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The '2005 NBA Playoffs' was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2004-05 season. The San Antonio Spurs, the number two ranked team in the Western Conference, won the 2005 NBA Playoffs by defeating the defending champions, the Detroit Pistons, 4-3 in the NBA Finals. The Spurs' Tim Duncan was named Finals MVP.
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). For the Spurs it was their third championship (they also won in the strike-shortened season of 1999).
The Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls both ended long playoff droughts in 2005 (and ironically, drew each other as a first-round matchup). For Washington it was their first playoff appearance since 1997, and only their third since 1988. Their 4-2 series victory over the Bulls marked the Wizards' first playoff series win since 1982, a drought of 23 years.
It was the Bulls' first post-Michael Jordan playoff appearance, as their last playoff game had been the winning game of the NBA Finals in 1998. In the years between, the Bulls had consistently placed at or near the bottom of the Central Division, but their 47-35 season in 2005 marked a 24-game improvement from the previous year.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, who are notorious with making the playoffs, it marked the first time in eleven seasons (dating back to 1994) and the fifth time in NBA history that they were not included in the playoffs.
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 the home court advantage. This has since been rectified by the NBA. See NBA Playoffs for more information regarding the playoffs.

Contents

Bracket

Playoff qualifying

Western Conference

Best record in NBA

Clinched a playoff berth

Eastern Conference

Best record in conference

Clinched a playoff berth

Western Conference

First Round

Conference Semifinals

Conference Finals

Eastern Conference

First Round

Conference Semifinals

Conference Finals

NBA Finals

External links

Bracket

Playoff qualifying

Western Conference

Best record in NBA

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.

Clinched a playoff berth

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:
# Phoenix Suns (clinched Pacific division)
# San Antonio Spurs (clinched Southwest division)
# Seattle SuperSonics (clinched Northwest division)
# Dallas Mavericks
# Houston Rockets
# Sacramento Kings
# Denver Nuggets
# Memphis Grizzlies

Eastern Conference

Best record in conference

The Miami Heat 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:
# Miami Heat (clinched Southeast division)
# Detroit Pistons (clinched Central division)
# Boston Celtics (clinched Atlantic division)
# Chicago Bulls
# Washington Wizards
# Indiana Pacers
# Philadelphia 76ers
# New Jersey Nets

Western Conference

Champion: 'San Antonio Spurs'

First Round

(1) 'Phoenix Suns' vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies:
''Suns win series 4-0''


★ 'Game 1' @ Phoenix: 'Phoenix 114', Memphis 103

★ 'Game 2' @ Phoenix: 'Phoenix 108', Memphis 103

★ 'Game 3' @ Memphis: 'Phoenix 110', Memphis 90

★ 'Game 4' @ Memphis: 'Phoenix 123', Memphis 115
(2) 'San Antonio Spurs' vs. (7) Denver Nuggets:
''Spurs win series 4-1''

★ 'Game 1' @ San Antonio: 'Denver 93', San Antonio 87

★ 'Game 2' @ San Antonio: 'San Antonio 104', Denver 76

★ 'Game 3' @ Denver: 'San Antonio 86', Denver 78

★ 'Game 4' @ Denver: 'San Antonio 126', Denver 115 (OT)

★ 'Game 5' @ San Antonio: 'San Antonio 99', Denver 89
(3) 'Seattle Supersonics' vs. (6) Sacramento Kings:
''Supersonics win series 4-1''

★ 'Game 1' @ Seattle: 'Seattle 87', Sacramento 82

★ 'Game 2' @ Seattle: 'Seattle 105', Sacramento 93

★ 'Game 3' @ Sacramento: 'Sacramento 116', Seattle 104

★ 'Game 4' @ Sacramento: 'Seattle 115', Sacramento 102

★ 'Game 5' @ Seattle: 'Seattle 122', Sacramento 118
(4) 'Dallas Mavericks' vs. (5) Houston Rockets:
''Mavericks win series 4-3''

★ 'Game 1' @ Dallas: 'Houston 98', Dallas 86

★ 'Game 2' @ Dallas: 'Houston 113', Dallas 111

★ 'Game 3' @ Houston: 'Dallas 106', Houston 102

★ 'Game 4' @ Houston: 'Dallas 97', Houston 93

★ 'Game 5' @ Dallas: 'Dallas 103', Houston 100

★ 'Game 6' @ Houston: 'Houston 101', Dallas 83

★ 'Game 7' @ Dallas: 'Dallas 116', Houston 76

Conference Semifinals

(1) 'Phoenix Suns' vs. (4) Dallas Mavericks:
''Suns win series 4-2''

★ 'Game 1' @ Phoenix: 'Phoenix 127', Dallas 102

★ 'Game 2' @ Phoenix: 'Dallas 108', Phoenix 106

★ 'Game 3' @ Dallas: 'Phoenix 119', Dallas 102

★ 'Game 4' @ Dallas: 'Dallas 119', Phoenix 109

★ 'Game 5' @ Phoenix: 'Phoenix 114', Dallas 108

★ 'Game 6' @ Dallas: 'Phoenix 130', Dallas 126 (OT)
(2) 'San Antonio Spurs' vs. (3) Seattle Supersonics:
''Spurs win series 4-2''

★ 'Game 1' @ San Antonio: 'San Antonio 103', Seattle 81

★ 'Game 2' @ San Antonio: 'San Antonio 108', Seattle 91

★ 'Game 3' @ Seattle: 'Seattle 92', San Antonio 91

★ 'Game 4' @ Seattle: 'Seattle 101', San Antonio 89

★ 'Game 5' @ San Antonio: 'San Antonio 103', Seattle 90

★ 'Game 6' @ Seattle: 'San Antonio 98', Seattle 96

Conference Finals

(1) Phoenix Suns vs. (2) 'San Antonio Spurs':
''Spurs win series 4-1''

★ 'Game 1' @ Phoenix: 'San Antonio 121', Phoenix 114

★ 'Game 2' @ Phoenix: 'San Antonio 111', Phoenix 108

★ 'Game 3' @ San Antonio: 'San Antonio 102', Phoenix 92

★ 'Game 4' @ San Antonio: 'Phoenix 111', San Antonio 106

★ 'Game 5' @ Phoenix: 'San Antonio 101', Phoenix 95

Eastern Conference

Champion: 'Detroit Pistons'

First Round

(1) 'Miami Heat' vs. (8) New Jersey Nets:
''Heat win series 4-0''

★ 'Game 1' @ Miami: 'Miami 116', New Jersey 98

★ 'Game 2' @ Miami: 'Miami 104', New Jersey 87

★ 'Game 3' @ New Jersey: 'Miami 108', New Jersey 105 (2OT)

★ 'Game 4' @ New Jersey: 'Miami 110', New Jersey 97
(2) 'Detroit Pistons' vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers:
''Pistons win series 4-1''

★ 'Game 1' @ Detroit: 'Detroit 106', Philadelphia 85

★ 'Game 2' @ Detroit: 'Detroit 99', Philadelphia 84

★ 'Game 3' @ Philadelphia: 'Philadelphia 115', Detroit 104

★ 'Game 4' @ Philadelphia: 'Detroit 97', Philadelphia 92 (OT)

★ 'Game 5' @ Detroit: 'Detroit 88', Philadelphia 78
(3) Boston Celtics vs. (6) 'Indiana Pacers':
''Pacers win series 4-3''

★ 'Game 1' @ Boston: 'Boston 102', Indiana 82

★ 'Game 2' @ Boston: 'Indiana 82', Boston 79

★ 'Game 3' @ Indiana: 'Indiana 99', Boston 76

★ 'Game 4' @ Indiana: 'Boston 110', Indiana 79

★ 'Game 5' @ Boston: 'Indiana 90', Boston 85

★ 'Game 6' @ Indiana: 'Boston 92', Indiana 89 (OT)

★ 'Game 7' @ Boston: 'Indiana 97', Boston 70
(4) Chicago Bulls vs. (5) 'Washington Wizards':
''Wizards win series 4-2''

★ 'Game 1' @ Chicago: 'Chicago 103', Washington 94

★ 'Game 2' @ Chicago: 'Chicago 113', Washington 103

★ 'Game 3' @ Washington: 'Washington 117', Chicago 99

★ 'Game 4' @ Washington: 'Washington 106', Chicago 99

★ 'Game 5' @ Chicago: 'Washington 112', Chicago 110

★ 'Game 6' @ Washington: 'Washington 94', Chicago 91

Conference Semifinals

(1) 'Miami Heat' vs. (5) Washington Wizards:
''Heat win series 4-0''

★ 'Game 1' @ Miami: 'Miami 105', Washington 86

★ 'Game 2' @ Miami: 'Miami 108', Washington 102

★ 'Game 3' @ Washington: 'Miami 102', Washington 95

★ 'Game 4' @ Washington: 'Miami 99', Washington 95
(2) 'Detroit Pistons' vs. (6) Indiana Pacers:
''Pistons win series 4-2''

★ 'Game 1' @ Detroit: 'Detroit 96', Indiana 81

★ 'Game 2' @ Detroit: 'Indiana 92', Detroit 83

★ 'Game 3' @ Indiana: 'Indiana 79', Detroit 74

★ 'Game 4' @ Indiana: 'Detroit 89', Indiana 76

★ 'Game 5' @ Detroit: 'Detroit 86', Indiana 67

★ 'Game 6' @ Indiana: 'Detroit 88', Indiana 79

Conference Finals

(1) Miami Heat vs. (2) 'Detroit Pistons':
''Pistons win series 4-3''

★ 'Game 1' @ Miami: 'Detroit 90', Miami 81

★ 'Game 2' @ Miami: 'Miami 92', Detroit 86

★ 'Game 3' @ Detroit: 'Miami 113', Detroit 104

★ 'Game 4' @ Detroit: 'Detroit 106', Miami 96

★ 'Game 5' @ Miami: 'Miami 88', Detroit 76

★ 'Game 6' @ Detroit: 'Detroit 91', Miami 66

★ 'Game 7' @ Miami: 'Detroit 88', Miami 82

NBA Finals

Main articles: 2005 NBA Finals

(2) 'San Antonio Spurs' vs. (2) Detroit Pistons:
''Spurs win series, 4-3''

★ 'Game 1' @ San Antonio: 'San Antonio 84', Detroit 69

★ 'Game 2' @ San Antonio: 'San Antonio 97', Detroit 76

★ 'Game 3' @ Detroit: 'Detroit 96', San Antonio 79

★ 'Game 4' @ Detroit: 'Detroit 102', San Antonio 71

★ 'Game 5' @ Detroit: 'San Antonio 96', Detroit 95 (OT)

★ 'Game 6' @ San Antonio: 'Detroit 95', San Antonio 86

★ 'Game 7' @ San Antonio: 'San Antonio 81', Detroit 74
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.

External links

★ NBA.com's section for the 2005 NBA Playoffs

★ NBA.com's section for the 2005 NBA Finals