2001 NBA playoffs
The 2001 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2000-01 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 1. Shaquille O'Neal was named NBA Finals MVP for the second straight year. Since 2001, the 76ers have not advanced beyond the conference semifinals.
This was the 76ers' first Finals appearance since Moses Malone and Julius Erving led the 1983 team to the NBA title in the famous "fo', fo', fo'" year.
However, it was the Lakers' turn to put together the most dominant postseason in NBA history, going 15–1 with their only loss coming in OT to the Sixers in Game 1 of the Finals. They set many records, including going undefeated in regulation and on the road. They were the second NBA champion to defeat four 50-win or better teams on their way to the title as the Rockets did it first in 1995. The Lakers also equaled the previous records set by their 1989 team by winning their first 11 post-season games and sweeping three series in the post-season. Their playoff dominance would be bested after the first round of playoffs was extended to a best of seven format instead of the best of five in the 2003 NBA playoffs by the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors who would go 16-1 on their way to their fifth championship.
The Milwaukee Bucks won their first playoff series since 1989, made the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1986 and won the division for the first time since that year.
The Dallas Mavericks made the playoffs for the first time since 1990. Along the way they had many abysmal seasons, including back-to-back years with 11 and 13 wins. By beating Utah in the first round, they won their first playoff series since 1988. Reunion Arena, their home court for 21 years, hosted its last game ; they moved to American Airlines Center, the next season.
The Sacramento Kings won their first playoff series since 1981 and the first since moving to Sacramento.
The Toronto Raptors won their first playoff series in franchise history 3–2 over the New York Knicks. For the first time since 1991, the Knicks failed to win a first-round playoff series.
Bracket
Playoff qualifying
Western Conference
Best record in NBA
The San Antonio Spurs clinched the best record in the NBA, and earned home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs. However, when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers gained home court advantage for the NBA Finals. San Antonio's 58 games remains the lowest for a team with home court advantage throughout the playoffs, being 3 games fewer than the Pacers and Cavs' 61 in 2004 and 2010, respectively.Clinched a playoff berth
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:- San Antonio Spurs
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Sacramento Kings
- Utah Jazz
- Dallas Mavericks
- Phoenix Suns
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Minnesota Timberwolves
Eastern Conference
Best record in conference
The Philadelphia 76ers clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference, and had home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.Clinched a playoff berth
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:- Philadelphia 76ers
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Miami Heat
- New York Knicks
- Toronto Raptors
- Charlotte Hornets
- Orlando Magic
- Indiana Pacers
Western Conference
First Round
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Minnesota Timberwolves
| San Antonio won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Spurs winning the first meeting.
| San Antonio leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) Portland Trail Blazers
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
This was the tenth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning seven of the first nine meetings.
| Los Angeles leads 7–2 in all-time playoff series |
(3) Sacramento Kings vs. (6) Phoenix Suns
| Sacramento won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning two of the first three meetings.
| Phoenix leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series |
(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks
- In Game 5, Calvin Booth made the series winning layup with 9.6 seconds left. The Mavs would then not only become the 8th team in playoff history to overcome an 0-2 deficit, but also win their first playoff series since 1988.
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Mavericks winning the first meeting.
| Dallas leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
Conference Semifinals
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks
| San Antonio won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the Spurs.
(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Sacramento Kings
| Los Angeles won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning seven of the first eight meetings.
| Los Angeles leads 7–1 in all-time playoff series |
Conference Finals
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning four of the first six meetings.
| Los Angeles leads 4–2 in all-time playoff series |
Eastern Conference
Champion: Philadelphia 76ersFirst Round
(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Indiana Pacers
- In Game 1, Reggie Miller hit the game-winning 3 with 2.9 seconds left.
| Philadelphia won 3–0 in the regular-season series |
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pacers winning two of the first three meetings.
| Indiana leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series |
(2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (7) Orlando Magic
- In Game 3, Ray Allen sends the game to overtime with a dunk over Tracy McGrady with 3.5 seconds left.
| Milwaukee won 4–0 in the regular-season series |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Bucks and the Magic.
(3) Miami Heat vs. (6) Charlotte Hornets
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Heat and the Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats franchise.
(4) New York Knicks vs. (5) Toronto Raptors
| Toronto won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first meeting.
| New York leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
Conference Semifinals
(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors
- 76ers ended a 16-year drought by advancing to the conference finals when Vince Carter's long jumper at the buzzer bounced off the rim.
| Toronto won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the first playoff meeting between the 76ers and the Raptors.
(2) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (6) Charlotte Hornets
| Charlotte won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Hornets and the Bucks.
Conference Finals
(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (2) Milwaukee Bucks
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning five of the first eight meetings.
| Philadelphia leads 5–3 in all-time playoff series |
NBA Finals
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Last Playoff Meeting: 1983 NBA Finals- In Game 1, Allen Iverson scored 48 points in his first-ever Finals game as the 76ers ended Lakers' 11-game playoff winning streak and ended the Lakers' perfect playoff run that season.
| Tied 1–1 in the regular-season series |
This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning four of the first five meetings.
| Los Angeles leads 4–1 in all-time playoff series |