The 1993 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1992–93 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls defeating the Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Michael Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP for the third straight year. This was the Suns' second Western Conference title; they made their first NBA Finals appearance since 1976, losing to the Boston Celtics.
The Knicks–Pacers rivalry started in their first-round encounter, which New York won, 3–1. But it wasn't until the next two meetings (1994 and 1995) that the rivalry became even more intense, particularly due to Reggie Miller's heroics in the Garden that made him a household name and Indiana legitimate contenders in the East.
The Charlotte Hornets made their playoff debut. Their opening-round series versus Boston was also the last time the Celtics made the playoffs with Kevin McHale, who retired after the series, and Robert Parish, who left as a free agent. Game 1 of the series was the final game of Reggie Lewis' career, as he collapsed during the first quarter and did not play for the rest of the series; he died in July of a heart attack.
Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals saw the Suns attempt sixty-four free throws while connecting on fifty-seven of them, both NBA postseason records.
Sportswriter Bill Simmons called the 1993 post-season the best in NBA history.
Bracket
First round
Eastern Conference first round
(1) New York Knicks vs. (8) Indiana Pacers
John Starks is ejected after headbutting Reggie Miller.
This was the first playoff meeting between the Pacers and the Knicks.
(2) Chicago Bulls vs. (7) Atlanta Hawks
Michael Jordan hits the half-court shot at the buzzer to end the first half.
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning both meetings.
(3) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (6) New Jersey Nets
Bernard King's final NBA game.
Maurice Cheeks and Dražen Petrović's final NBA game; Petrović dies a month later in a car crash.
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Cavaliers winning the first meeting.
(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) Charlotte Hornets
Celtics forward Reggie Lewis's final NBA game, he collapses on the court and did not play for the rest of the series; he dies 3 months later from a heart defect.
Xavier McDaniel hits the game-tying jumper with 25.8 seconds left in regulation to force the first OT; Kevin McHale hits the game-tying jumper with 6 seconds left in the first OT to force the second OT.
Alonzo Mourning hits the series-winning shot with 4 tenths left; also Kevin McHale's final NBA game.
This was the first playoff meeting between the Celtics and the Hornets.
Western Conference first round
(1) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) Los Angeles Lakers
Dan Majerle hits the game-tying shot with 13.6 seconds left to force OT; After losing the first two games of the series, at the post game press conference Suns head coach Paul Westphal said that they would go to LA and win the next two games and then come back to Phoenix and win game 5, "and everyone will say what a great series it was."
This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning six of the first seven meetings.
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Los Angeles Clippers
This was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the Clippers.
(3) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (6) Utah Jazz
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning the first meeting.
(4) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (5) San Antonio Spurs
Sean Elliott hits the game-tying lay-up with 1:27 left to force OT.
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Trail Blazers winning the first meeting.
Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference semifinals
(1) New York Knicks vs. (5) Charlotte Hornets
Alonzo Mourning hits the game-tying shot with 30.9 seconds left in regulation to force the first OT, then hits the game-tying free throws with 12 seconds left in the first OT to force the second OT)
This was the first playoff meeting between the Hornets and the Knicks.
(2) Chicago Bulls vs. (3) Cleveland Cavaliers
Michael Jordan hits the series-winning shot at the buzzer against Cleveland for the second time in his career.
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first three meetings.