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1941

NBA All-Star Flynn Robinson is born in Elgin, Illinois.

1960

Lakers owner Bob Short announces that he is relocating the franchise from Minneapolis to Los Angeles.

1966

Despite a 36 point, 10 rebound effort from Jerry West, the Celtics defeat the Lakers 95-93 in game of the NBA Finals to clinch the ninth championship of the Bill Russell era, and the final one with Red Auerbach as head coach.

1974

Margo Dydek is born in Warsaw, Poland. Her older sister Katarzyna also played professional basketball, in the short lived ABL.

1976

The Denver Nuggets defeat the Kentucky Colonels 133-110 in game seven of their ABA Semifinals series to advance to the ABA Finals. It would prove to be the final game in Colonels franchise history, as they are not included in the NBA merger that follows the season.

1980

NBA All-Star Josh Howard is born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

1982

Chris Kaman is born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His great-grandparents were German and in 2008, he received German citizenship in order to play on the national team in the Beijing Olympics.

1987

Daequan Cook is born in Dayton, Ohio. Teaming up with fellow future NBA player Norris Cole, he led Dunbar High School to an Ohio state title in 2006.

1988

Spencer Hawes is born in Seattle, Washington. He was named Gatorade Washington Player of the Year in 2006 while leading Seattle Prep to a state title.

Michael Jordan scores 50 points to lead the Bulls to a 104-93 victory over the Cavaliers in game one of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Bulls would eventually win the series in five games, for the first playoff series victory of Jordan’s career.

1993

Jim Valvano passes away at age 47 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

1995

In his first postseason game since coming back from retirement, Michael Jordan drops 48 points, plus nine rebounds and eight assists, leading the Bulls to a 108-100 victory over the Hornets in game one of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Jordan would ultimately average 32.3 points per game in the series as the Bulls advance in four games.

1997

In the inaugural WNBA Draft, Tina Thompson of USC is selected first overall by the Houston Comets. She would team up with Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes to lead the Comets to the first four WNBA titles.

2008

Erik Spoelstra is named as head coach of the Heat, replacing Pat Riley, who steps down to take a role in the front office. Though he was just 37 years old at the time, Spoelstra had already spent 13 years in various roles in the Heat organization, including starting off as a video coordinator.

Kobe Bryant scores 31 points to lead the Lakers to a 107-101 victory over the Nuggets, finishing off a Western Conference Quarterfinals sweep. It marks the fifth consecutive season that Denver is eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. They finally break the slump in 2009 with a run to the Western Conference Finals.

2009

For the first time in nine years, the Spurs fail to advance to at least the Conference Semifinals, as they’re upset in the Conference Quarterfinals by the Mavericks, who win game five 106-93 to close out the series.

2011

The Lakers defeat the Hornets 98-80 in game six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals to close out the series. Chris Paul finishes with 10 points and 11 assists in his final game with New Orleans. In the ensuing offseason, he’s traded to the Lakers in a deal that’s agreed to in principle but later negated by commissioner David Stern. Paul is subsequently traded to the Clippers.

2022

Chris Paul sets an NBA playoff game record for most field goal attempts without a miss, shooting 14-of-14 in a 115-109 Suns win over the Pelicans in game six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

2024

For the first time in 20 years, the Timberwolves win a playoff series, finishing a Conference Quarterfinals sweep of the Suns with a 122-116 game four victory. Anthony Edwards leads Minnesota with 40 points and nine rebounds.

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