2006 NBA playoffs - Wikipedia

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2006 NBA playoffs

Tournament details
Dates	April 22–June 20, 2006
Season	2005–06
Teams	16
Final positions
Champions	Miami Heat (1st title)
Runner-up	Dallas Mavericks
Semifinalists	Detroit Pistons Phoenix Suns
← 2005 2007 →

The 2006 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2005–06 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat defeating the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Dwyane Wade was named NBA Finals MVP.

This season was the last time that the Sacramento Kings made the playoffs until 2023. The Kings held the longest playoff drought in NBA playoff history at 16 years. With the MLB's Seattle Mariners qualifying for the playoffs in 2022, the Kings held the title for the longest active playoff drought among the four major North American sports leagues until 2023.^[1]

The Los Angeles Clippers made the playoffs for the first time since 1997, and advanced to the second round for the first time since 1976, when they were the Buffalo Braves. They came within one game of making the conference finals for the first time, but lost Game 7 to the Suns.

The Phoenix Suns became the eighth team to win a playoff series despite trailing 3–1 with their first round victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. They lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals.

The Denver Nuggets also appeared in the playoffs as the 3rd seed in the Western Conference despite a 44–38 record (due to winning their division). However, they lost to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, and the NBA changed how division winners are seeded starting the following season.

2006 was the playoff debut of LeBron James, who helped the Cleveland Cavaliers eke out 1–point OT victories over the Washington Wizards in Games 5 and 6 of their first-round series to advance. It was the Cavaliers first playoff appearance since 1998, and they earned their first playoff series win since 1993. The Cavaliers played against the two-time defending Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons in the next round. After being routed in Game 1 and losing Game 2 by 6, the Cavs won the next three matches in a row, and they were 1 game away from beating the Pistons. However, Detroit recovered and won the last 2, in order to take the series in 7. The Pistons and Cavaliers met in the next year's Playoffs, and the Cavaliers won that series in six games. This was the last time that the Pistons beat the Cavaliers in a playoff series, as of 2024.

This season also marked the first time that two 60–win teams met before the conference finals, due to the seeding format. The San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks played against each other in the Western Conference semifinals. The Mavericks won the series in seven games, marking the first time the Mavericks beat the Spurs in a playoff series.

This year's NBA Finals also featured a number of firsts

• Both NBA Finalists made their first NBA Finals: The Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat, for the first time since 1971.
• Neither the Lakers nor the Spurs represented the Western Conference, for the first time since 1998.
• For the first time since 1998, the NBA Finals did not feature Tim Duncan or Kobe Bryant (although Kobe's ex–teammate, Shaquille O'Neal, returned to the Finals for the fifth time in seven seasons)
• For the first time since 2001, neither the Nets or the Pistons represented the Eastern Conference (coincidentally, these two teams were eliminated by the Miami Heat en route to their first Finals appearance)
• The Mavericks became the first team since 1977 to lose the NBA Finals despite leading 2–0. They also became the first team in NBA History to win the first two games, build a double digit lead in game 3, lose game 3, and the rest of the series.
• The Miami Heat won their first NBA Championship despite losing the first two games, the third team in NBA History to do so.
  • Prior to Game 6, Pat Riley motivated his players to pack "one shirt, one suit, one tie." His effort paid off, and the Heat won that game, giving Riley his fifth NBA Championship as a head coach. He also avenged his previous NBA Finals loss in 1994, when his New York Knicks lost to the Houston Rockets despite leading 3–2.

The 2006 NBA Playoffs also featured several lasts.

• Game 6 of the Spurs–Kings series was the last NBA Playoff game to be played at ARCO Arena.
• The last time division winners were automatically granted a top three seed in the NBA Playoffs.
• The Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies' last playoff appearance until 2011.
• The last time the Chicago Bulls lost a first–round series following their 1998 championship.
• The last time the Los Angeles Clippers won a playoff series until 2012 (and earned home court advantage until 2013).
• The last time Shaquille O'Neal played in the NBA Finals.

With the addition of the 30th NBA franchise, the Charlotte Bobcats, in 2005, the NBA realigned its divisions. Each conference had 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 could be seeded second or third but face a lower seed (that did not win its division) with a better record, and the lower seed would have home-court advantage.

This was illustrated in the first round here when the 44-win Denver Nuggets won the Northwest Division and had the third seed, yet did not have home-court advantage against the sixth-seeded, 47-win Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers had played the Memphis Grizzlies a week before the playoffs to determine the fifth and sixth seed. The loser of the game would face Denver, whereas the winner would face fourth-seeded Dallas, who had the second-best record in the conference. It was speculated that the Clippers lost on purpose to play Denver in the first round. Starting in the 2007 playoffs, being a division winner did not guarantee a top-3 playoff seed.

The Detroit Pistons clinched the best record in the NBA, earning home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. However, when the Pistons lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals, home-court advantage in the NBA Finals went to the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks, which had a better record than the Heat.

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:

1. Detroit Pistons (64–18) (clinched Central division)
2. Miami Heat (52–30) (clinched Southeast division)
3. New Jersey Nets (49–33) (clinched Atlantic division)
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (50–32)
5. Washington Wizards (42–40)
6. Indiana Pacers (41–41, 2–2 head-to-head vs. CHI, 6–10 record vs. Central Division)
7. Chicago Bulls (41–41, 2–2 head-to-head vs. IND, 4–12 record vs. Central Division)
8. Milwaukee Bucks (40–42)

The San Antonio Spurs clinched the best record in the Western Conference, and had home-court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs. However, when they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the Conference semifinals, Dallas had home court advantage in the Western Conference finals.

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:

1. San Antonio Spurs (63–19) (clinched Southwest division)
2. Phoenix Suns (54–28) (clinched Pacific division)
3. Denver Nuggets (44–38) (clinched Northwest division)
4. Dallas Mavericks (60–22)
5. Memphis Grizzlies (49–33)
6. Los Angeles Clippers (47–35)
7. Los Angeles Lakers (45–37)
8. Sacramento Kings (44–38)

First Round

Conference semifinals

Conference finals

NBA Finals

E1

Detroit*

4

E8

Milwaukee

1

E1

Detroit*

4

E4

Cleveland

3

E4

Cleveland

4

E5

Washington

2

E1

Detroit*

2

Eastern Conference

E2

Miami*

4

E3

New Jersey*

4

E6

Indiana

2

E3

New Jersey*

1

E2

Miami*

4

E2

Miami*

4

E7

Chicago

2

E2

Miami*

4

W4

Dallas

2

W1

San Antonio*

4

W8

Sacramento

2

W1

San Antonio*

3

W4

Dallas

4

W4

Dallas

4

W5

Memphis

0

W4

Dallas

4

Western Conference

W2

Phoenix*

2

W3

Denver*

1

W6

LA Clippers

4

W6

LA Clippers

3

W2

Phoenix*

4

W2

Phoenix*

4

W7

LA Lakers

3

First and second-round games were televised on ABC, TNT, ESPN, ESPN2, and NBA TV in the United States and on TSN, The Score, and Raptors NBA TV in Canada; some games were also televised on local or regional TV networks. The Eastern Conference finals aired exclusively on ESPN/ABC, and the Western Conference finals aired exclusively on TNT; TSN and The Score split coverage of the conference finals. The NBA Finals aired exclusively on ABC in the U.S. and on TSN in Canada. [1]

ESPN offered "Full Circle" broadcasts for the opening game of the Bulls–Heat series, with ESPN2 carrying an "above the rim" camera feed, ESPNews carrying in-game analysis, ESPN360 carrying a statistics-focused feed, and additional supplemental coverage on ESPN Radio and ESPN.com.^[2]

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

Regular-season series

Detroit won 3–1 in the regular-season series

November 26, 2005 Recap Detroit Pistons 85, Milwaukee Bucks 76 Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin January 25, 2006 Recap Milwaukee Bucks 102, Detroit Pistons 106 (OT) The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan March 31, 2006 Recap Milwaukee Bucks 105, Detroit Pistons 112 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan April 17, 2006 Recap Detroit Pistons 93, Milwaukee Bucks 113 Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

Previous playoff series^[3]

Detroit leads 3–0 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 2004 Detroit Pistons 4, Milwaukee Bucks 1 2004 Eastern Conference First Round

Regular-season series

Miami won 2–1 in the regular-season series
November 26, 2005 Recap Miami Heat 100, Chicago Bulls 97 United Center, Chicago, Illinois March 18, 2006 Recap Miami Heat 85, Chicago Bulls 84 United Center, Chicago, Illinois April 16, 2006 Recap Chicago Bulls 117, Miami Heat 93 American Airlines Arena, Miami

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

Previous playoff series^[4]

Chicago leads 3–0 in all-time playoff series
1992 Chicago Bulls 3, Miami Heat 0 1992 Eastern Conference First Round 1996 Chicago Bulls 3, Miami Heat 0 1996 Eastern Conference First Round 1997 Chicago Bulls 4, Miami Heat 1 1997 Eastern Conference finals

Regular-season series

Indiana won 2–1 in the regular-season series
November 11, 2005 Recap New Jersey Nets 90, Indiana Pacers 102 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis January 16, 2006 Recap Indiana Pacers 92, New Jersey Nets 97 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey February 26, 2006 Recap Indiana Pacers 101, New Jersey Nets 91 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey

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

Previous playoff series^[5]

New Jersey leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
2002 Indiana Pacers 2, New Jersey Nets 3 2002 Eastern Conference First Round

• In Game 3, LeBron James hits the game-winner over Michael Ruffin with 5.7 seconds left, and in Game 5, he hits another game-winner from the baseline with .9 seconds left.
• In Game 6, Gilbert Arenas forces overtime with a three from 32 feet with 2.3 seconds left, and in OT, Damon Jones hits the series-winning shot with 4.8 seconds left.

Regular-season series

Washington won 3–1 in the regular-season series

November 15, 2005 Recap Washington Wizards 99, Cleveland Cavaliers 114 Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio February 10, 2006 Recap Cleveland Cavaliers 89, Washington Wizards 101 Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. February 24, 2006 Recap Washington Wizards 102, Cleveland Cavaliers 94 Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio April 16, 2006 Recap Cleveland Cavaliers 92, Washington Wizards 104 Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.

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

Previous playoff series^[6]

Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
1976 Cleveland Cavaliers 4, Washington Bullets 3 1976 Eastern Conference semifinals 1977 Cleveland Cavaliers 1, Washington Bullets 2 1977 Eastern Conference First Round

• In Game 2, Brent Barry hit a wild three-pointer with four seconds left to force overtime.
• In Game 3, Kevin Martin hit the game-winning lay-up at the buzzer.
• Game 6 was the final playoff game played at the Arco Arena.

Regular-season series

San Antonio won 2–1 in the regular-season series
November 21, 2005 Recap San Antonio Spurs 96, Sacramento Kings 93 ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California December 17, 2005 Recap Sacramento Kings 89, San Antonio Spurs 90 SBC Center, San Antonio April 5, 2006 Recap Sacramento Kings 97, San Antonio Spurs 87 AT&T Center, San Antonio

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

• In Game 4, Kobe Bryant hit both a lay-up with 0.7 seconds left to force OT, and the game-winning jump shot at the buzzer in overtime.
• In Game 6, Tim Thomas hit a 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds left to force OT.
• The Suns became the 8th team in NBA history to overcome a 3–1 series deficit.^[8]
• This was the first playoff series a Phil Jackson coached team lost after taking a series lead, prior to this his record was 44–0.

Regular-season series

Phoenix won 3–1 in the regular-season series
November 3, 2005 Recap Phoenix Suns 122, Los Angeles Lakers 112 Staples Center, Los Angeles January 20, 2006 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 93, Phoenix Suns 106 US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona April 7, 2006 Recap Los Angeles Lakers 96, Phoenix Suns 107 US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona April 16, 2006 Recap Phoenix Suns 89, Los Angeles Lakers 109 Staples Center, Los Angeles

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

Previous playoff series^[9]

Los Angeles leads 7–2 in all-time playoff series

1970 Los Angeles Lakers 4, Phoenix Suns 3 1970 Western Division semifinals 1980 Los Angeles Lakers 4, Phoenix Suns 1 1980 Western Conference semifinals 1982 Los Angeles Lakers 4, Phoenix Suns 0 1982 Western Conference semifinals 1984 Los Angeles Lakers 4, Phoenix Suns 2 1984 Western Conference finals 1985 Los Angeles Lakers 3, Phoenix Suns 0 1985 Western Conference First Round 1989 Los Angeles Lakers 4, Phoenix Suns 0 1989 Western Conference finals 1990 Los Angeles Lakers 1, Phoenix Suns 4 1990 Western Conference semifinals 1993 Los Angeles Lakers 2, Phoenix Suns 3 1993 Western Conference First Round 2000 Los Angeles Lakers 4, Phoenix Suns 1 2000 Western Conference semifinals

Regular-season series

Los Angeles won 3–1 in the regular-season series
November 25, 2005 Recap Los Angeles Clippers 95, Denver Nuggets 105 Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado January 27, 2006 Recap Los Angeles Clippers 105, Denver Nuggets 87 Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado January 28, 2006 Recap Denver Nuggets 79, Los Angeles Clippers 112 Staples Center, Los Angeles April 4, 2006 Recap Denver Nuggets 109, Los Angeles Clippers 111 Staples Center, Los Angeles

This was the first playoff meeting between the Nuggets and the Clippers.^[10] For the Clippers franchise, it was their first playoff series win in three decades, since the old Buffalo Braves defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round back in 1976.

• In Game 3, Dirk Nowitzki hit the game-tying 3 with 15.7 seconds left to force OT.

Regular-season series

Dallas won 3–1 in the regular-season series

November 26, 2005 Recap Memphis Grizzlies 112, Dallas Mavericks 92 American Airlines Center, Dallas December 9, 2005 Recap Dallas Mavericks 90, Memphis Grizzlies 83 FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee February 1, 2006 Recap Dallas Mavericks 81, Memphis Grizzlies 80 FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee February 23, 2006 Recap[dead link] Memphis Grizzlies 87, Dallas Mavericks 97 American Airlines Center, Dallas

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

2006 marked the first time the Cavaliers had made the playoffs since 1998 with Shawn Kemp, and the first time that major professional teams from Michigan and Ohio met in a postseason series or game since 1957. They came off a playoff series win vs the Wizards, while the Pistons came in off a 4–1 win vs the 8th seeded Bucks. Detroit was expected to win the series, and took a commanding two games to none lead with two wins at the Palace of Auburn Hills. James and the Cavaliers weren't intimidated however, and won their two home games to tie the series at 2. Coming into Game 5, both teams were confident, but the Pistons were expected to pull out the win easily. The game was low scoring throughout as usual in this series, with Cleveland holding a 68–66 lead through 3 quarters. With the game tied at 84 with 26 seconds left in regulation, Drew Gooden came through and hit a layup to give Cleveland the lead that they never squandered. James led the Cavs with 32 and this brought the series to Cleveland up 3–2, quite shockingly. In the final minute of Game 6, Richard Hamilton grabbed two offensive rebounds and passed the ball to Rasheed Wallace, who was fouled. Detroit held on to win Game 6 by 2, and won Game 7 at home to advance.

Regular-season series

Detroit won 3–1 in the regular-season series

December 31, 2005 Recap Detroit Pistons 84, Cleveland Cavaliers 97 Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio February 26, 2006 Recap Cleveland Cavaliers 78, Detroit Pistons 90 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan February 27, 2006 Recap Detroit Pistons 84, Cleveland Cavaliers 72 Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio April 12, 2006 Recap Cleveland Cavaliers 73, Detroit Pistons 96 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan

This was the first playoff meeting between the Cavaliers and the Pistons.^[12]

Regular-season series

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

November 7, 2005 Recap New Jersey Nets 89, Miami Heat 90 American Airlines Arena, Miami December 23, 2005 Recap New Jersey Nets 95, Miami Heat 88 American Airlines Arena, Miami February 4, 2006 Recap Miami Heat 92, New Jersey Nets 105 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey April 2, 2006 Recap Miami Heat 78, New Jersey Nets 90 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey

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
2005 Miami Heat 4, New Jersey Nets 0 2005 Eastern Conference First Round

This was the first time both conference semifinals went seven games since 1994.

The Mavericks almost blew a 3–1 series lead to the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, but managed to pull out a Game 7 overtime win in San Antonio to close out the series and become the 5th NBA road team to win Game 7 after leading series 3–1. This was also the second time in NBA history that the road team won a Game 7 in overtime; the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Sacramento Kings in the same manner in the 2002 Western Conference finals. This was the most recent Game 7 to go into Overtime until the 2021 Bucks vs. Nets series.

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
November 5, 2005 Recap San Antonio Spurs 84, Dallas Mavericks 103 American Airlines Center, Dallas December 1, 2005 Recap San Antonio Spurs 92, Dallas Mavericks 90 American Airlines Center, Dallas March 2, 2006 Recap Dallas Mavericks 89, San Antonio Spurs 98 AT&T Center, San Antonio April 7, 2006 Recap Dallas Mavericks 92, San Antonio Spurs 86 AT&T Center, San Antonio

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

Previous playoff series^[14]

San Antonio leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
2001 Dallas Mavericks 1, San Antonio Spurs 4 2001 Western Conference semifinals 2003 Dallas Mavericks 2, San Antonio Spurs 4 2003 Western Conference finals

• In Game 4, Sam Cassell hit two three-pointers down the stretch, including one with 27 seconds left, after the Suns had rallied from 13 down to within one with under a minute to play.
• In Game 5, Raja Bell tied the game at 111 on a three-pointer from the corner with 1.1 seconds left to force the second overtime, this after telling his teammates during a timeout he would make it.^[15] The Suns, who blew a 19-point third quarter lead, never trailed in the second extra session.

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
December 10, 2005 Recap Phoenix Suns 91, Los Angeles Clippers 101 Staples Center, Los Angeles January 18, 2006 Recap Phoenix Suns 112, Los Angeles Clippers 102 Staples Center, Los Angeles March 15, 2006 Recap Los Angeles Clippers 95, Phoenix Suns 126 US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona April 5, 2006 Recap Los Angeles Clippers 119, Phoenix Suns 105 US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona

This was the first playoff meeting between the Clippers and the Suns.^[16]

Regular-season series

Detroit won 3–1 in the regular-season series
December 29, 2005 Recap Miami Heat 101, Detroit Pistons 106 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan February 12, 2006 Recap Detroit Pistons 98, Miami Heat 100 American Airlines Arena, Miami March 22, 2006 Recap Miami Heat 73, Detroit Pistons 82 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan April 6, 2006 Recap Detroit Pistons 95, Miami Heat 82 American Airlines Arena, Miami

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

Previous playoff series^[17]

Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
2000 Detroit Pistons 0, Miami Heat 3 2000 Eastern Conference First Round 2005 Detroit Pistons 4, Miami Heat 3 2005 Eastern Conference finals

Regular-season series

Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
November 1, 2005 Recap Dallas Mavericks 111, Phoenix Suns 108 (2OT) America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona December 14, 2005 Recap Phoenix Suns 96, Dallas Mavericks 102 American Airlines Center, Dallas March 5, 2006 Recap Phoenix Suns 115, Dallas Mavericks 107 American Airlines Center, Dallas April 13, 2006 Recap Dallas Mavericks 104, Phoenix Suns 117 US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona

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

Previous playoff series^[18]

Phoenix leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
2005 Dallas Mavericks 2, Phoenix Suns 4 2005 Western Conference semifinals

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

Regular-season series

Dallas won 2–0 in the regular-season series
November 25, 2005 Recap Dallas Mavericks 103, Miami Heat 90 American Airlines Arena, Miami February 9, 2006 Recap Miami Heat 76, Dallas Mavericks 112 American Airlines Center, Dallas

This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the Heat.^[19]

This NBA Finals featured two teams that never made it to the finals before. The last time this happened was in 1971, when the Milwaukee Bucks met the Baltimore Bullets.

Category	High	Average
Player	Team	Total	Player	Team	Avg.	Games played
Points	Dirk Nowitzki Kobe Bryant	Dallas Mavericks Los Angeles Lakers	50	Gilbert Arenas	Washington Wizards	34.0	6
Rebounds	Dirk Nowitzki	Dallas Mavericks	21	Bonzi Wells	Sacramento Kings	12.0	6
Assists	Steve Nash	Phoenix Suns	16	Steve Nash	Phoenix Suns	10.2	20
Steals	Shawn Marion Vince Carter	Phoenix Suns New Jersey Nets	6	Larry Hughes	Cleveland Cavaliers	2.2	9
Blocks	James Jones Zydrunas Ilgauskas Tim Duncan	Phoenix Suns Cleveland Cavaliers San Antonio Spurs	6	Marcus Camby	Denver Nuggets	2.8	5

• NBA records

• Official website of the 2006 NBA Playoffs
• ESPN's NBA page