This was only the second time it had happened since 2000.
The San Antonio Spurs became the first defending champions to be eliminated in the first round since the 2011–12 Dallas Mavericks. Game 7 between the Clippers and Spurs ensured a 16th straight postseason in which at least one Game 7 was played 1999 was the last postseason to not feature a Game 7. The fifth seed defeated the fourth seed in both conferences for the third straight year. The first round of the playoffs saw a record six teams take a 3–0 lead in their respective series, the first time it had happened since the first round expanded to a best-of-seven series in 2003. Bucks head coach Jason Kidd became the first head coach to lead two teams to the playoffs in his first two seasons, having led the Nets to the playoffs the previous season. Oklahoma City and Indiana were tied with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Brooklyn Nets with 45 and 38 wins, respectively, but missed the playoffs due to tiebreakers.ĭespite starting their respective seasons in a rebuilding mode, both the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence. The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers were conference finalists a year ago but failed to make the playoffs. The Heat and their in-state rivals, the Orlando Magic, both missed the playoffs in the same season for the first time since 1993. Miami had qualified for the playoffs for six consecutive seasons before missing this year, also reaching the NBA Finals four consecutive times. On the other hand, James' former team, the Miami Heat, missed the playoffs after making the previous year's Finals, becoming the first team to do so since the 2005 Lakers. The Cleveland Cavaliers made their first postseason appearance since 2010, the final season of LeBron James' first stint with the Cavaliers. The San Antonio Spurs made their 18th straight playoff appearance, while the Atlanta Hawks (eighth straight playoff appearance) and the Golden State Warriors (third straight playoff appearance) entered the playoffs as the first seeds of their respective conferences. The Los Angeles Clippers hosting the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the First Round series at the Staples Center.
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