1995 NBA playoffs


The 1995 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1994–95 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets defeating the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic 4 games to 0 in the NBA Finals. Hakeem Olajuwon was named NBA Finals MVP for the second straight time.
As of 2019, the 1995 Rockets are the lowest-seeded team to win the NBA Championship.
Houston became the eighth team to win back-to-back titles. It would go on to happen twelve more times, with the Bulls winning 3 more from 1996 to 1998, the Lakers from 2000–2002 and 2009–2010, the Miami Heat from 2012–13, and the Golden State Warriors from 2017–18. The Rockets championships were also part of a run that saw 4 teams win consecutive titles. That streak was stopped by a Spurs franchise, who like the Celtics of the 1980s, didn't win back-to-back titles, but did win numerous championships and is considered a dynasty.
The sixth-seeded Rockets took out 4 impressive opponents on their way to the title, defeating the 3rd-seeded Utah Jazz, 2nd-seeded Phoenix Suns, top-seeded San Antonio Spurs and Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals. In the first round against the Utah Jazz, the Houston Rockets came back from a 1-2 series deficit, winning Game 5 in Utah. In the second round against the Suns, the Rockets came back from a 2–0 and 3–1 series deficit without home-court advantage, winning Games 5 and 7 in Phoenix. Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon dominated league MVP David Robinson and Shaquille O'Neal in consecutive series to win the title. The Rockets 47 wins were the fewest by an NBA champion since the Washington Bullets tallied 44 in 1978.
The 1995 Playoffs featured the first 3 playoff series victories in Magic history, as they beat the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and Indiana Pacers to win their first Eastern Conference title.
It also featured the return of Michael Jordan to the playoffs after a year and a half absence, returning in March, and the only time the Bulls didn't win a title with him on the roster since they started their string of titles in 1991.
Game 4 of the Celtics-Magic series was the last game played at Boston Garden. Boston returned to the playoffs in 2002, this time in the new FleetCenter.
Game 3 of the Blazers-Suns series was the last game played at the then-Memorial Coliseum. The Blazers continued their playoff streak at Rose Garden for the next 7 years.
Game 3 of the Spurs-Nuggets series was the final playoff game at McNichols Sports Arena; the Nuggets missed the playoffs in each of the arena's final four years. Denver returned to the playoffs in 2004, this time in the new Pepsi Center.
The Pacers made the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight year, but found the Magic too powerful to overcome. Coincidentally, they met all 3 playoff opponents they had in 1994, just in a different order.
Since the NBA playoffs expanded to 16 teams in 1984, the Jazz became the second team to win at least 60 regular season games and lose in the first round, when they lost to the eventual NBA champion Rockets.

Bracket

Western Conference

Champion: Houston Rockets

First Round

San Antonio Spurs vs. Denver Nuggets: Spurs win series 3-0
San Antonio won 4–1 in the regular-season series


This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Spurs winning two of the first three meetings.
San Antonio leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series


Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Suns win series 3-0
Phoenix won 5–0 in the regular-season series


This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning two series apiece.
Tied 2–2 in all-time playoff series


Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 3-2
Utah won 3–2 in the regular-season series


This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.
Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series


Seattle SuperSonics vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Lakers win series 3-1
Los Angeles won 4–1 in the regular-season series


This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning three of the first five meetings.
Los Angeles leads 3–2 in all-time playoff series

Conference Semifinals

San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Spurs win series 4-2
San Antonio won 3–1 in the regular-season series


This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first four meetings.
Los Angeles leads 4–0 in all-time playoff series


Phoenix Suns vs. Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 4-3
Houston won 3–1 in the regular-season series


This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning the first meeting.
Houston leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series

Conference Finals

San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 4-2
San Antonio won 5–1 in the regular-season series


This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning the first two meetings.
Houston leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series

Eastern Conference

Champion: Orlando Magic

First Round

Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics: Magic win series 3-1
Orlando won 3–2 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Celtics and the Magic.
Indiana Pacers vs. Atlanta Hawks: Pacers win series 3-0
Indiana won 4–1 in the regular-season series


This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.
Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series


New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Knicks win series 3-1
Tied 2–2 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


Charlotte Hornets vs. Chicago Bulls: Bulls win series 3-1
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Hornets and the Bulls.

Conference Semifinals

Orlando Magic vs. Chicago Bulls: Magic win series 4-2
Orlando won 3–1 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the Magic. It was also the last Playoff Series defeat for Michael Jordan.
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks: Pacers win series 4-3
New York won 3–1 in the regular-season series


This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first two meetings.
New York leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series

Conference Finals

Orlando Magic vs. Indiana Pacers: Magic win series 4-3
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pacers winning the first meeting.
Indiana leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series

NBA Finals

Orlando Magic vs. Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 4-0
Orlando won 2–0 in the regular-season series


This was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the Magic.