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1940

NBA coaching legend Don Nelson is born in Muskegon, Michigan.

1959

Gene Banks is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Considered the best prep player in Philadelphia since Wilt Chamberlain, Banks led West Philadelphia High School to 68 consecutive wins and three city titles.

1982

The Lakers become the first team in NBA history to sweep back-to-back best-of-seven playoff series by defeating the Spurs 128-123 in game four of the Western Conference Finals.

1983

It would eventually serve as their only loss of the 1983 postseason, but Moses Malone’s “fo’, fo’, fo’” prediction for the 76ers is spoiled by the Bucks, who avoid an Eastern Conference Finals sweep with a 100-94 win in game four.

1984

Magic Johnson sets the NBA playoff single game record with 24 assists in a 118-112 Lakers win over the Suns in game two of the Western Conference Finals. The record would be tied four years later by John Stockton.

1987

Ersan Ilyasova is born in Eksisehir, Turkey. Both his age and citizenship came under question in 2003, when the Uzbek Basketball Federation put forth evidence that he was actually born in Uzbekistan in 1984.

1990

A 106-103 game five win closes out a Western Conference Semifinals upset for the Suns over the Lakers, who fail to reach at least the Conference Finals for the first time since 1981. Kevin Johnson leads Phoenix with 37 points and eight assists.

1997

The Bullets officially change their name to the Washington Wizards, which was chosen by fans in a poll.

2001

Allen Iverson of the 76ers is named NBA league MVP for the ’00-’01 season, with Tim Duncan finishing second in voting and Shaquille O’Neal in third. It’s part of an especially lucrative awards season for the Sixers, with Larry Brown additionally earning Coach of the Year, Dikembe Mutombo being named Defensive Player of the Year, and Aaron McKie earning Sixth Man of the Year.

2002

Jason Kidd finishes with 23 points and 13 assists as the Nets defeat the Hornets 103-95 in game five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, clinching the series and the first Conference Finals appearance in the franchise’s NBA history (going back to ’76-’77).

2003

The Spurs defeat the Lakers 110-82 in game six of the Western Conference Semifinals, clinching the series and eliminating the three-time defending champions. Tim Duncan leads San Antonio with 37 points and 16 rebounds.

2004

The tables turn in the Western Conference Semifinals, as the Lakers eliminate the defending champion Spurs with an 88-76 victory in game six. One year prior in the same postseason round, San Antonio had knocked out the defending champion Lakers.

2007

The #8 seed Warriors have their miraculous run come to an end with a 100-87 loss to the Jazz in game five of the Western Conference Semifinals. Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko score 21 points each for the Jazz, who advance to the Conference Finals for the first and only time in franchise history without Karl Malone and John Stockton on the roster.

2013

Zach Randolph leads the way with 28 points and 14 rebounds as the Grizzlies defeat the Thunder 88-84 in game five of the Western Conference Semifinals, clinching the series and the first (and still only) Conference Finals appearance in franchise history.

2016

The Raptors defeat the Heat 116-89 in game seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, clinching the series and the first Conference Finals appearance in franchise history. Kyle Lowry leads the Raptors with 35 points and nine assists.

2022

The Mavericks finish off a Western Conference Semifinals upset of the Suns with a 123-90 victory in the winner-take-all game seven. Luka Doncic finishes with 35 points and 10 assists.

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