1994
The Pacers outscore the Knicks 35-16 in the fourth quarter, with 25 of those points coming from Reggie Miller, to win 93-85 in an eventful game five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Miller scores 39 points overall and regularly taunts Knicks super fan Spike Lee throughout, including with an infamous choke sign. Patrick Ewing scores 29 points for New York in a losing effort. Indiana takes a 3-2 series lead but could not close out game six at home and the Knicks ultimately won in seven games to advance to the NBA Finals.
1975
Larry O’Brien becomes the third commissioner of the NBA, taking over from J. Walter Kennedy.
1976
Jack Ramsay is named head coach of the Trail Blazers, replacing the resigning Lenny Wilkens. In his first season in charge, Ramsay led Portland to the only championship in franchise history.
1979
The Seattle SuperSonics clinch their first and only title in franchise history, with a 97-93 victory over the Bullets in game five of the NBA Finals. Dennis Johnson is named Finals MVP.
1985
NBA champion Nick Young is born in Los Angeles, California.
1993
Lenny Wilkens is hired as coach of the Hawks, replacing the fired Bob Weiss. Wilkens is named NBA Coach of the Year in his first season in Atlanta after leading the team to a 14-win improvement over the ’92-’93 season.
1995
Hakeem Olajuwon dominates with 39 points and 17 rebounds as the Rockets close out a Western Conference Finals upset over the Spurs with a 100-95 victory in game six.
2004
The Pistons clinch their first NBA Finals appearance in 14 years and do so in an appropriately defensive battle, defeating the Pacers 69-65 in the clinching game six of the Eastern Conference Finals. Detroit is victorious despite shooting just 32.9% from the field, aided largely by 15 offensive rebounds.
2005
George Mikan passes away at age 80, after a long battle with diabetes.
A 22-year-old Amar’e Stoudemire puts up 42 points and 16 rebounds but Tim Duncan finishes with 31 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Spurs to a 101-95 victory over the Suns in game five of the Western Conference Finals. It clinches the series for the Spurs, who advance to the NBA Finals for the third time.
2006
Dirk Nowitzki scores a franchise playoff record 50 points (breaking his own record), along with 12 rebounds, to lead the Mavericks to a 117-101 victory over the Suns in game five of the Western Conference Finals, taking a 3-2 series lead.
2016
Mike D’Antoni is hired as head coach of the Rockets. Over the next four seasons, he would lead the team to unprecedented offensive success but no NBA Finals appearances.
2021
Damian Lillard breaks his own Trail Blazers franchise postseason record with 55 points, but Portland loses to the Nuggets 147-140 in game five of their Western Conference first round series.
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