The 2002 NBA playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2001–02 season. This was the final postseason that held a best-of-5 first-round series; the 2003 NBA playoffs saw those series expand to a best-of-7 format. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Nets 4 games to 0 in the 2002 NBA Finals. Shaquille O'Neal was named NBA Finals MVP for the third straight year.
The 2002 playoffs are best remembered for that year's Western Conference Finals between the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings. The matchup between the Lakers and Kings is regarded as one of the most controversial playoff series in NBA history. At the time, there was widespread criticism of the officiating as favoring the Lakers, especially in Game 6. Several years later, disgraced referee Tim Donaghy accused the Game 6 officiating crew of fixing the game, at the behest of the NBA's front office.
Overview The 2002 NBA Playoffs marked the return of the Boston Celtics, who had last made the playoffs in 1995. In addition, the New Jersey Nets returned to the playoffs for the first time since 1998.
This also marked the last appearance of the Charlotte Hornets in the playoffs until 2010. The Hornets moved the next year to New Orleans, while an expansion team, formerly the Bobcats, was formed in 2004. The Hornets were renamed the Pelicans in 2013, after which the Bobcats reclaimed the Hornets name in 2014. The Hornets also reclaimed the history and records of the 1988–2002 Charlotte teams. This was also the most recent season in which the Hornets won a playoff series; since returning in 2004, the Hornets/Bobcats franchise only won a combined three playoff games, all in 2016, and failed to win a single game under the Bobcats branding.
The New York Knicks missed the playoffs for the first time since 1987, while the Miami Heat missed the playoffs for the first time since 1995. With that, Pat Riley missed the playoffs for the first time in his coaching career. Also the Phoenix Suns missed the playoffs for the first time since 1988.
With their first round series win over the Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics won their first playoff series since 1992.
With their first round series win over the Toronto Raptors, the Detroit Pistons won their first playoff series since 1991.
With their first round series win over the Indiana Pacers, the New Jersey Nets won a playoff series for the first time since 1984.
With similar sweeps on April 28, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Portland Trail Blazers were the final teams to lose in three-game sweep; they fell to the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers respectively.
Game 4 of the Nets–Hornets series was the final playoff game ever played at Charlotte Coliseum.
Game 5 of the Lakers–Spurs series was the last NBA playoff game aired on TBS. Additionally, this was the last NBA playoff game to take place in what is known as a multipurpose stadium and the last game at the Alamodome.
With their conference semifinals victory over the Charlotte Hornets, the New Jersey Nets made the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. It also marked the first time the Nets won a best of seven playoff series in franchise history.
With their conference semifinals victory over the Detroit Pistons, the Boston Celtics made their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 1988.
In Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Boston Celtics created the biggest 4th quarter playoff comeback in Game 3, winning 94–90 after trailing by as much as 21 prior to the fourth quarter. (This record was later broken by the Los Angeles Clippers, who came back from 24 in the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012).
With their Game 6 win over the Boston Celtics, the New Jersey Nets made the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, preventing a Celtics–Lakers NBA Finals.
The Lakers’ Game 7 win over the Sacramento Kings marked the first time since 1982 that a road team won a Game 7 in the conference finals.
The 2002 NBA Finals marked the first time since 1995 that a team swept an NBA Finals series.
Game 4 of the NBA Finals was the last game telecast on NBC until the 2025–26 season. TBS and NBC were replaced with ESPN and ABC the following season, since both channels are owned by the Walt Disney Company. TBS has aired some NBA basketball in the ensuing years due to conflicts on sister network TNT. The total number of playoff games was 70, including the NBA Finals.
Bracket
Playoff qualifying
Western Conference
Best record in NBA The Sacramento Kings clinched the best record in the NBA and earned home-court advantage throughout the entire playoffs.
Clinched a playoff berth The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:
Sacramento Kings (61–21, clinched Pacific division) San Antonio Spurs (58–24, clinched Midwest division, 3–1 head-to-head vs. LAL) Los Angeles Lakers (58–24, 1–3 head-to-head vs. SAS) Dallas Mavericks (57–25) Minnesota Timberwolves (50–32) Portland Trail Blazers (49–33) Seattle SuperSonics (45–37) Utah Jazz (44–38)
Eastern Conference
Best record in conference The New Jersey Nets clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference and earned home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Clinched a playoff berth The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:
New Jersey Nets (52–30, clinched Atlantic division) Detroit Pistons (50–32, clinched Central division) Boston Celtics (49–33) Charlotte Hornets (44–38, 3–1 head-to-head vs. ORL) Orlando Magic (44–38, 1–3 head-to-head vs. CHA) Philadelphia 76ers (43–39) Toronto Raptors (42–40, 3–1 head-to-head vs. IND) Indiana Pacers (42–40, 1–3 head-to-head vs. TOR)
First round
Eastern Conference first round
(1) New Jersey Nets vs. (8) Indiana Pacers
Although the Nets won the series in 5, it would be most remarkable for more playoff heroics by Reggie Miller; Miller banked in a 40-footer at the buzzer to force OT, and then fly in for a dunk over 3 Net defenders with 3.1 seconds left in the extra session to force the 2nd overtime.
+Regular-season seriesNew Jersey won 3–1 in the regular-season series
This was the first NBA playoff meeting between the Pacers and the Nets. As members of the ABA, both teams met in the 1972 ABA Finals, where the Pacers won 4–2.
(2) Detroit Pistons vs. (7) Toronto Raptors
This series involved two teams that had exceeded expectations during the season. It was also the first time that professional sports teams from Detroit and Toronto met in a postseason series since the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs met in the 1993 Norris Division Semifinals, but no two teams from the two cities have met in a postseason series since. The Detroit Pistons were coming off a year where they had lost 50 games. The Raptors had lost their star forward, Vince Carter, for the remainder of the season. As a result, the Raptors lost 13 straight games without him. Although they looked down and out of playoff contention, the Raptors went on a surge, winning 12 of their last 14 games, locking up the 7th seed. The home team won each game of the series, with the Pistons winning the decisive Game 5 by 3 points. Raptors' Guard, Chris Childs, attempted to draw a foul on a three-point shot, instead of passing it to an open Dell Curry. In the post game interview, Childs stated that he thought the team was down by four points, not three. Detroit advanced to face the Boston Celtics in the second round. Meanwhile, Toronto, with a 39 year old Hakeem Olajuwon playing his final game, was on the couch.
Game 5 is Hakeem Olajuwon's final NBA game.
+Regular-season seriesDetroit won 3–1 in the regular-season series
This was the first playoff meeting between the Pistons and the Raptors.
(3) Boston Celtics vs. (6) Philadelphia 76ers
This series marked the return of the Celtics to the playoffs for the first time in seven years, and they faced the reigning Eastern Conference champion in the first round. The first two games were played in Boston, where the Celtics won both games resoundingly. The 76ers fought back, however, and with Allen Iverson scoring 42 points the 76ers won Game 3 and stayed alive. In Game 4, Iverson was slowed down, scoring 26 points on just 9-of-26 shooting, and Antoine Walker stepped up for the Celtics, scoring 25. But Iverson's play at the end making a layup, scoring off an Eric Snow steal, and hitting some free throws after Walker drilled a three sealed the victory for the 76ers. This set the stage for a Game 5 in Boston to decide the series. The Celtics had control on this game throughout, but the 76ers kept within striking distance into the 4th quarter. But Boston went on an amazing streak of three-pointers, hitting an NBA playoff record nine of them in the 4th quarter and 19 in the game. Paul Pierce led the way with 46, on 8-10 shooting from downtown, and Boston won in a huge blowout, sending them to the conference semifinals to face second-seed Detroit.
+Regular-season seriesPhiladelphia won 3–1 in the regular-season series
This was the 19th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning 10 of the first 18 meetings. +Previous playoff seriesBoston leads 10–8 in all-time playoff series
(4) Charlotte Hornets vs. (5) Orlando Magic
Game 4 is Patrick Ewing's final NBA game.
+Regular-season seriesCharlotte won 3–1 in the regular-season series
This was the first playoff meeting between the Magic and the Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats franchise.
Western Conference first round
(1) Sacramento Kings vs. (8) Utah Jazz
+Regular-season seriesSacramento won 4–0 in the regular-season series
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning the first meeting. +Previous playoff seriesUtah leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Seattle SuperSonics
+Regular-season seriesTied 2–2 in the regular-season series
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Spurs winning the first meeting. +Previous playoff seriesSan Antonio leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers
The Lakers sweep the Blazers thanks to a series-winning 3 by Robert Horry with 2.1 seconds left in Game 3.
+Regular-season seriesTied 2–2 in the regular-season series
This was the 11th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning eight of the first ten meetings. +Previous playoff seriesLos Angeles leads 8–2 in all-time playoff series This is the most recent playoff series between the Lakers & Trail Blazers until 2020.
(4) Dallas Mavericks vs. (5) Minnesota Timberwolves
Dirk Nowitzki was virtually unstoppable in this series, averaging 33 points and 16 rebounds per game.
+Regular-season seriesTied 2–2 in the regular-season series
This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the Timberwolves.
Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference semifinals
(1) New Jersey Nets vs. (4) Charlotte Hornets
Game 4 would not only be the last game played at Charlotte Coliseum until 2004 when the Charlotte Bobcats were an expansion team (the Bobcats would make the first of their two only playoff appearances in 2010), but the last playoff game ever played at the arena. Game 5 would also be the Hornets' last playoff game before moving to New Orleans and then being renewed in 2014. They would make the playoffs again in 2016. +Regular-season seriesNew Jersey won 3–1 in the regular-season series
This was the first playoff meeting between the Nets and the Hornets.
(2) Detroit Pistons vs. (3) Boston Celtics
+Regular-season seriesTied 2–2 in the regular-season series
This was the seventh playoff meeting in the history of the Pistons-Celtics rivalry, with each team winning three series apiece. +Previous playoff seriesTied 3–3 in all-time playoff series