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 between 1993 and 1994. The
Los Angeles Lakers entered the postseason with an eight-game winning streak, while the
Milwaukee Bucks entered the playoffs as division champions for the first time since
1986. For the first time since
1997, all four late 80's expansion teams (Miami, Orlando, Charlotte, and Minnesota) made the playoffs. As of 2024, this remains the most recent occurrence of all four expansion teams making the playoffs. With their series win over the Orlando Magic, the Milwaukee Bucks won their first playoff series since
1989. With their 3–2 series win over the Utah Jazz in the first round, the Dallas Mavericks won their first playoff series since
1988. This also marked the first time since
1995 that the Jazz failed to advance past the first round. The
Sacramento Kings won their first playoff series since
1981 (when they were the Kansas City Kings) and the first since moving to Sacramento. The
Toronto Raptors also won their first playoff series in franchise history with their 3–2 first round victory over the
New York Knicks. They would not win another playoff series until
2016. For the first time since
1991, the Knicks failed to win a first–round playoff series. Coincidentally, this also marked the first time since 1996 that the Heat and the Knicks did not meet in the playoffs as both teams were eliminated in the first round by the Charlotte Hornets and the Toronto Raptors, respectively. The Heat and the Knicks would not return to the playoffs until
2004. 2001 also marked the closest the
Charlotte Hornets came to making the Eastern Conference Finals, taking a 3–2 series lead over the Milwaukee Bucks before bowing out in seven games. As of 2024, the Hornets were one of two active teams (the other being the
New Orleans Pelicans) to never advance to the Conference Finals. After eliminating the Hornets, the
Milwaukee Bucks made the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since
1986. For the Bucks, this was their most recent playoff series win until
2019. The Western Conference Semi–Finals series between the
San Antonio Spurs and
Dallas Mavericks also marked the start of the
Mavericks–Spurs rivalry. The Spurs would win this playoff series (along with subsequent series victories in 2003 and 2010), while the Mavericks won in 2006 and 2009. Game 4 of the series was the last NBA game ever played at
Reunion Arena, as the Mavericks moved to the
American Airlines Center the following season. With their Western Conference Finals sweep of the San Antonio Spurs, the Lakers went 11–0 through the first three rounds, extending their winning streak to 19 games (regular season and playoffs)). 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. With their Eastern Conference Finals victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, the Philadelphia 76ers made the NBA Finals for the first time since 1983, when
Moses Malone and
Julius Erving led the
1983 team to the NBA title (coincidentally, last defeating the Lakers) in the famous "fo', fo', fo'" year (it ended up being "fo', fi', fo'", as Philadelphia lost one second-round game to the Milwaukee Bucks that year). With the loss, the Bucks would not return to the Conference Finals until 2019. Game 1 of the
2001 NBA Finals was extremely notable for two things. • Allen Iverson's step over Tyronn Lue • The Philadelphia 76ers giving the Lakers their only loss of the postseason (107–101 in Overtime). With their Game 5 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, the Los Angeles Lakers won their 13th NBA championship. With the win, the Lakers put together the most dominant postseason in NBA history, going 15–1. They set many records, including going undefeated in regulation and on the road (finishing 8–0 in the latter category). They were also 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. ==Bracket==