 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan December 25, 2004 Recap Detroit Pistons 98, Indiana Pacers 93 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis January 27, 2005 Recap Detroit Pistons 88, Indiana Pacers 76 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis March 23, 2005 Recap Indiana Pacers 94, Detroit Pistons 81 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^[10]

Detroit leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
1990 Detroit Pistons 3, Indiana Pacers 0 1990 Eastern Conference First Round 2004 Detroit Pistons 4, Indiana Pacers 2 2004 Eastern Conference Finals

Regular-season series

Phoenix won 2–1 in the regular-season series
November 16, 2004 Recap Phoenix Suns 107, Dallas Mavericks 101 American Airlines Center, Dallas February 17, 2005 Recap Dallas Mavericks 119, Phoenix Suns 113 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona February 26, 2005 Recap Phoenix Suns 124, Dallas Mavericks 123 American Airlines Center, Dallas

This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the Suns.^[11]

• Tim Duncan made the series-winning shot with 0.5 seconds left in Game 6.

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
November 7, 2004 Recap San Antonio Spurs 94, Seattle SuperSonics 113 KeyArena, Seattle December 8, 2004 Recap Seattle SuperSonics 102, San Antonio Spurs 96 SBC Center, San Antonio January 31, 2005 Recap San Antonio Spurs 103, Seattle SuperSonics 84 KeyArena, Seattle March 30, 2005 Recap Seattle SuperSonics 76, San Antonio Spurs 89 SBC Center, San Antonio

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

Previous playoff series^[12]

San Antonio leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
1982 San Antonio Spurs 4, Seattle SuperSonics 1 1982 Western Conference Semifinals 2002 San Antonio Spurs 3, Seattle SuperSonics 2 2002 Western Conference First Round

The Pistons beat the Heat in seven games in part because of the comeback mounted in the fourth quarter of Game 7 of the Eastern Finals by Chauncey Billups. Dwyane Wade also missed Game 6 of the series due to a rib injury.

To date, this is the last time the Pistons won the Eastern Conference championship.

Regular-season series

Detroit won 2–1 in the regular-season series
November 26, 2004 Recap Miami Heat 77, Detroit Pistons 78 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan December 30, 2004 Recap Miami Heat 89, Detroit Pistons 78 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan April 10, 2005 Recap Detroit Pistons 80, Miami Heat 72 American Airlines Arena, Miami

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

Previous playoff series^[13]

Miami leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
2000 Detroit Pistons 0, Miami Heat 3 2000 Eastern Conference First Round

Regular-season series

San Antonio won 2–1 in the regular-season series
December 28, 2004 Recap Phoenix Suns 94, San Antonio Spurs 115 SBC Center, San Antonio January 21, 2005 Recap San Antonio Spurs 128, Phoenix Suns 123 (OT) America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona March 9, 2005 Recap San Antonio Spurs 101, Phoenix Suns 107 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona

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

Previous playoff series^[14]

Tied 3–3 in all-time playoff series

1992 Phoenix Suns 3, San Antonio Spurs 0 1992 Western Conference First Round 1993 Phoenix Suns 4, San Antonio Spurs 2 1993 Western Conference Semifinals 1996 Phoenix Suns 1, San Antonio Spurs 3 1996 Western Conference First Round 1998 Phoenix Suns 1, San Antonio Spurs 3 1998 Western Conference First Round 2000 Phoenix Suns 3, San Antonio Spurs 1 2000 Western Conference First Round 2003 Phoenix Suns 2, San Antonio Spurs 4 2003 Western Conference First Round

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

Regular-season series

Tied 1–1 in the regular-season series
December 3, 2004 Recap Detroit Pistons 77, San Antonio Spurs 80 SBC Center, San Antonio March 20, 2005 Recap San Antonio Spurs 101, Detroit Pistons 110 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan

This was the first playoff meeting between the Pistons and the Spurs.^[15]

• Robert Horry hit the game-winning shot with 5.9 seconds left in Game 5.

The Finals were broadcast in the United States on ABC and in Canada on TSN. For a list of international broadcasters see the NBA international TV site. Jennifer Lopez's "Get Right" music video became the anthem song for the playoffs and the conclusion song at the end of the regular season.

Category	Game High	Average
Player	Team	High	Player	Team	Avg.	GP
Points	Steve Nash	Phoenix Suns	48	Allen Iverson	Philadelphia 76ers	31.2	5
Rebounds	Jeff Foster	Indiana Pacers	20	Samuel Dalembert	Philadelphia 76ers	12.8	5
Assists	Steve Nash	Phoenix Suns	17	Steve Nash	Phoenix Suns	11.3	15
Steals	Gilbert Arenas	Washington Wizards	6	Andre Iguodala	Philadelphia 76ers	2.8	5
Blocks	Ben Wallace	Detroit Pistons	7	Marcus Camby	Denver Nuggets	3.2	5

• NBA records

• NBA.com's section for the 2005 NBA Playoffs
• NBA.com's section for the 2005 NBA Finals