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{{Short description|Basketball competition}}
The '''2008 NBA Playoffs''' will be the [[NBA Playoffs|postseason]] to the [[National Basketball Association]]'s [[2007-08 NBA season|2007-2008 season]].
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{infobox basketball tournament season
|title=NBA playoffs
|year=2008
|image=2008NBAPlayoffsofficiallogo.gif
| season =[[2007–08 NBA season|2007–08]]
|dates=April 19–June 17, 2008
| num_teams =16
| winners =[[Boston Celtics]]
| count =17
| second = [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| semifinal1 =[[Detroit Pistons]]
| semifinal2 =[[San Antonio Spurs]]
| prev_season =[[2007 NBA playoffs|2007]]
| next_season =[[2009 NBA playoffs|2009]]
}}


The '''2008 NBA playoffs''' was the postseason tournament of the [[National Basketball Association]]'s [[2007–08 NBA season|2007–08 season]]. The tournament concluded with the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] champion [[Boston Celtics]] defeating the [[Western Conference (NBA)|Western Conference]] champion [[Los Angeles Lakers]] 4 games to 2 in the [[2008 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]]. [[Paul Pierce]] was named [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals MVP]].
==Format==

The 2008 format will be the same as [[2007 NBA Playoffs|2007]]'s format.
==Overview==
*The top 8 teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs.
Thanks to preseason trades for [[Kevin Garnett]] and [[Ray Allen]], the [[Boston Celtics]] entered the playoffs with an NBA best 66–16 record. It was also their first playoff appearance since [[2005 NBA Playoffs|2005]].
**The top 4 seeded teams are the three division winners and the best division runner-up all ranked on the basis of their standings.

**The bottom 4 seeded teams are seeded by basis of their standings.
The [[Los Angeles Lakers]] entered their third consecutive postseason. Thanks to a midseason trade for [[Pau Gasol]], they entered the playoffs as the top seed in the west for the first time since 2000.
*All series are in a best-of-seven format with the Games 1-2, 5 and 7 on the home court of the team with the better record.

**Exception: For the [[NBA Finals]], the team with the better record will play Games 1-2 and 6-7 on their home court.
The [[Phoenix Suns]] entered their fourth consecutive postseason. However, they lost to the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in the first round.
*The Playoffs begin on Saturday April 19th, with a single game on [[ABC]] and a tripleheader on [[ESPN]].

*The Eastern Conference Finals will be televised by [[ABC]] and [[ESPN]], and the Western Conference Finals will be televised by [[TNT]].
The [[Atlanta Hawks]] made the playoffs for the first time since [[1999 NBA Playoffs|1999]], taking the top seed and eventual champion Boston Celtics to seven games before bowing out.
*The [[NBA Finals]] will be televised on [[ABC]], beginning Thursday June 5th. The latest possible end date for the [[NBA Finals]] will be Thursday June 19th.

The [[2007–08 New Orleans Hornets season|New Orleans Hornets]] made the playoffs for the first time since [[2004 NBA Playoffs|2004]] and for the first time as a member of the Western Conference. This was notable since this marks the playoff debut of [[Chris Paul]] and the Hornets’ first postseason appearance after [[Hurricane Katrina]], pushing the defending champions [[San Antonio Spurs]] to seven games in the Conference Semifinals before bowing out. The Hornets would not win another playoff series until [[2018 NBA Playoffs|2018]], in which they were now known today as the [[New Orleans Pelicans|Pelicans]]. To date, 2008 was the closest the New Orleans franchise had ever come from reaching the Conference Finals; as of 2024 the Pelicans and the [[Charlotte Hornets]] are the only active teams to never advance to the Conference Finals.

The [[2007–08 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State Warriors]] won 48 games, more than 5 of the 8 playoff teams in the Eastern Conference. However, all eight qualifiers in the Western Conference finished with at least 50 wins, thus leaving the Warriors out of the postseason.

The [[New Jersey Nets]] missed the playoffs for the first time since 2001, largely due to a trade that sent [[Jason Kidd]] to the Dallas Mavericks. The [[Miami Heat]] missed the playoffs for the first time since 2003, thanks to a league worst 15–67 record. It also marked the first NBA postseason since 2003 not to feature [[Dwyane Wade]]. The [[Chicago Bulls]] also missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

With their first round series victory over the Toronto Raptors, the [[Orlando Magic]] won their first playoff series since [[1996 NBA Playoffs|1996]]. However, they lost to the Detroit Pistons in the Conference Semifinals.

With their first round sweep of the [[Denver Nuggets]], the Los Angeles Lakers won their first playoff series since 2004 (when they last made the NBA Finals). It also marked the only sweep of the 2008 playoffs.

With their conference semifinals win over the Orlando Magic, the [[Detroit Pistons]] entered their sixth consecutive conference finals. The Pistons also became the first team since the Showtime Lakers to accomplish this feat. As of 2024, this remains The Pistons’ most recent series win.

Game 7 of the conference semifinals between the Boston Celtics and [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] became notable for a duel between Paul Pierce and LeBron James, who scored 41 and 45 points, respectively. The Celtics won this game and advanced to the conference finals.

With their conference finals win over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Lakers returned to the NBA Finals for the first time since [[2004 NBA Finals|2004]]. They also became the first top seed since 2003 to make the NBA Finals.

With their conference finals win over the Detroit Pistons, the Boston Celtics made the NBA Finals for the first time since [[1987 NBA Finals|1987]]. As of 2024, Game 4 of the Conference Finals was The Pistons’ most recent playoff win.

For the first time since [[2000 NBA Finals|2000]], the top seeds from each Conference met in the NBA Finals. The 2008 Finals was also the first since [[1998 NBA Finals|1998]] to feature neither [[Shaquille O'Neal]] nor [[Tim Duncan]].

The Boston Celtics played 26 playoff games (2 games short of a full length postseason of 28), breaking the 25 game record of the [[1993–94 New York Knicks season|1994 Knicks]] and [[2004–05 Detroit Pistons season|2005 Pistons]] by 1 game for the most playoff games in a single season played by 1 NBA team.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/sports/basketball/17nba.html?pagewanted=print|title=Celtics Remain Mindful Of a Missed Opportunity|date=June 17, 2008|first=Howard|last=Beck|newspaper=The New York Times|page=D2}}</ref> The Knicks, however, only played a Best–of–5 First Round, and so had 2 fewer games to accomplish that feat.


==Playoff qualifying==
==Playoff qualifying==

===Eastern Conference===
===Eastern Conference===
The following teams have clinched a playoff berth in the East:
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:
*[[Boston Celtics]] (clinched berth on [[March 5]])
#[[Boston Celtics]] (66–16, clinched Atlantic Division, and home court advantage throughout the playoffs)
#[[Detroit Pistons]] (59–23, clinched Central Division title)
**Clinched home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
*[[Detroit Pistons]] (clinched berth on [[March 8]])
#[[Orlando Magic]] (52–30, clinched Southeast Division title)
#[[Cleveland Cavaliers]] (45–37)
**Clinched Central Division title.
#[[Washington Wizards]] (43–39)
*[[Orlando Magic]] (clinched berth on [[March 15]])
#[[Toronto Raptors]] (41–41)
**Clinched Southeast Division title.
#[[Philadelphia 76ers]] (40–42)
*[[Cleveland Cavaliers]] (clinched berth on [[March 29]])
#[[Atlanta Hawks]] (37–45)
*[[Philadelphia 76ers]] (clinched berth on [[April 4]])
*[[Washington Wizards]] (clinched berth on [[April 4]])
*[[Toronto Raptors]] (clinched berth on [[April 4]])


===Western Conference===
===Western Conference===
The following teams have clinched a playoff berth in the West:
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:
#[[Los Angeles Lakers]] (57–25, clinched Pacific Division title, and home-court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs)
* [[New Orleans Hornets]] (clinched berth on [[April 4]])
#[[New Orleans Hornets]] (56–26, clinched Southwest Division title, 34–18 record vs. Western Conference)
* [[San Antonio Spurs]] (clinched berth on [[April 5]])
#[[San Antonio Spurs]] (56–26, 33–19 record vs. Western Conference)
* [[Los Angeles Lakers]] (clinched berth on [[April 4]])
* [[Utah Jazz]] (clinched berth on [[April 6]])
#[[Utah Jazz]] (54–28, clinched Northwest Division title)
#[[Houston Rockets]] (55–27, 2–2 head-to-head vs. PHO, 33–19 record vs. Western Conference)
**Clinched Northwest Division title.
#[[Phoenix Suns]] (55–27, 2–2 head-to-head vs. HOU, 31–21 record vs. Western Conference)
* [[Houston Rockets]] (clinched berth on [[April 6]])
#[[Dallas Mavericks]] (51–31)
* [[Phoenix Suns]] (clinched berth on [[April 6]])
#[[Denver Nuggets]] (50–32)

The following three teams are competing for the last two playoff spots:
* [[Dallas Mavericks]] is within 6 and a half games of the Hornets.
* [[Denver Nuggets]] is within 8 and a half games of the Hornets.
* [[Golden State Warriors]] is within 8 and a half games of the Hornets.


==Bracket==
==Bracket==
This is the outlook for the 2007 NBA playoffs. Teams in ''italics'' have [[home court advantage]]. Teams in '''bold''' advance to the next round. Numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's original playoffs seeding in their respective conferences. Numbers to the right of each team indicate the number of games the team won in that round.
This was the outlook for the 2008 NBA Playoffs. Teams in ''italics'' had home court advantage. Teams in '''bold''' advanced to the next round. Numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's original seeding in their respective conferences. Numbers to the right of each team indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions possess an asterisk (*).

{{16TeamBracket |
<section begin=Bracket />{{16TeamBracket
| RD1=First Round
| RD1=First Round
| RD2=Conference Semifinals
| RD2=Conference Semifinals
| RD3=Conference Finals
| RD3=Conference Finals
| RD4=NBA Finals
| RD4=[[2008 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]]
| group1=[[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]]
| RD2-group1='''[[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]]'''
| group2=[[Western Conference (NBA)|Western Conference]]
| RD2-group2='''[[Western Conference (NBA)|Western Conference]]'''


| RD1-seed01=1
| RD1-seed01='''E1'''
| RD1-team01=''[[Boston Celtics|Celtics]]''
| RD1-team01='''''[[2007–08 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]'''''*
| RD1-score01=
| RD1-score01='''4'''
| RD1-seed02=8
| RD1-seed02=E8
| RD1-team02=
| RD1-team02=[[2007–08 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta]]
| RD1-score02=
| RD1-score02=3


| RD1-seed03=4
| RD1-seed03='''E4'''
| RD1-team03='''''[[2007–08 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]'''''
| RD1-team03=
| RD1-score03=
| RD1-score03='''4'''
| RD1-seed04=5
| RD1-seed04=E5
| RD1-team04=
| RD1-team04=[[2007–08 Washington Wizards season|Washington]]
| RD1-score04=
| RD1-score04=2


| RD1-seed05=2
| RD1-seed05='''E3'''
| RD1-team05='''''[[2007–08 Orlando Magic season|Orlando]]'''''*
| RD1-team05=
| RD1-score05=
| RD1-score05='''4'''
| RD1-seed06=7
| RD1-seed06=E6
| RD1-team06=
| RD1-team06=[[2007–08 Toronto Raptors season|Toronto]]
| RD1-score06=
| RD1-score06=1


| RD1-seed07=3
| RD1-seed07='''E2'''
| RD1-team07='''''[[2007–08 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit]]'''''*
| RD1-team07=
| RD1-score07=
| RD1-score07='''4'''
| RD1-seed08=6
| RD1-seed08=E7
| RD1-team08=[[2007–08 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia]]
| RD1-team08=
| RD1-score08=
| RD1-score08=2


| RD1-seed09=1
| RD1-seed09='''W1'''
| RD1-team09='''''[[2007–08 Los Angeles Lakers season|LA Lakers]]'''''*
| RD1-team09=
| RD1-score09=
| RD1-score09='''4'''
| RD1-seed10=8
| RD1-seed10=W8
| RD1-team10=
| RD1-team10=[[2007–08 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| RD1-score10=
| RD1-score10=0


| RD1-seed11=4
| RD1-seed11='''W4'''
| RD1-team11=
| RD1-team11='''[[2007–08 Utah Jazz season|Utah]]'''*
| RD1-score11=
| RD1-score11='''4'''
| RD1-seed12=5
| RD1-seed12=W5
| RD1-team12=
| RD1-team12=''[[2007–08 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]''
| RD1-score12=
| RD1-score12=2


| RD1-seed13=2
| RD1-seed13='''W3'''
| RD1-team13='''''[[2007–08 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio]]'''''
| RD1-team13=
| RD1-score13=
| RD1-score13='''4'''
| RD1-seed14=7
| RD1-seed14=W6
| RD1-team14=
| RD1-team14=[[2007–08 Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix]]
| RD1-score14=
| RD1-score14=1


| RD1-seed15=3
| RD1-seed15='''W2'''
| RD1-team15='''''[[2007–08 New Orleans Hornets season|New Orleans]]'''''*
| RD1-team15=
| RD1-score15=
| RD1-score15='''4'''
| RD1-seed16=6
| RD1-seed16=W7
| RD1-team16=
| RD1-team16=[[2007–08 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| RD1-score16=
| RD1-score16=1

| RD2-seed01='''E1'''
| RD2-team01='''''Boston'''''*
| RD2-score01='''4'''
| RD2-seed02=E4
| RD2-team02=Cleveland
| RD2-score02=3

| RD2-seed03=E3
| RD2-team03=Orlando*
| RD2-score03=1
| RD2-seed04='''E2'''
| RD2-team04='''''Detroit'''''*
| RD2-score04='''4'''

| RD2-seed05='''W1'''
| RD2-team05='''''LA Lakers'''''*
| RD2-score05='''4'''
| RD2-seed06=W4
| RD2-team06=Utah*
| RD2-score06=2

| RD2-seed07='''W3'''
| RD2-team07='''San Antonio'''
| RD2-score07='''4'''
| RD2-seed08=W2
| RD2-team08=''New Orleans''*
| RD2-score08=3

| RD3-seed01='''E1'''
| RD3-team01='''''Boston'''''*
| RD3-score01='''4'''
| RD3-seed02=E2
| RD3-team02=Detroit*
| RD3-score02=2

| RD3-seed03='''W1'''
| RD3-team03='''''LA Lakers'''''*
| RD3-score03='''4'''
| RD3-seed04=W3
| RD3-team04=San Antonio
| RD3-score04=1

| RD4-seed01='''E1'''
| RD4-team01='''''Boston'''''*
| RD4-score01='''4'''
| RD4-seed02=W1
| RD4-team02=LA Lakers*
| RD4-score02=2
}}{{ubl
|<nowiki>*</nowiki> Division winner
|'''Bold''' Series winner
|''Italic'' Team with home-court advantage
}}<section end=Bracket />

==First round==

===Eastern Conference first round===

====(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks====
{{basketballbox|bg=#eee |time = 8:30 pm (ET) |date=April 20 |place=[[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]] |TV=[[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| team1 = [[Atlanta Hawks]] | score1 = 81
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score2 = '''104'''
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080420/ATLBOS/recap.html Recap]
| Q1=21–'''29''' |Q2=19–'''20''' |Q3=15–'''24''' |Q4=26–'''31'''
| points1=[[Al Horford]] 20 |points2=[[Ray Allen]] 18
| rebounds1=[[Al Horford]] 10 |rebounds2=[[Kevin Garnett]] 10
| assist1=[[Joe Johnson (basketball)|Joe Johnson]] 7 |assist2=[[Rajon Rondo]] 9
| referee=Steve Javie, Jimmy Clark, Luis Grillo
| attendance = 18,624
| series=Boston leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox|bg=#fff |time = 8:00 pm (ET) |date=April 23 |place=[[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]] |TV=[[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| team1 = [[Atlanta Hawks]] | score1 = 77
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score2 = '''96'''
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080423/ATLBOS/recap.html Recap]
| Q1=20–'''24''' |Q2=22–'''28''' |Q3=16–'''24''' |Q4=19–'''20'''
| points1=[[Josh Smith|Smith]], [[Marvin Williams|Williams]] 13 |points2=[[Kevin Garnett]] 19
| rebounds1=[[Al Horford]] 9 |rebounds2=[[Kevin Garnett]] 10
| assist1=[[Al Horford|Horford]], [[Josh Smith|Smith]] 3 |assist2=[[Rajon Rondo]] 8
| referee=Joe DeRosa, Bill Spooner, Ed Malloy
| attendance = 18,624
| series=Boston leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox | bg = #eee | time = 8:00 pm (ET) | date = April 26 | place = [[Philips Arena]], [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. State)|Georgia]] | TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]] | score1 = 93
| team2 = '''[[Atlanta Hawks]]''' | score2 = '''102'''
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080426/BOSATL/recap.html Recap]
| Q1 = 26–'''32''' | Q2 = '''30'''–24 | Q3 = 18–'''28''' | Q4 = '''19'''–18
| points1 =[[Kevin Garnett]] 32 | points2 = [[Josh Smith]] 26
| rebounds1 = [[Kevin Garnett]] 10 | rebounds2 = [[Al Horford]] 14
| assist1 = [[Paul Pierce]] 8 | assist2 = [[Mike Bibby]] 8
| referee = Violet Palmer, Bennet Salvatore. Tom Washington
| attendance = 19,725
| series=Boston leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox | bg = #fff | time = 8:00 pm (ET) | date = April 28 | place = [[Philips Arena]], [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. State)|Georgia]] | TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]] | score1 = 92
| team2 = '''[[Atlanta Hawks]]''' | score2 = '''97'''
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080428/BOSATL/recap.html Recap]
| Q1 = 24–'''29''' | Q2 = '''24'''–22 | Q3 = '''27'''–14 | Q4 = 17–'''32'''
| points1 = [[Ray Allen]] 21 | points2 = [[Joe Johnson (basketball)|Joe Johnson]] 35
| rebounds1 = [[Kevin Garnett]] 9 | rebounds2 = [[Al Horford]] 13
| assist1 = [[Rajon Rondo]] 12 | assist2 = [[Joe Johnson (basketball)|Joe Johnson]] 6
| referee = Mike Callahan, Eddie Rush, Monty McCutchen
| attendance = 20,016
| series=Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox | bg = #eee | time = 8:30 pm (ET) | date = April 30 | place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]] | TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| team1 = [[Atlanta Hawks]] | score1 = 85
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score2 = '''110'''
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080430/ATLBOS/recap.html Recap]
| Q1 = 19–'''27''' | Q2 = 24–'''31''' | Q3 = 21–'''23''' | Q4 = 21–'''29'''
| points1 = [[Joe Johnson (basketball)|Joe Johnson]] 21 | points2 = [[Paul Pierce]] 22
| rebounds1 = [[Al Horford]] 10 | rebounds2 = [[Paul Pierce]] 7
| assist1 = [[Al Horford]] 5 | assist2 = [[Kevin Garnett]] 7
| referee = David Jones, Dick Bavetta, Joe Forte
| attendance = 18,624
| series=Boston leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox | bg = #fff | time = 8:00 pm (ET) | date = May 2 | place = [[Philips Arena]], [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. State)|Georgia]] | TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]] | score1 = 100
| team2 = '''[[Atlanta Hawks]]''' | score2 = '''103'''
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080502/BOSATL/recap.html Recap]
| Q1 = '''32'''–20 | Q2 = 18–'''29''' | Q3 = '''32'''–30 | Q4 = 18–'''24'''
| points1 = [[Kevin Garnett]] 22 | points2 = [[Marvin Williams]] 18
| rebounds1 = [[Kevin Garnett]] 7 | rebounds2 = [[Mike Bibby]] 6
| assist1 = [[Kevin Garnett]] 6 | assist2 = [[Mike Bibby]] 7
| referee = Joe Crawford, Mark Wunderlich, Bob Delaney
| attendance = 20,425
| series=Series tied, 3–3
}}
{{basketballbox | bg = #eee | time = 1:00 pm (ET) | date = May 4 | place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]] | TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| team1 = [[Atlanta Hawks]] | score1 = 65
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score2 = '''99'''
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080504/ATLBOS/recap.html Recap]
| Q1 = 16–'''27''' | Q2 = 10–'''17''' | Q3 = 17–'''35''' | Q4 = '''22'''–20
| points1 = [[Joe Johnson (basketball)|Joe Johnson]] 16 | points2 = [[Paul Pierce]] 22
| rebounds1 = [[Al Horford]] 12 | rebounds2 = [[Kevin Garnett]] 11
| assist1 = [[Al Horford]] 3 | assist2 = [[Rajon Rondo]] 6
| referee = Ken Mauer, Dan Crawford, Bennett Salvatore
| attendance = 18,624
| series = Boston wins series, 4–3
}}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Boston won 3–0 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 9, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|11090|id=BOS}}
| team1 = [[Atlanta Hawks]] |score1 = 83
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' |score2 = '''106'''
| place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = March 2, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|03020|id=BOS}}
| team1 = [[Atlanta Hawks]] |score1 = 88
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' |score2 = '''98'''
| place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = April 12, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|04120|id=ATL}}
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = '''99'''
| team2 = [[Atlanta Hawks]] | score2 = 89
| place = [[Philips Arena]], [[Atlanta]]
}}
|}

This was the tenth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning eight of the first nine meetings.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=ATL&opp_id=BOS&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Boston Celtics (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 26, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Boston leads 8–1 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1957
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[St. Louis Hawks]] | score2 = 3
| place = [[1957 NBA Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1958
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[St. Louis Hawks]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1958 NBA Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1960
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[St. Louis Hawks]] | score2 = 3
| place = [[1960 NBA Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1961
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[St. Louis Hawks]] | score2 = 1
| place = [[1961 NBA Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1972
| team1 = [[Atlanta Hawks]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1972 NBA playoffs|1972 Eastern Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1973
| team1 = [[Atlanta Hawks]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1973 NBA playoffs|1973 Eastern Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1983
| team1 = [[Atlanta Hawks]] | score1 = 1
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score2 = 2
| place = [[1983 NBA playoffs|1983 Eastern Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1986
| team1 = [[Atlanta Hawks]] | score1 = 1
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1986 NBA playoffs|1986 Eastern Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1988
| team1 = [[Atlanta Hawks]] | score1 = 3
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1988 NBA playoffs|1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
|}

Games 1 and 2 were Celtic routs, keyed by great team defense (Atlanta averaged 79 points in the first 2 games) and balanced Celtic scoring (six players were in double figures in Game 1, five in Game 2). The most buzz was generated by [[Mike Bibby]] stating that Celtic fans were bandwagoners after Game 1, prompting boos every time he touched the ball in Game 2.<ref>http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/04/22/bibby-calls-bostons-fans-bandwagon-jumpers/ Bibby: Boston Fans are "Bandwagon Jumpers", AOL Fanhouse</ref>

In Game 3, Atlanta showed its athleticism with an array of dunks from Josh Smith (26 points) and a strong interior performance by the rookie [[Al Horford]] (17 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists), who also jawed with Paul Pierce near the end of the game. There would be more jawing in Game 4 between [[Zaza Pachulia]] and [[Kevin Garnett]], but the outcome was a surprise: thanks to fourth quarter heroics by Joe Johnson and Smith, who combined to score 32 of Atlanta's 34 4th quarter points, the upstart Hawks rallied from a 10-point third quarter deficit in Game 4 to tie the series going back to Boston. Boston dominated Game 5, but in Game 6, six Hawks players finished in double figures to force a winner-take-all Game 7. The Hawks were no match for the Celtics in Game 7, as the Celtics held them to 26 points in the 1st half. 3 minutes into the 2nd half, the series' tensions finally boiled over when [[Marvin Williams]] was ejected for committing a hard foul on [[Rajon Rondo]]. Then after that, Kevin Garnett was noted for trucking Zaza Pachulia while going for a screen.

==== (2) [[Detroit Pistons]] vs. (7) [[Philadelphia 76ers]] ====
{{basketballbox| bg = #eee | time = 6:00 pm (ET) | date = April 20 | place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]] | TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| team1 = '''[[Philadelphia 76ers]]''' | score1 = '''90'''
| team2 = [[Detroit Pistons]] | score2 = 86
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080420/PHIDET/recap.html Recap]
| Q1 = 22–'''27''' | Q2 = 16–'''24''' | Q3 = '''25'''–19 | Q4 = '''27'''–16
| points1 = [[Andre Miller]] 20 | points2 = [[Rasheed Wallace]] 24
| rebounds1 = [[Reggie Evans]] 14 | rebounds2 = [[Jason Maxiell]] 11
| assist1 = [[Andre Iguodala]] 8 | assist2 = [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] 4
| referee = Tom Washington, Eddie Rush, Monty McCutchen
| attendance = 22,076
| series=Philadelphia leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox| bg = #fff | time = 7:30 pm (ET) | date = April 23 | place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]] | TV = [[NBATV]]
| team1 = [[Philadelphia 76ers]] | score1 = 88
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' | score2 = '''105'''
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080423/PHIDET/recap.html Recap]
| Q1 = 18–'''25''' | Q2 = 18–'''28''' | Q3 = 26–'''31''' | Q4 = '''26'''–21
| points1 = [[Lou Williams]] 17 | points2 = [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] 20
| rebounds1 = [[Reggie Evans]] 11 | rebounds2 = [[Antonio McDyess]] 12
| assist1 = [[Andre Iguodala]] 4 | assist2 = [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] 7
| referee = Steve Javie, Derrick Collins, Mark Wunderlich
| attendance = 22,076
| series=Series tied, 1–1
}}
{{basketballbox | bg = #eee | time = 7:00 pm (ET) | date = April 25 | place = [[Wachovia Center]], [[Philadelphia]] | TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN2]]
| team1 = [[Detroit Pistons]] | score1 = 75
| team2 = '''[[Philadelphia 76ers]]''' | score2 = '''95'''
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080425/DETPHI/cap.html Recap]
| Q1 = 20–20 | Q2 = 20–'''24''' | Q3 = 15–'''26''' | Q4 = 20–'''25'''
| points1 = [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] 23 | points2 = [[Samuel Dalembert]] 22
| rebounds1 = [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] 6 | rebounds2 = [[Samuel Dalembert]] 16
| assist1 = [[Rodney Stuckey]] 5 | assist2 = [[Andre Iguodala]] 6
| referee = Joe Crawford, Bill Spooner, Michael Smith
| attendance = 18,805
| series=Philadelphia leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox | bg = #fff | time = 7:00 pm (ET) | date = April 27 | place = [[Wachovia Center]], [[Philadelphia]] | TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' | score1 = '''93'''
| team2 = [[Philadelphia 76ers]] | score2 = 84
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080427/DETPHI/recap.html Recap]
| Q1 = 19–'''25''' | Q2 = 17–'''21''' | Q3 = '''34'''–16 | Q4 = '''23'''–22
| points1 = [[Tayshaun Prince]] 23 | points2 = [[Thaddeus Young]] 15
| rebounds1 = [[Rasheed Wallace]] 10 | rebounds2 = [[Samuel Dalembert]] 12
| assist1 = [[Chauncey Billups]] 6 | assist2 = [[Andre Iguodala]] 5
| referee = Joe DeRosa, Ron Garretson, Derrick Stafford
| attendance = 18,347
| series=Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox | bg = #eee | time = 7:00 pm (ET) | date = April 29 | place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]] | TV = [[NBATV]]
| team1 = [[Philadelphia 76ers]] | score1 = 81
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' | score2 = '''98'''
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080429/PHIDET/recap.html Recap]
| Q1 = 21–'''35''' | Q2 = '''21'''–19 | Q3 = 17–'''25''' | Q4 = '''22'''–19
| points1 = [[Andre Iguodala]] 23 | points2 = [[Chauncey Billups]] 21
| rebounds1 = [[Reggie Evans]] 7 | rebounds2 = [[Jason Maxiell]] 11
| assist1 = [[Andre Iguodala]] 6 | assist2 = [[Chauncey Billups]] 12
| referee = Ken Mauer, Bob Delaney, Tony Brothers
| attendance = 22,076
| series=Detroit leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox | bg = #fff | time = 8:00 pm (ET) | date = May 1 | place = [[Wachovia Center]], [[Philadelphia]] | TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' | score1 = '''100'''
| team2 = [[Philadelphia 76ers]] | score2 = 77
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080501/DETPHI/recap.html Recap]
| Q1 = '''30'''–12 | Q2 = 21–21 | Q3 = '''28'''–18 | Q4 = 21–'''26'''
| points1 = [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] 24 | points2 = [[Andre Iguodala]] 18
| rebounds1 = [[Tayshaun Prince]] 7 | rebounds2 = [[Reggie Evans]] 6
| assist1 = [[Chauncey Billups]] 7 | assist2 = [[Reggie Evans]] 7
| referee = Bennett Salvatore, Scott Foster, Jim Clark
| attendance = 14,130
| series = Detroit wins series, 4–2
}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 23, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|11230|id=DET}}
| team1 = [[Philadelphia 76ers]] |score1= 78
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' |score2= '''83'''
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = January 23, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|01230|id=PHI}}
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' |score1= '''86'''
| team2 = [[Philadelphia 76ers]] |score2= 78
| place = [[Wachovia Center]], [[Philadelphia]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = March 12, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|03120|id=DET}}
| team1 = '''[[Philadelphia 76ers]]''' |score1= '''83'''
| team2 = [[Detroit Pistons]] |score2= 82
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = April 9, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|04090|id=PHI}}
| team1 = [[Detroit Pistons]] |score1= 94
| team2 = '''[[Philadelphia 76ers]]''' |score2= '''101'''
| place = [[Wachovia Center]], [[Philadelphia]]
}}
|}
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pistons winning two of the first three meetings. The first meeting took place while the Nationals/76ers franchise were in Syracuse and the Pistons franchise were in Fort Wayne.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=DET&opp_id=PHI&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 26, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Detroit leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1955
| team1 = [[Fort Wayne Pistons]] | score1 = 3
| team2 = '''[[Syracuse Nationals]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1955 NBA Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2003
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Philadelphia 76ers]] | score2 = 2
| place = [[2003 NBA playoffs|2003 Eastern Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2005
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Philadelphia 76ers]] | score2 = 1
| place = [[2005 NBA playoffs|2005 Eastern Conference First Round]]|
}}
|}
Misses down the stretch by [[Tayshaun Prince]] and [[Rasheed Wallace]] kept the Pistons from beating the Sixers at [[The Palace of Auburn Hills|their home floor]] as [[Andre Iguodala]] grabbed clutch defensive rebounds to seize home court advantage. The Pistons responded with a blowout in Game 2. Game 3 was close at halftime, but [[Samuel Dalembert]] and [[Andre Miller]] helped to break it open with strong overall performances. Detroit was behind by 10 in Game 4 at halftime and in danger of falling behind 3–1 going back home, but three second-half 3s by [[Rasheed Wallace]] and strong showings by [[Tayshaun Prince]] and [[Chauncey Billups]] keyed an 18-point 3rd quarter turnaround which evened the series. Detroit dominated Game 5 behind Billups's 14 points and 5 first quarter assists, jumping out to a 14-point lead and never looking back. [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] keyed a similar start in Game 6, scoring 13 points, as the Pistons took an 18-point first quarter lead and eventually rolled into the second round.

====(3) [[Orlando Magic]] vs. (6) [[Toronto Raptors]]====
{{basketballbox| bg = #eee | time = 12:30 pm (ET) | date = April 20 | place = [[Amway Arena]], [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], [[Florida]] | TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| team1 = [[Toronto Raptors]] | score1 = 100
| team2 = '''[[Orlando Magic]]''' | score2 = '''114'''
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080420/TORORL/recap.html Recap]
| Q1 = 23–'''43''' | Q2 = '''24'''–17 | Q3 = '''28'''–25 | Q4 = 25–'''29'''
| points1 = [[Anthony Parker]] 24 | points2 = [[Dwight Howard]] 25
| rebounds1 = [[Radoslav Nesterović|Rasho Nesterović]] 8 | rebounds2 = [[Dwight Howard]] 22
| assist1 = [[José Calderón (basketball)|José Calderón]] 8 | assist2 = [[Jameer Nelson]] 7
| referee = Derrick Stafford, Greg Willard, Joe DeRosa
| attendance = 17,519
| series=Orlando leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox| bg = #fff | time = 7:30 pm (ET) | date = April 22 | place = [[Amway Arena]], [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], [[Florida]] | TV = [[NBA TV]]
| team1 = [[Toronto Raptors]] | score1 = 103
| team2 = '''[[Orlando Magic]]''' | score2 = '''104'''
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080422/TORORL/recap.html Recap]
| Q1 = 18–'''35''' | Q2 = '''39'''–24 | Q3 = 21–'''24''' | Q4 = '''25'''–21
| points1 = [[Chris Bosh]] 29 | points2 = [[Dwight Howard]] 29
| rebounds1 = [[Chris Bosh]] 10 | rebounds2 = [[Dwight Howard]] 20
| assist1 = [[Chris Bosh|Bosh]], [[T. J. Ford|Ford]] 6 each | assist2 = [[Hedo Türkoğlu|Türkoğlu]], [[Rashard Lewis|Lewis]] 5 each
| referee = Jason Phillips, Jim Clark, Bob Delaney
| attendance = 17,519
| series=Orlando leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox| bg = #eee | time = 7:30 pm (ET) | date = April 24 | place = [[Air Canada Centre]], [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]] | TV = [[NBA TV]]
| team1 = [[Orlando Magic]] | score1 = 94
| team2 = '''[[Toronto Raptors]]''' | score2 = '''108'''
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080424/ORLTOR/recap.html Recap]
| Q1 = 20–'''28''' | Q2 = 20–'''33''' | Q3 = '''29'''–19 | Q4 = 25–'''28'''
| points1 = [[Hedo Türkoğlu]] 26 | points2 = [[T. J. Ford]] 21
| rebounds1 = [[Dwight Howard]] 12 | rebounds2 = [[Jamario Moon]] 10
| assist1 = [[Jameer Nelson]] 6 | assist2 = [[José Calderón (basketball)|José Calderón]] 13
| referee = Violet Palmer, Scott Foster, Dan Crawford
| attendance = 20,023
| series=Orlando leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox | bg = #fff | time = 3:00 pm (ET) | date = April 26 | place = [[Air Canada Centre]], [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]] | TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| team1 = '''[[Orlando Magic]]''' | score1 = '''106'''
| team2 = [[Toronto Raptors]] | score2 = 94
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080426/ORLTOR/recap.html Recap]
| Q1 = '''31'''–26 | Q2 = 17–'''27''' | Q3 = '''25'''–21 | Q4 = '''33'''–20
| points1 = [[Rashard Lewis]] 27 | points2 = [[Chris Bosh]] 39
| rebounds1 = [[Dwight Howard]] 16 | rebounds2 = [[Chris Bosh]] 15
| assist1 = [[Jameer Nelson|Nelson]], [[Rashard Lewis|Lewis]] 5 each | assist2 = [[T. J. Ford]] 13
| referee = Derrick Collins, Dick Bavetta, Joe Forte
| attendance = 20,416
| series=Orlando leads series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox | bg = #eee | time = 7:30 pm (ET) | date = April 28 | place = [[Amway Arena]], [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], [[Florida]] | TV = [[NBA TV]]
| team1 = [[Toronto Raptors]] | score1 = 92
| team2 = '''[[Orlando Magic]]''' | score2 = '''102'''
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080428/TORORL/recap.html Recap]
| Q1 = '''26'''–22 | Q2 = 24–'''27''' | Q3 = 18–'''25''' | Q4 = 24–'''28'''
| points1 = [[Chris Bosh]] 16 | points2 = [[Dwight Howard]] 21
| rebounds1 = [[Chris Bosh]] 9 | rebounds2 = [[Dwight Howard]] 21
| assist1 = [[T. J. Ford]] 5 | assist2 = [[Hedo Türkoğlu]] 9
| referee = Bennett Salvatore, Tom Washington, Marc Davis
| attendance = 17,519
| series = Orlando wins series, 4–1
}}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Orlando won 2–1 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 7, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|11070|id=TOR}}
| team1 = '''[[Orlando Magic]]''' |score1 = '''105'''
| team2 = [[Toronto Raptors]] |score2 = 96
| place = [[Air Canada Centre]], [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = February 20, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|02200|id=TOR}}
| team1 = [[Orlando Magic]] |score1 = 110
| team2 = '''[[Toronto Raptors]]''' |score2 = '''127'''
| place = [[Air Canada Centre]], [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = March 4, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|03040|id=ORL}}
| team1 = [[Toronto Raptors]] |score1 = 87
| team2 = '''[[Orlando Magic]]''' |score2 = '''102'''
| place = [[Amway Arena]], [[Orlando, Florida]]
}}
|}

This was the first playoff meeting between the Magic and the Raptors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=ORL&opp_id=TOR&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Orlando Magic versus Toronto Raptors (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 26, 2016}}</ref>

Scoring 25 points and grabbing 22 rebounds, [[Dwight Howard]] gave the Magic their first playoffs win since [[2003 NBA playoffs|2003]] as they practically led the entire game.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/games/20080420/TORORL/recap.html Dwight Howard's 20–20 Game Leads Magic Past Raptors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102234046/http://www.nba.com/games/20080420/TORORL/recap.html |date=2012-11-02 }}, NBA.com</ref> Howard put up 29 and 20 in Game 2, as [[Hedo Türkoğlu]] scored the final four go-ahead points to give the Magic a 2–0 lead. The Raptors would respond with a strong Game 3 victory keyed by great [[point guard]] play from [[T. J. Ford]] and [[José Calderón (basketball)|José Calderón]]. But [[Jameer Nelson]], [[Rashard Lewis]] and [[Keith Bogans]] keyed strong three point shooting in Game 4 and overcame [[Chris Bosh]]'s 39 points and 15 rebounds to bring the Magic out of Toronto with a 3–1 lead. Howard finished off the series in Game 5 as impressively as he started–21 points, 21 rebounds, 3 blocks giving the Magic their first playoff series victory since 1996.

====(4) [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] vs. (5) [[Washington Wizards]] ====

{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 19
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080419/WASCLE/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Washington Wizards]]
| score1 = 86
| score2 = '''93'''
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1='''24'''–19 |Q2=22–'''27''' |Q3='''23'''–19 |Q4=17–'''28'''
| points1=[[Antawn Jamison]] 23 |points2=[[LeBron James]] 32
| rebounds1=[[Antawn Jamison]] 19 |rebounds2=[[Zydrunas Ilgauskas]] 11
| assist1=[[DeShawn Stevenson]] 5 |assist2=[[Delonte West|West]], [[Daniel Gibson|Gibson]] 5 each
| referee=Bob Delaney, Scott Foster, David Jones
| time=12:30 pm
| attendance = 20,562
| series=Cleveland leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 21
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080421/WASCLE/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Washington Wizards]]
| score1 = 86
| score2 = '''116'''
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1=22–'''27''' |Q2=18–'''26''' |Q3=23–'''33''' |Q4=23–'''30'''
| points1=''three players'' 12 each |points2=[[LeBron James]] 30
| rebounds1=[[Antawn Jamison]] 9 |rebounds2=[[Zydrunas Ilgauskas|Ilgauskas]], [[LeBron James|James]] 9 each
| assist1=[[Caron Butler]] 5 |assist2=[[LeBron James]] 12
| referee=Dan Crawford, Rodney Mott, Mark Wunderlich
| time=7:00 pm
| attendance = 20,562
| series=Cleveland leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 24
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080424/CLEWAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| score1 = 72
| score2 = '''108'''
| team2 = '''[[Washington Wizards]]'''
| place = [[Capital One Arena|Verizon Center]], Washington, D.C.
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1=17–'''21''' |Q2=16–'''28''' |Q3=18–'''28''' |Q4=21–'''31'''
| points1=[[LeBron James]] 22 |points2=[[DeShawn Stevenson]] 19
| rebounds1=[[Anderson Varejão]] 9 |rebounds2=[[Antawn Jamison|Jamison]], [[Andray Blatche|Blatche]] 7 each
| assist1=''three players'' 3 each |assist2=[[Antonio Daniels]] 6
| referee=Jim Clark, Sean Corbin, Eddie Rush
| time=8:00 pm
| attendance = 20,173
| series=Cleveland leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 27
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080427/CLEWAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| score1 = '''100'''
| score2 = 97
| team2 = [[Washington Wizards]]
| place = [[Capital One Arena|Verizon Center]], Washington, D.C.
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1=24–'''28''' |Q2='''30'''–16 |Q3=26–'''29''' |Q4=20–'''24'''
| points1=[[LeBron James]] 34 |points2=[[Antawn Jamison]] 23
| rebounds1=[[LeBron James|James]], [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Wallace]] 12 each |rebounds2=[[Antawn Jamison]] 11
| assist1=[[LeBron James]] 7 |assist2=[[DeShawn Stevenson]] 5
| referee=Joe Crawford, Michael Smith, Bill Spooner
| time=1:00 pm
| attendance = 20,173
| series=Cleveland leads series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 30
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080430/WASCLE/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Washington Wizards]]'''
| score1 = '''88'''
| score2 = 87
| team2 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1='''23'''–16 |Q2=22–'''27''' |Q3='''24'''–22 |Q4=19–'''22'''
| points1=[[Caron Butler]] 32 |points2=[[LeBron James]] 34
| rebounds1=[[Antawn Jamison]] 11 |rebounds2=[[LeBron James]] 10
| assist1=[[Caron Butler]] 5 |assist2=[[Delonte West]] 8
| referee=Mike Callahan, James Capers, Joe Derosa
| time=6:00 pm
| attendance = 20,562
| series=Cleveland leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 2
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080502/CLEWAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| score1 = '''105'''
| score2 = 88
| team2 = [[Washington Wizards]]
| place = [[Capital One Arena|Verizon Center]], Washington, D.C.
| series = Cleveland wins series, 4–2
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN2|ESPN2]]
| Q1=27–'''31''' |Q2='''29'''–17 |Q3='''23'''–16 |Q4='''26'''–24
| points1=[[LeBron James]] 27 |points2=[[Antawn Jamison]] 23
| rebounds1=[[LeBron James]] 13 |rebounds2=[[Antawn Jamison]] 15
| assist1=[[LeBron James]] 13 |assist2=[[Antonio Daniels]] 5
| referee=Steve Javie, Ken Mauer, Tom Washington
| attendance = 20,173
| time=7:00 pm
}}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = December 5, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|12050|id=WAS}}
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] |score1= 86
| team2 = '''[[Washington Wizards]]''' |score2= '''105'''
| place = [[Capital One Arena|Verizon Center]], Washington, D.C.
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = January 23, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|01230|id=CLE}}
| team1 = [[Washington Wizards]] |score1= 85
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' |score2= '''121'''
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = February 22, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|02220|id=CLE}}
| team1 = [[Washington Wizards]] |score1= 89
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' |score2= '''90'''
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = March 13, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|03130|id=WAS}}
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] |score1= 99
| team2 = '''[[Washington Wizards]]''' |score2= '''101'''
| place = [[Capital One Arena|Verizon Center]], Washington, D.C.
}}
|}
This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Cavaliers winning three of the first four meetings.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=CLE&opp_id=WAS&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Cleveland Cavaliers versus Washington Wizards (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 26, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Cleveland leads 3–1 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1976
| team1 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Washington Bullets]] | score2 = 3
| place = [[1976 NBA playoffs|1976 Eastern Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1977
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] | score1 = 1
| team2 = '''[[Washington Bullets]]''' | score2 = 2
| place = [[1977 NBA playoffs|1977 Eastern Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2006
| team1 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Washington Wizards]] | score2 = 2
| place = [[2006 NBA playoffs|2006 Eastern Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2007
| team1 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Washington Wizards]] | score2 = 0
| place = [[2007 NBA playoffs|2007 Eastern Conference First Round]]|
}}
|}

[[LeBron James]], labeled as "overrated" by Wizards [[guard (basketball)|guard]] [[DeShawn Stevenson]], scored 20 of his 32 points in the second half to help the Cavs draw first blood in their third first round meeting in as many years.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/games/20080419/WASCLE/recap.html James Scores 20 of his 32 in Second Half], NBA.com</ref> The Cavs and Wizards traded blowouts in Games 2 and 3, but Cleveland took a 3–1 lead in the [[Capital One Arena|Verizon Center]] off of [[Delonte West]]'s last second 3. Washington stayed alive by winning Game 5 when [[Caron Butler]] converted a running shot with only seconds left, capping off his 32-point performance. However, James led the Cavs to a dominating Game 6 victory in Washington with a triple-double (27 points, 13 rebounds, 13 assists); he also received crucial outside shooting from [[Wally Szczerbiak]] and [[Daniel Gibson]], who combined for 48 points.

This series was marked by several physical plays on James, with [[Brendan Haywood]], Stevenson, and [[Darius Songaila]] picking up technical and flagrant fouls for hard contact on him.

===Western Conference first round===

====(1) [[Los Angeles Lakers]] vs. (8) [[Denver Nuggets]]====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 20
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080420/DENLAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Denver Nuggets]]
| score1 = 114
| score2 = '''128'''
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]'''
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1=22–'''26''' |Q2='''34'''–32 |Q3=22–'''39''' |Q4='''36'''–31
| points1=[[Allen Iverson|Iverson]], [[Carmelo Anthony|Anthony]] 30 each |points2=[[Pau Gasol]] 36
| rebounds1=[[Carmelo Anthony]] 12 |rebounds2=[[Pau Gasol]] 16
| assist1=[[Allen Iverson]] 7 |assist2=[[Pau Gasol]] 8
| referee=Joe Crawford, Marc Davis, Ken Mauer
| attendance = 18,997
| time=12:00 pm
| series=LA Lakers lead series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 23
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080423/DENLAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Denver Nuggets]]
| score1 = 107
| score2 = '''122'''
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]'''
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1=32–'''33''' |Q2=17–'''26''' |Q3=30–30 |Q4=28–'''33'''
| points1=[[Allen Iverson]] 31 |points2=[[Kobe Bryant]] 49
| rebounds1=[[Marcus Camby]] 17 |rebounds2=[[Pau Gasol]] 10
| assist1=[[Allen Iverson]] 6 |assist2=[[Kobe Bryant]] 10
| referee=Luis Grillo, Monty McCutchen, Bennett Salvatore
| time=7:30 pm
| attendance = 18,997
| series=LA Lakers lead series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 26
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080426/LALDEN/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]'''
| score1 = '''102'''
| score2 = 84
| team2 = [[Denver Nuggets]]
| place = [[Pepsi Center]], [[Denver]], [[Colorado]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1='''23'''–20 |Q2='''30'''–26 |Q3='''30'''–18 |Q4=19–'''20'''
| points1=[[Kobe Bryant]] 22 |points2=[[Carmelo Anthony]] 16
| rebounds1=''three players'' 7 each |rebounds2=[[Marcus Camby]] 12
| assist1=[[Kobe Bryant]] 8 |assist2=[[Marcus Camby]] 4
| referee=Dan Crawford, Bill Kennedy, Greg Willard
| time=3:30 pm
| attendance = 19,602
| series=LA Lakers lead series, 3–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 28
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080428/LALDEN/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]'''
| score1 = '''107'''
| score2 = 101
| team2 = [[Denver Nuggets]]
| place = [[Pepsi Center]], [[Denver]], [[Colorado]]
| series = LA Lakers win series, 4–0
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1='''32'''–23 |Q2='''32'''–31 |Q3=15–'''23''' |Q4='''28'''–24
| points1=[[Kobe Bryant]] 31 |points2=[[Allen Iverson]] 22
| rebounds1=[[Lamar Odom]] 12 |rebounds2=[[Marcus Camby]] 17
| assist1=[[Kobe Bryant]] 6 |assist2=[[Anthony Carter (basketball)|Anthony Carter]] 6
| referee=Dick Bavetta, Joe Forte, Courtney Kirkland
| attendance = 19,264
| time=8:30 pm
}}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Los Angeles won 3–0 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 29, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|11290|id=LAL}}
| team1 = [[Denver Nuggets]] |score1 = 99
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' |score2 = '''127'''
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = December 5, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|12050|id=DEN}}
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score1 = '''111'''
| team2 = [[Denver Nuggets]] | score2 = 107
| place = [[Pepsi Center]], [[Denver]], [[Colorado]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = January 21, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|01210|id=LAL}}
| team1 = [[Denver Nuggets]] |score1 = 99
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' |score2 = '''116'''
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
}}
|}

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first three meetings.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=DEN&opp_id=LAL&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Denver Nuggets versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 26, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Los Angeles leads 3–0 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1979
| team1 = [[Denver Nuggets]] | score1 = 1
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score2 = 2
| place = [[1979 NBA playoffs|1979 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1985
| team1 = [[Denver Nuggets]] | score1 = 1
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1985 NBA playoffs|1985 Western Conference Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1987
| team1 = [[Denver Nuggets]] | score1 = 0
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score2 = 3
| place = [[1987 NBA playoffs|1987 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
|}
In [[Pau Gasol]]'s playoff debut with the Lakers, he scored 36 points, 16 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 blocks as the Lakers beat the Nuggets in Game 1. [[Kobe Bryant]] gave the fans a vintage performance in Game 2 by scoring 49 points and adding 10 assists in a blowout at Staples Center. The Nuggets were routed at home in Game 3, with [[Carmelo Anthony]] stating the team quit in the second half. Game 4 was closer, but Bryant led the Lakers with 14 points in the last 5½ minutes to sweep the Nuggets at the [[Pepsi Center]]. It was the first time the Lakers advanced to the second round since the [[2003–04 NBA season|2004 season]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/games/20080426/LALDEN/recap.html Lakers Take 3-0 Series Lead Over Nuggets], NBA.com</ref> The Lakers led at the end of every quarter throughout the whole series, only the seventh time that had happened in NBA history.<ref>[http://www.whowins.com/tables/annihiln.html Best-of-Seven Annihilations], WhoWins.com</ref>

====(2) [[New Orleans Hornets]] vs. (7) [[Dallas Mavericks]]====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 19
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080419/DALNOH/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Dallas Mavericks]]
| score1 = 92
| score2 = '''104'''
| team2 = '''[[New Orleans Hornets]]'''
| place = [[New Orleans Arena]], [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1='''26'''–19 |Q2='''26'''–21 |Q3=20–'''36''' |Q4=20–'''28'''
| points1=[[Dirk Nowitzki]] 31 |points2=[[Chris Paul]] 35
| rebounds1=[[Dirk Nowitzki]] 10 |rebounds2=[[Tyson Chandler]] 15
| assist1=[[Jason Kidd]] 9 |assist2=[[Chris Paul]] 10
| referee=Dick Bavetta, Sean Corbin, Joe Forte
| time=6:00 pm
| attendance = 17,446
| series=New Orleans leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 22
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080422/DALNOH/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Dallas Mavericks]]
| score1 = 103
| score2 = '''127'''
| team2 = '''[[New Orleans Hornets]]'''
| place = [[New Orleans Arena]], [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1=29–'''39''' |Q2=22–'''28''' |Q3=28–'''32''' |Q4=24–'''28'''
| points1=[[Dirk Nowitzki]] 27 |points2=[[Chris Paul]] 32
| rebounds1=[[Brandon Bass]] 8 |rebounds2=[[Tyson Chandler]] 11
| assist1=[[Jason Kidd]] 8 |assist2=[[Chris Paul]] 17
| referee=Joe Crawford, Courtney Kirkland, Greg Willard
| time=6:00 pm
| attendance = 17,855
| series=New Orleans leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 25
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080425/NOHDAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[New Orleans Hornets]]
| score1 = 87
| score2 = '''97'''
| team2 = '''[[Dallas Mavericks]]'''
| place = [[American Airlines Center]], [[Dallas]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1=16–'''23''' |Q2=24–24 |Q3=23–'''27''' |Q4='''24'''–23
| points1=[[Jannero Pargo]] 30 |points2=[[Dirk Nowitzki]] 32
| rebounds1=[[Tyson Chandler]] 11 |rebounds2=[[Dirk Nowitzki]] 19
| assist1=[[Chris Paul]] 10 |assist2=[[Dirk Nowitzki|Nowitzki]], [[Jason Terry|Terry]] 6 each
| referee=Tony Brothers, Joe DeRosa, Ron Garretson
| time=7:00 pm
| attendance = 20,839
| series=New Orleans leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 27
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080427/NOHDAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[New Orleans Hornets]]'''
| score1 = '''97'''
| score2 = 84
| team2 = [[Dallas Mavericks]]
| place = [[American Airlines Center]], [[Dallas]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1=23–'''30''' |Q2='''25'''–14 |Q3='''28'''–22 |Q4='''21'''–18
| points1=[[David West (basketball)|David West]] 30 |points2=[[Dirk Nowitzki]] 22
| rebounds1=[[David West (basketball)|David West]] 9 |rebounds2=[[Dirk Nowitzki]] 13
| assist1=[[Chris Paul]] 8 |assist2=''three players'' 3 each
| referee=James Capers, Steve Javie, Mark Wunderlich
| time=8:30 pm
| attendance = 20,644
| series=New Orleans leads series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 29
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080429/DALNOH/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Dallas Mavericks]]
| score1 = 94
| score2 = '''99'''
| team2 = '''[[New Orleans Hornets]]'''
| place = [[New Orleans Arena]], [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]
| series = New Orleans wins series, 4–1
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1=22–'''28''' |Q2=17–'''26''' |Q3='''24'''–17 |Q4='''31'''–28
| points1=[[Dirk Nowitzki]] 22 |points2=[[David West (basketball)|David West]] 29
| rebounds1=[[Dirk Nowitzki]] 13 |rebounds2=[[Tyson Chandler]] 14
| assist1=[[Jason Terry|Terry]], [[Jason Kidd|Kidd]] 9 each |assist2=[[Chris Paul]] 15
| referee=Dan Crawford, Scott Foster, Bill Kennedy
| attendance = 18,260
| time=6:00 pm
}}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = December 1, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|12010|id=NOH}}
| team1 = [[Dallas Mavericks]] |score1 = 108
| team2 = '''[[New Orleans Hornets]]''' |score2 = '''112''' |overtime=OT
| place = [[New Orleans Arena]], [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = December 14, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|12140|id=DAL}}
| team1 = [[New Orleans Hornets]] |score1 = 80
| team2 = '''[[Dallas Mavericks]]''' |score2 = '''89'''
| place = [[American Airlines Center]], [[Dallas]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = February 20, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|02200|id=NOH}}
| team1 = [[Dallas Mavericks]] |score1 = 93
| team2 = '''[[New Orleans Hornets]]''' |score2 = '''104'''
| place = [[New Orleans Arena]], [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = April 16, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|04160|id=DAL}}
| team1 = [[New Orleans Hornets]] |score1 = 98
| team2 = '''[[Dallas Mavericks]]''' |score2 = '''111'''
| place = [[American Airlines Center]], [[Dallas]]
}}
|}

This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the New Orleans Pelicans/Hornets franchise.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=DAL&opp_id=NOH&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Dallas Mavericks versus New Orleans Pelicans (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 26, 2016}}</ref>

In his playoff debut, [[Chris Paul]] scored 35 points, dished out 10 assists, and stole the ball 4 times to lead the Hornets to a comeback home win against the Mavericks.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/games/20080419/DALNOH/recap.html Paul Lifts Hornets over Mavs for Game 1 Win], NBA.com</ref> He would replicate that type of performance in Game 2 with 32 points and 17 assists. Dallas would come out with a dominant Game 3 performance at home after inserting [[Jason Terry]] into the starting lineup, but New Orleans would win the final 2 games of the series, keyed by [[David West (basketball)|David West]] in Game 4 and Paul's triple-double in Game 5.

====(3) [[San Antonio Spurs]] vs. (6) [[Phoenix Suns]]====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 19
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080419/PHXSAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Phoenix Suns]]
| score1 = 115
| score2 = '''117''' |overtime=2OT
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1='''24'''–20 |Q2='''24'''–20 |Q3=23–'''25''' |Q4=22–'''28''' |OT=11–11, 11–'''13'''
| points1=[[Steve Nash]] 25 |points2=[[Tim Duncan]] 40
| rebounds1=[[Leandro Barbosa]] 8 |rebounds2=[[Tim Duncan]] 15
| assist1=[[Steve Nash]] 13 |assist2=''three players'' 5 each
| referee=Tony Brothers, Mike Callahan, Bennett Salvatore
| attendance = 18,797
| time=2:00 pm
| series=San Antonio leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 22
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080422/PHXSAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Phoenix Suns]]
| score1 = 96
| score2 = '''102'''
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1='''35'''–26 |Q2=26–'''28''' |Q3=11–'''27''' |Q4='''24'''–21
| points1=[[Amar'e Stoudemire]] 33 |points2=[[Tony Parker]] 32
| rebounds1=[[Shaquille O'Neal]] 14 |rebounds2=[[Tim Duncan]] 17
| assist1=[[Steve Nash]] 10 |assist2=[[Tony Parker]] 7
| referee=Dick Bavetta, Ken Mauer, Leon Wood
| time=8:30 pm
| attendance = 18,797
| series=San Antonio leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 25
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080425/SASPHX/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| score1 = '''115'''
| score2 = 99
| team2 = [[Phoenix Suns]]
| place = [[US Airways Center]], [[Phoenix, Arizona]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1='''33'''–19 |Q2=28–28 |Q3='''30'''–25 |Q4=24–'''27'''
| points1=[[Tony Parker]] 41 |points2=[[Amar'e Stoudemire]] 28
| rebounds1=[[Tim Duncan]] 10 |rebounds2=[[Amar'e Stoudemire]] 11
| assist1=[[Tony Parker]] 12 |assist2=[[Steve Nash]] 9
| referee=James Capers, Steve Javie, Monty McCutchen
| time=7:30 pm
| attendance = 18,422
| series=San Antonio leads series, 3–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 27
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080427/SASPHX/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]]
| score1 = 86
| score2 = '''105'''
| team2 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]'''
| place = [[US Airways Center]], [[Phoenix, Arizona]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1=13–'''34''' |Q2=30–'''31''' |Q3=22–'''28''' |Q4='''21'''–12
| points1=[[Tony Parker]] 18 |points2=[[Raja Bell]] 27
| rebounds1=[[Tim Duncan]] 10 |rebounds2=[[Shaquille O'Neal]] 12
| assist1=[[Tony Parker]] 3 |assist2=[[Boris Diaw]] 8
| referee=Bob Delaney, Scott Foster, David Jones
| attendance = 18,422
| time=1:30 pm
| series=San Antonio leads series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 29
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080429/PHXSAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Phoenix Suns]]
| score1 = 87
| score2 = '''92'''
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| series = San Antonio wins series, 4–1
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1=26–'''30''' |Q2=19–'''24''' |Q3='''27'''–15 |Q4=15–'''23'''
| points1=[[Boris Diaw]] 22 |points2=[[Tony Parker]] 31
| rebounds1=[[Amar'e Stoudemire]] 11 |rebounds2=[[Tim Duncan]] 17
| assist1=[[Boris Diaw]] 8 |assist2=[[Tony Parker]] 8
| referee=Joe Crawford, Derrick Stafford, Greg Willard
| attendance = 18,797
| time=8:30 pm
}}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Phoenix won 3–1 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = December 17, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|12170|id=SAS}}
| team1 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]''' |score1= '''100'''
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] |score2= 95
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = January 31, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|01310|id=PHO}}
| team1 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' |score1= '''84'''
| team2 = [[Phoenix Suns]] |score2= 81
| place = [[US Airways Center]], [[Phoenix, Arizona]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = March 9, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|03090|id=PHO}}
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] |score1= 87
| team2 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]''' |score2= '''94'''
| place = [[US Airways Center]], [[Phoenix, Arizona]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = April 9, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|04090|id=SAS}}
| team1 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]''' |score1= '''96'''
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] |score2= 79
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
}}
|}
This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Spurs winning five of the first eight meetings.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=PHO&opp_id=SAS&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 26, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!San Antonio leads 5–3 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1992
| team1 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]''' | score1 = 3
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] | score2 = 0
| place = [[1992 NBA playoffs|1992 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1993
| team1 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] | score2 = 2
| place = [[1993 NBA playoffs|1993 Western Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1996
| team1 = [[Phoenix Suns]] | score1 = 1
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' | score2 = 3
| place = [[1996 NBA playoffs|1996 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1998
| team1 = [[Phoenix Suns]] | score1 = 1
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' | score2 = 3
| place = [[1998 NBA playoffs|1998 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2000
| team1 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]''' | score1 = 3
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] | score2 = 1
| place = [[2000 NBA playoffs|2000 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2003
| team1 = [[Phoenix Suns]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[2003 NBA playoffs|2003 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2005
| team1 = [[Phoenix Suns]] | score1 = 1
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[2005 NBA playoffs|2005 Western Conference Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2007
| team1 = [[Phoenix Suns]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[2007 NBA playoffs|2007 Western Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
|}
[[Michael Finley]] made a game-tying three in regulation, [[Tim Duncan]] scored 40 points, including a rare [[three-point field goal]] to force a second [[overtime (sports)#Basketball|overtime]], and [[Manu Ginóbili]] clinched victory with a drive to the basket to break the 115-all deadlock with 1.8 seconds left to win a classic Game 1.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/games/20080419/PHXSAS/recap.html Duncan Scores 40 to Lead Spurs to Game 1 Win Over Suns] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111110222/http://www.nba.com/games/20080419/PHXSAS/recap.html |date=2012-01-11 }}, NBA.com</ref> [[Tony Parker]] would then pace the Spurs to their next two victories in the series, scoring 32 and 41 in Games 2 and 3 respectively. At the brink of elimination, Phoenix responded with a strong Game 4. But costly missed free throws by [[Shaquille O'Neal]] and key turnovers by [[Steve Nash]] helped San Antonio to prevail in Game 5, led again by Parker's 31 points.

Also notable was [[Gregg Popovich]]'s use of the [[Hack-a-Shaq]] throughout the series to disrupt the Suns offense when [[Shaquille O'Neal]] was on the floor. O'Neal would shoot 64 free throws in the five games, making 32 of them.

====(4) [[Utah Jazz]] vs. (5) [[Houston Rockets]]====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 19
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080419/UTAHOU/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]'''
| score1 = '''93'''
| score2 = 82
| team2 = [[Houston Rockets]]
| place = [[Toyota Center]], [[Houston]], [[Texas]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1='''23'''–18 |Q2='''24'''–23 |Q3='''21'''–19 |Q4='''25'''–22
| points1=[[Andrei Kirilenko]] 21 |points2=[[Shane Battier]] 22
| rebounds1=[[Carlos Boozer]] 16 |rebounds2=[[Luis Scola]] 13
| assist1=[[Deron Williams]] 10 |assist2=[[Tracy McGrady]] 7
| referee=Dan Crawford, Ron Garretson, Bill Kennedy
| attendance = 18,213
| time=8:30 pm
| series=Utah leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 21
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080421/UTAHOU/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]'''
| score1 = '''90'''
| score2 = 84
| team2 = [[Houston Rockets]]
| place = [[Toyota Center]], [[Houston]], [[Texas]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1='''26'''–17 |Q2=21–'''24''' |Q3=22–'''26''' |Q4='''21'''–17
| points1=[[Deron Williams]] 22 |points2=[[Tracy McGrady]] 23
| rebounds1=[[Mehmet Okur]] 16 |rebounds2=[[Tracy McGrady]] 13
| assist1=[[Deron Williams]] 5 |assist2=[[Tracy McGrady]] 9
| referee=Tony Brothers, Mike Callahan, Bennett Salvatore
| time=8:30 pm
| attendance = 18,158
| series=Utah leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 24
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080424/HOUUTA/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Houston Rockets]]'''
| score1 = '''94'''
| score2 = 92
| team2 = [[Utah Jazz]]
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1='''27'''–23 |Q2=17–'''21''' |Q3=26–'''32''' |Q4='''24'''–16
| points1=[[Tracy McGrady]] 27 |points2=[[Deron Williams]] 28
| rebounds1=[[Carl Landry]] 11 |rebounds2=[[Carlos Boozer]] 13
| assist1=[[Tracy McGrady]] 7 |assist2=[[Deron Williams]] 12
| referee=Bob Delaney, Tom Washington, Leon Wood
| time=8:30 pm
| attendance = 19,911
| series=Utah leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 26
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080426/HOUUTA/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Houston Rockets]]
| score1 = 82
| score2 = '''86'''
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]'''
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1='''23'''–21 |Q2=15–'''25''' |Q3='''23'''–20 |Q4='''21'''–20
| points1=[[Tracy McGrady]] 23 |points2=[[Deron Williams]] 17
| rebounds1=[[Tracy McGrady]] 10 |rebounds2=[[Mehmet Okur]] 18
| assist1=[[Tracy McGrady]] 8 |assist2=[[Deron Williams]] 9
| referee=Marc Davis, Ken Mauer, Eddie Rush
| time=8:30 pm
| attendance = 19,911
| series=Utah leads series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 29
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080429/UTAHOU/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]]
| score1 = 69
| score2 = '''95'''
| team2 = '''[[Houston Rockets]]'''
| place = [[Toyota Center]], [[Houston]], [[Texas]]
| TV = [[NBA TV]]
| Q1=16–'''18''' |Q2=16–'''25''' |Q3=23–'''31''' |Q4=14–'''21'''
| points1=[[Carlos Boozer]] 19 |points2=[[Tracy McGrady]] 29
| rebounds1=[[Mehmet Okur|Okur]], [[Carlos Boozer|Boozer]] 10 each |rebounds2=[[Luis Scola]] 12
| assist1=[[Deron Williams]] 6 |assist2=[[Rafer Alston]] 6
| referee=Sean Corbin, Steve Javie, Mark Wunderlich
| time=8:30 pm
| attendance = 18,269
| series=Utah leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 2
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080502/HOUUTA/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Houston Rockets]]
| score1 = 91
| score2 = '''113'''
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]'''
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
| series = Utah wins series, 4–2
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1=22–'''32''' |Q2='''32'''–26 |Q3=11–'''27''' |Q4=26–'''28'''
| points1=[[Tracy McGrady]] 40 |points2=[[Deron Williams]] 25
| rebounds1=[[Tracy McGrady]] 10 |rebounds2=[[Mehmet Okur]] 13
| assist1=[[Tracy McGrady]] 5 |assist2=[[Deron Williams]] 9
| referee=Joe DeRosa, Bill Spooner, Derrick Stafford
| attendance = 19,911
| time=8:30 pm
}}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Utah won 2–1 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 1, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|11010|id=UTA}}
| team1 = '''[[Houston Rockets]]''' |score1 = '''106'''
| team2 = [[Utah Jazz]] |score2 = 95
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = January 27, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|01270|id=HOU}}
| team1 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' | score1 = '''97'''
| team2 = [[Houston Rockets]] |score2 = 89
| place = [[Toyota Center]], [[Houston]], [[Texas]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = April 14, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|04140|id=UTA}}
| team1 = [[Houston Rockets]] |score1 = 96
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' |score2 = '''105'''
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
}}
|}

This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning four of the first six meetings.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=HOU&opp_id=UTA&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Houston Rockets versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 26, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Utah leads 4–2 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1985
| team1 = [[Houston Rockets]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' | score2 = 3
| place = [[1985 NBA playoffs|1985 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1994
| team1 = '''[[Houston Rockets]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Utah Jazz]] | score2 = 1
| place = [[1994 NBA playoffs|1994 Western Conference Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1995
| team1 = '''[[Houston Rockets]]''' | score1 = 3
| team2 = [[Utah Jazz]] | score2 = 2
| place = [[1995 NBA playoffs|1995 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1997
| team1 = [[Houston Rockets]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1997 NBA playoffs|1997 Western Conference Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1998
| team1 = [[Houston Rockets]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' | score2 = 3
| place = [[1998 NBA playoffs|1998 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2007
| team1 = [[Houston Rockets]] | score1 = 3
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[2007 NBA playoffs|2007 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
|}

The Jazz had a balanced game from [[Andrei Kirilenko]], [[Carlos Boozer]] and [[Deron Williams]] to steal the [[home advantage|home court advantage]] away from the Rockets.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/games/20080419/UTAHOU/recap.html Jazz beat Rockets 93-82 in series opener], NBA.com</ref> A similar performance in Game 2 put Utah in a commanding 2–0 lead going back to Salt Lake City. [[Rafer Alston]]'s return to the Houston lineup after injury, along with [[Tracy McGrady]]'s 27 points and [[Carl Landry]]'s key block of Deron Williams helped Houston steal Game 3 on the road. Williams responded with a strong performance in a Game 4 victory, plus got some help from [[Mehmet Okur]] with his offensive rebound off of his two missed free throws. The Rockets controlled Game 5 to stay alive, but despite getting 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists from McGrady in Game 6 and 15 pts from [[Luis Scola]], the rest of the team shot 10/39 from the field and could not overcome losing Alston to an ankle injury as the Jazz blew the game open with a 27–11 3rd quarter.

==Conference semifinals==

===Eastern Conference semifinals===

====(1) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Cleveland Cavaliers====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 6
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080506/CLEBOS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| score1 = 72
| score2 = '''76'''
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]'''
| place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1=15–'''25''' |Q2='''22'''–16 |Q3='''15'''–12 |Q4=20–'''23'''
| points1=[[Zydrunas Ilgauskas]] 22 |points2=[[Kevin Garnett]] 28
| rebounds1=[[Zydrunas Ilgauskas]] 12 |rebounds2=[[Kendrick Perkins]] 12
| assist1=[[LeBron James]] 9 |assist2=[[Rajon Rondo]] 6
| referee=Scott Foster, Eddie Rush, Michael Smith
| time=8:00 pm
| attendance = 18,624
| series=Boston leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 8
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080508/CLEBOS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| score1 = 73
| score2 = '''89'''
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]'''
| place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1='''24'''–17 |Q2=12–'''27''' |Q3=15–'''26''' |Q4='''22'''–19
| points1=[[LeBron James]] 21 |points2=[[Paul Pierce]] 19
| rebounds1=[[Anderson Varejão]] 10 |rebounds2=[[Kevin Garnett]] 12
| assist1=[[LeBron James]] 6 |assist2=[[Rajon Rondo]] 6
| referee=Joe Crawford, Bill Spooner, Derrick Stafford
| time=7:00 pm
| attendance = 18,624
| series=Boston leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 10
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080510/BOSCLE/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]]
| score1 = 84
| score2 = '''108'''
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1=13–'''32''' |Q2='''22'''–20 |Q3='''28'''–27 |Q4=21–'''29'''
| points1=[[Kevin Garnett]] 17 |points2=[[LeBron James|James]], [[Delonte West|West]] 21 each
| rebounds1=[[Kevin Garnett]] 9 |rebounds2=[[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] 9
| assist1=[[Paul Pierce]] 5 |assist2=[[LeBron James]] 8
| referee=Bob Delaney, Steve Javie, Mark Wunderlich
| time=8:00 pm
| attendance = 20,562
| series=Boston leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 12
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080512/BOSCLE/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]]
| score1 = 77
| score2 = '''88'''
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1=21–'''23''' |Q2=22–22 |Q3=22–'''23''' |Q4=12–'''20'''
| points1=''three players'' 15 each |points2=[[LeBron James]] 21
| rebounds1=[[Kevin Garnett]] 10 |rebounds2=[[Zydrunas Ilgauskas|Ilgauskas]], [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Wallace]] 7 each
| assist1=[[Kevin Garnett|Garnett]], [[Rajon Rondo|Rondo]] 4 each |assist2=[[LeBron James]] 13
| referee=Jim Clark, Bennett Salvatore, Greg Willard
| time=8:00 pm
| attendance = 20,562
| series=Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 14
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080514/CLEBOS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| score1 = 89
| score2 = '''96'''
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]'''
| place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1='''23'''–18 |Q2=23–'''25''' |Q3=17–'''29''' |Q4='''26'''–24
| points1=[[LeBron James]] 35 |points2=[[Paul Pierce]] 29
| rebounds1=[[Zydrunas Ilgauskas|Ilgauskas]], [[Anderson Varejão|Varejão]] 7 each |rebounds2=[[Kevin Garnett]] 16
| assist1=[[LeBron James]] 5 |assist2=[[Rajon Rondo]] 13
| referee=Tony Brothers, Dan Crawford, Ron Garretson
| time=8:00 pm
| attendance = 18,624
| series=Boston leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 16
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080516/BOSCLE/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]]
| score1 = 69
| score2 = '''74'''
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1=18–18 |Q2=15–'''24''' |Q3=17–17 |Q4='''19'''–15
| points1=[[Kevin Garnett]] 25 |points2=[[LeBron James]] 32
| rebounds1=[[Kevin Garnett]] 8 |rebounds2=[[LeBron James]] 12
| assist1=[[Rajon Rondo]] 5 |assist2=[[LeBron James]] 6
| referee=Dick Bavetta, Joe DeRosa, Joe Forte
| time=8:00 pm
| attendance = 20,562
| series=Series tied, 3–3
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 18
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080518/CLEBOS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| score1 = 92
| score2 = '''97'''
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]'''
| series = Boston wins series, 4–3
| place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1=13–'''18''' |Q2=27–'''32''' |Q3='''28'''–23 |Q4=24–24
| points1=[[LeBron James]] 45 |points2=[[Paul Pierce]] 41
| rebounds1=[[Joe Smith (basketball)|Joe Smith]] 6 |rebounds2=[[Kevin Garnett]] 13
| assist1=[[LeBron James]] 6 |assist2=[[Rajon Rondo]] 8
| referee=Ken Mauer, Eddie Rush, Bennett Salvatore
| attendance = 18,624
| time=3:30 pm
}}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 27, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|11270|id=CLE}}
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]] |score1 = 104
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' |score2 = '''109''' |overtime=OT
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = December 2, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|12020|id=BOS}}
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] | score1 = 70
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score2 = '''80'''
| place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = February 5, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|02050|id=CLE}}
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]] |score1 = 113
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' |score2 = '''114'''
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = February 27, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|02270|id=BOS}}
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] | score1 = 87
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score2 = '''92'''
| place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]]
}}
|}

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning two of the first three meetings.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=BOS&opp_id=CLE&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Cleveland Cavaliers (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 26, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Boston leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1976
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] | score2 = 2
| place = [[1976 NBA playoffs|1976 Eastern Conference Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1985
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = 3
| team2 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] | score2 = 1
| place = [[1985 NBA playoffs|1985 Eastern Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1992
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]] | score1 = 3
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1992 NBA playoffs|1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
|}

Although the Celtics had a quick turnaround from their unexpected seven-game series with Atlanta, they managed to hold off the Cavs by winning the first two games in Boston. [[Kevin Garnett]] scored 28 points and 8 rebounds and made the go-ahead shot in Game 1. [[LeBron James]] would only shoot 8 for 42 from the field in the first 2 games.

Cleveland would come back to win the next two games, Game 3, a blowout where five Cavs scored in double figures, and Game 4 where James would punctuate the victory with a dunk over Garnett. James's shooting improved in the return to the Garden in Game 5, but received minimal help from his teammates as [[Rajon Rondo]], Garnett, and [[Paul Pierce]] all scored over 20 points to push [[Boston]] over the top. Game 6 was an ugly affair, with both teams shooting under 40 percent, but a 32–12–6 performance by James was enough. Boston, the best road team in the regular season, fell to 0–6 on the road.

Game 7 would end in a duel between Pierce (41 points) and James (45 points) that some compared to the [[Larry Bird|Bird]]–[[Dominique Wilkins|Wilkins]] duel in the [[1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals]].<ref>{{YouTube|DgC3khaCi50|Pierce–James duel in the 2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|IfLjD5ft6o4|Bird–Wilkins duel in the 1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals}}</ref> But timely offensive rebounding (10 in all), 18 second chance points, and a few key shots from Celtics veteran [[P.J. Brown]] helped push Boston into the [[NBA Conference Finals|Eastern Conference Finals]].

====(2) Detroit Pistons vs. (3) Orlando Magic====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 3
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080503/ORLDET/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Orlando Magic]]
| score1 = 72
| score2 = '''91'''
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1=22–22 |Q2=20–'''21''' |Q3=16–'''22''' |Q4=14–'''26'''
| points1=[[Rashard Lewis|Lewis]], [[Hedo Türkoğlu|Türkoğlu]] 18 each |points2=[[Chauncey Billups]] 19
| rebounds1=[[Dwight Howard]] 8 |rebounds2=[[Jason Maxiell]] 9
| assist1=[[Jameer Nelson]] 5 |assist2=[[Chauncey Billups]] 7
| referee=Dick Bavetta, Sean Corbin, Monty McCutchen
| time=7:30 pm
| attendance = 22,076
| series=Detroit leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 5
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080505/ORLDET/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Orlando Magic]]
| score1 = 93
| score2 = '''100'''
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1=29–29 |Q2=11–'''21''' |Q3='''36'''–28 |Q4=17–'''22'''
| points1=[[Dwight Howard|Howard]], [[Jameer Nelson|Nelson]] 22 |points2=[[Chauncey Billups]] 28
| rebounds1=[[Dwight Howard]] 18 |rebounds2=[[Tayshaun Prince]] 10
| assist1=[[Hedo Türkoğlu]] 7 |assist2=[[Tayshaun Prince]] 5
| referee=Joe Forte, Steve Javie, Derrick Stafford
| time=7:00 pm
| attendance = 22,076
| series=Detroit leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 7
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080507/DETORL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Detroit Pistons]]
| score1 = 86
| score2 = '''111'''
| team2 = '''[[Orlando Magic]]'''
| place = [[Amway Arena]], [[Orlando, Florida]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1=16–'''30''' |Q2='''26'''–24 |Q3='''27'''–19 |Q4=17–'''38'''
| points1=[[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] 24 |points2=[[Rashard Lewis]] 33
| rebounds1=[[Tayshaun Prince]] 7 |rebounds2=[[Dwight Howard]] 12
| assist1=[[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Hamilton]], [[Tayshaun Prince|Prince]] 3 each |assist2=[[Hedo Türkoğlu]] 6
| referee=Joe Forte, Steve Javie, Derrick Stafford
| time=8:00 pm
| attendance = 17,519
| series=Detroit leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 10
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080510/DETORL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''
| score1 = '''90'''
| score2 = 89
| team2 = [[Orlando Magic]]
| place = [[Amway Arena]], [[Orlando, Florida]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1=21–'''27''' |Q2=23–'''28''' |Q3='''26'''–15 |Q4='''20'''–19
| points1=[[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] 32 |points2=[[Hedo Türkoğlu]] 20
| rebounds1=[[Antonio McDyess]] 14 |rebounds2=[[Dwight Howard]] 12
| assist1=[[Tayshaun Prince]] 5 |assist2=[[Hedo Türkoğlu]] 4
| referee=Mike Callahan, Joe Crawford, Tom Washington
| time=5:00 pm
| attendance = 17,519
| series=Detroit leads series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 13
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080513/ORLDET/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Orlando Magic]]
| score1 = 86
| score2 = '''91'''
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
| series = Detroit wins series, 4–1
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1=20–20 |Q2=21–'''27''' |Q3='''27'''–18 |Q4=18–'''26'''
| points1=[[Hedo Türkoğlu]] 18 |points2=[[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] 31
| rebounds1=[[Dwight Howard]] 17 |rebounds2=[[Antonio McDyess]] 11
| assist1=[[Hedo Türkoğlu]] 7 |assist2=[[Rodney Stuckey]] 6
| referee=Scott Foster, Ken Mauer, Eddie Rush
| attendance = 22,076
| time=7:00 pm
}}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 2, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|11020|id=ORL}}
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' |score1= '''116'''
| team2 = [[Orlando Magic]] |score2= 92
| place = [[Amway Arena]], [[Orlando, Florida]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = January 21, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|01210|id=ORL}}
| team1 = [[Detroit Pistons]] |score1= 100
| team2 = '''[[Orlando Magic]]''' |score2= '''102'''
| place = [[Amway Arena]], [[Orlando, Florida]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = January 25, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|01250|id=DET}}
| team1 = [[Orlando Magic]] |score1= 93
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' |score2= '''101'''
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = February 19, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|02190|id=DET}}
| team1 = '''[[Orlando Magic]]''' |score1= '''103'''
| team2 = [[Detroit Pistons]] |score2= 85
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
}}
|}
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pistons winning two of the first three meetings.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=DET&opp_id=ORL&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Orlando Magic (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 26, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Detroit leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1996
| team1 = [[Detroit Pistons]] | score1 = 0
| team2 = '''[[Orlando Magic]]''' | score2 = 3
| place = [[1996 NBA playoffs|1996 Eastern Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2003
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Orlando Magic]] | score2 = 3
| place = [[2003 NBA playoffs|2003 Eastern Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2007
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Orlando Magic]] | score2 = 0
| place = [[2007 NBA playoffs|2007 Eastern Conference First Round]]|
}}
|}
The Pistons opened up with a rout in Game 1, as Detroit's big men keyed in on [[Dwight Howard]] and forced him to playoff lows 12 points and 8 rebounds, with five Pistons scoring in double figures. After being quiet in Game 1, the Magic's 3-point shooting picked up (11/26, with [[Jameer Nelson]] making 5-of-8), but could not overcome 19 turnovers and fell down in the series 2–0. There was a controversial call at the end of the third quarter, where [[Chauncey Billups]] made a 3 near the end of the 3rd quarter when the clock froze and approximately 0.5 seconds remained, but TNT clocks later revealed that Billups could not have gotten the ball off in time.

The Magic would take a 24–6 lead at home in Game 3 and use a 38–17 4th quarter to blow out Detroit; they were paced by 33 points by [[Rashard Lewis]]. Billups would injure his right hamstring early in the game and miss the remainder of the series, but they would not need him for Game 4 as [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] scored 32 points and the Pistons came from 15 back in the 3rd quarter. [[Tayshaun Prince]] made the go-ahead basket with 8.9 seconds left and [[Hedo Türkoğlu]] missed a layup as time ran out.

Billups's starting replacement, [[Rodney Stuckey]], struggled in Game 4, but came back with a strong Game 5. The Magic would outshoot the Pistons 48 to 36 percent, would make 36 percent of their 3s compared to 21 percent for Detroit, and outrebound them 46 to 38, but turned the ball over 21 times while Detroit had only 3. Rip Hamilton again led Detroit with 31 points, and Prince made the crucial defensive play by blocking Türkoğlu's layup in the waning seconds. Detroit advanced to their sixth straight [[NBA Conference Finals|Eastern Conference Finals]], the longest Conference Finals streak since the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] went to eight straight in the 80s. As of 2024, this was most recent postseason series win by the Pistons.

===Western Conference semifinals===

====(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Utah Jazz====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 4
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080504/UTALAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]]
| score1 = 98
| score2 = '''109'''
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]'''
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1=24–'''25''' |Q2=17–'''29''' |Q3='''31'''–25 |Q4=26–'''30'''
| points1=[[Mehmet Okur]] 21 |points2=[[Kobe Bryant]] 38
| rebounds1=[[Mehmet Okur]] 19 |rebounds2=[[Pau Gasol]] 10
| assist1=[[Deron Williams]] 9 |assist2=[[Kobe Bryant]] 7
| referee=Jim Clark, Joe Crawford, Ron Garretson
| time=1:30 pm
| attendance = 18,997
| series=LA Lakers lead series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 7
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080507/UTALAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]]
| score1 = 110
| score2 = '''120'''
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]'''
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1=18–'''33''' |Q2='''31'''–30 |Q3='''34'''–30 |Q4=27–27
| points1=[[Deron Williams]] 25 |points2=[[Kobe Bryant]] 34
| rebounds1=[[Paul Millsap]] 10 |rebounds2=[[Lamar Odom]] 16
| assist1=[[Deron Williams]] 10 |assist2=[[Kobe Bryant]] 6
| referee=Tony Brothers, Dan Crawford, Greg Willard
| time=7:30 pm
| attendance = 18,997
| series=LA Lakers lead series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 9
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080509/LALUTA/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| score1 = 99
| score2 = '''104'''
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]'''
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1=23–23 |Q2=20–'''29''' |Q3='''29'''–27 |Q4='''27'''–25
| points1=[[Kobe Bryant]] 34 |points2=[[Carlos Boozer]] 27
| rebounds1=[[Lamar Odom]] 12 |rebounds2=[[Carlos Boozer]] 20
| assist1=[[Kobe Bryant]] 7 |assist2=[[Deron Williams]] 12
| referee=Dick Bavetta, Ken Mauer, Monty McCutchen
| attendance = 19,911
| time=7:00 pm
| series=LA Lakers lead series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 11
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080511/LALUTA/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| score1 = 115
| score2 = '''123'''
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]'''
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1=21–'''31''' |Q2='''34'''–24 |Q3=20–'''24''' |Q4='''33'''–29 |overtime=OT |OT=7–'''15'''
| points1=[[Kobe Bryant]] 33 |points2=[[Deron Williams]] 29
| rebounds1=[[Lamar Odom]] 13 |rebounds2=[[Carlos Boozer]] 12
| assist1=[[Kobe Bryant]] 10 |assist2=[[Deron Williams]] 14
| referee=Sean Corbin, Joe DeRosa, Eddie Rush
| attendance = 19,911
| time=1:30 pm
| series=Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 14
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080514/UTALAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]]
| score1 = 104
| score2 = '''111'''
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]'''
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1=26–'''29''' |Q2=28–'''32''' |Q3='''27'''–20 |Q4=23–'''30'''
| points1=[[Deron Williams]] 27 |points2=[[Kobe Bryant]] 26
| rebounds1=[[Mehmet Okur]] 13 |rebounds2=[[Lamar Odom]] 11
| assist1=[[Deron Williams]] 10 |assist2=[[Pau Gasol]] 8
| referee=Bob Delaney, Steve Javie, Tom Washington
| attendance = 18,997
| time=7:30 pm
| series=LA Lakers lead series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 16
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080516/LALUTA/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]'''
| score1 = '''108'''
| score2 = 105
| team2 = [[Utah Jazz]]
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
| series = LA Lakers win series, 4–2
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1='''33'''–20 |Q2='''29'''–23 |Q3=24–'''27''' |Q4=22–'''35'''
| points1=[[Kobe Bryant]] 34 |points2=[[Deron Williams]] 21
| rebounds1=[[Pau Gasol]] 13 |rebounds2=[[Carlos Boozer]] 14
| assist1=[[Kobe Bryant]] 6 |assist2=[[Deron Williams]] 14
| referee=James Capers, Joe Crawford, Scott Foster
| attendance = 19,911
| time=8:30 pm
}}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Los Angeles won 3–1 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 4, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|11040|id=LAL}}
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]] | score1 = 109
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' |score2 = '''119'''
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = November 30, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|11300|id=UTA}}
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score1 = 96
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' |score2 = '''120'''
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = December 28, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|12280|id=LAL}}
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]] | score1 = 109
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' |score2 = '''123'''
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = March 20, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|03200|id=UTA}}
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score1 = '''106'''
| team2 = [[Utah Jazz]] |score2 = 95
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
}}
|}

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning two of the first three meetings.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=LAL&opp_id=UTA&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 26, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Utah leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1988
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Utah Jazz]] | score2 = 3
| place = [[1988 NBA playoffs|1988 Western Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1997
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score1 = 1
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1997 NBA playoffs|1997 Western Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1998
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score1 = 0
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1998 NBA playoffs|1998 Western Conference Finals]]|
}}
|}

The Lakers took Game 1 in Staples Center, winning by 11 against the Jazz. After being presented with the season's [[National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award|NBA MVP]] award in Game 2, [[Kobe Bryant]] led the Lakers to victory with 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. However, as the series shifted back to Utah, the Jazz responded, winning Games 3 and 4 behind the performances of [[Deron Williams]] and [[Carlos Boozer]], who bounced back after two poor games in Los Angeles. The Lakers came back with authority as they took Game 5 with Bryant, [[Pau Gasol]], and [[Lamar Odom]] scoring 20 plus points each. The Jazz looked to force a Game 7, but the Lakers did not trail and closed out the series in Game 6 with a 108–105 win at Utah, where the Jazz were 37–4 during the regular season. Bryant led the team with 34 points as the Lakers advanced to the [[NBA Conference Finals|Western Conference Finals]], which they had not reached since [[2004 NBA playoffs|2004]]. This was the first playoff meeting between the two teams since the 1998 Western Conference Finals.

====(2) New Orleans Hornets vs. (3) San Antonio Spurs====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 3
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080503/SASNOH/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]]
| score1 = 82
| score2 = '''101'''
| team2 = '''[[New Orleans Hornets]]'''
| place = [[New Orleans Arena]], [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1='''27'''–23 |Q2=22–22 |Q3=17–'''29''' |Q4=16–'''27'''
| points1=[[Tony Parker]] 23 |points2=[[David West (basketball)|David West]] 30
| rebounds1=[[Manu Ginóbili|Ginóbili]], [[Fabricio Oberto|Oberto]] 6 each |rebounds2=[[Tyson Chandler]] 15
| assist1=[[Manu Ginóbili]] 7 |assist2=[[Chris Paul]] 13
| referee=Mike Callahan, Marc Davis, Eddie Rush
| attendance = 18,040
| time=9:00 pm
| series=New Orleans leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 5
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080505/SASNOH/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]]
| score1 = 84
| score2 = '''102'''
| team2 = '''[[New Orleans Hornets]]'''
| place = [[New Orleans Arena]], [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1='''23'''–22 |Q2=20–20 |Q3=18–'''36''' |Q4=23–'''24'''
| points1=[[Tim Duncan]] 18 |points2=[[Chris Paul]] 30
| rebounds1=[[Tim Duncan]] 8 |rebounds2=[[Tyson Chandler]] 11
| assist1=[[Manu Ginóbili]] 7 |assist2=[[Chris Paul]] 12
| referee=Dick Bavetta, Tom Washington, Mark Wunderlich
| time=8:30 pm
| attendance = 17,927
| series=New Orleans leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 8
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080508/NOHSAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[New Orleans Hornets]]
| score1 = 99
| score2 = '''110'''
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1='''23'''–21 |Q2=33–33 |Q3=22–'''29''' |Q4=21–'''27'''
| points1=[[Chris Paul]] 35 |points2=[[Tony Parker]] 31
| rebounds1=[[David West (basketball)|David West]] 12 |rebounds2=[[Tim Duncan]] 13
| assist1=[[Chris Paul]] 9 |assist2=[[Tony Parker]] 11
| referee=Bob Delaney, Steve Javie, Bill Kennedy
| time=8:30 pm
| attendance = 18,797
| series=New Orleans leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 11
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080511/NOHSAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[New Orleans Hornets]]
| score1 = 80
| score2 = '''100'''
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1=22–'''24''' |Q2=20–'''31''' |Q3=19–'''30''' |Q4='''19'''–15
| points1=[[Chris Paul]] 23 |points2=[[Tim Duncan]] 22
| rebounds1=[[Chris Paul|Paul]], [[Hilton Armstrong|Armstrong]] 6 each |rebounds2=[[Tim Duncan]] 15
| assist1=[[Chris Paul]] 5 |assist2=[[Manu Ginóbili|Ginóbili]], [[Tony Parker|Parker]] 8 each
| referee=James Capers, Dan Crawford, Ron Garretson
| time=7:00 pm
| attendance = 18,797
| series=Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 13
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080513/SASNOH/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]]
| score1 = 79
| score2 = '''101'''
| team2 = '''[[New Orleans Hornets]]'''
| place = [[New Orleans Arena]], [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1='''23'''–21 |Q2='''24'''–23 |Q3=11–'''28''' |Q4=21–'''29'''
| points1=[[Manu Ginóbili]] 20 |points2=[[David West (basketball)|David West]] 38
| rebounds1=[[Tim Duncan]] 23 |rebounds2=[[David West (basketball)|David West]] 14
| assist1=[[Manu Ginóbili]] 7 |assist2=[[Chris Paul]] 14
| referee=Joe Crawford, Joe DeRosa, Joe Forte
| attendance = 18,246
| time=8:30 pm
| series=New Orleans leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 15
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080515/NOHSAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[New Orleans Hornets]]
| score1 = 80
| score2 = '''99'''
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1=24–'''36''' |Q2='''27'''–22 |Q3=12–'''20''' |Q4=17–'''21'''
| points1=[[Chris Paul]] 21 |points2=[[Manu Ginóbili]] 25
| rebounds1=''five players'' 6 each |rebounds2=[[Tim Duncan]] 15
| assist1=[[Chris Paul]] 8 |assist2=[[Tim Duncan]] 6
| referee=Ken Mauer, Monty McCutchen, Bennett Salvatore
| attendance = 18,797
| time=8:00 pm
| series=Series tied, 3–3
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 19
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080519/SASNOH/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| score1 = '''91'''
| score2 = 82
| team2 = [[New Orleans Hornets]]
| series = San Antonio wins series, 4–3
| place = [[New Orleans Arena]], [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1='''23'''–20 |Q2='''28'''–22 |Q3='''20'''–14 |Q4=20–'''26'''
| points1=[[Manu Ginóbili]] 26 |points2=[[David West (basketball)|David West]] 20
| rebounds1=[[Tim Duncan]] 14 |rebounds2=[[Tyson Chandler]] 15
| assist1=[[Tony Parker|Parker]], [[Manu Ginóbili|Ginóbili]] 5 each |assist2=[[Chris Paul]] 14
| referee=Dick Bavetta, Scott Foster, Steve Javie
| attendance = 18,235
| time=7:30 pm
}}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 9, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|11090|id=NOH}}
| team1 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' |score1 = '''97'''
| team2 = [[New Orleans Hornets]] |score2 = 85
| place = [[New Orleans Arena]], [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = January 26, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|01260|id=SAS}}
| team1 = '''[[New Orleans Hornets]]''' |score1 = '''102'''
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] |score2 = 78
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = February 23, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|02230|id=SAS}}
| team1 = [[New Orleans Hornets]] |score1 = 89
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' |score2 = '''98'''
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = March 12, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|03120|id=NOH}}
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] |score1 = 75
| team2 = '''[[New Orleans Hornets]]''' |score2 = '''100'''
| place = [[New Orleans Arena]], [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]
}}
|}

This was the first playoff meeting between the Spurs and the New Orleans Pelicans/Hornets franchise.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=NOH&opp_id=SAS&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — New Orleans Pelicans versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 26, 2016}}</ref>

The Hornets, who earned the home-court advantage via winning the Southwest division, were able to gain a quick 2–0 lead over the veteran Spurs. But when the series shifted to San Antonio, the Spurs regained their edge, returning the favor in Games 3 and 4. Game 5 back in New Orleans shocked many as the Hornets played off the home crowd to a 22-point rout. The home teams were clearly dominating in this series as Game 6 was more of the same in San Antonio. However, that all changed when a much anticipated Game 7 saw the Spurs build a 15-point lead after 3 quarters, which proved to be enough (even after the Hornets cut the deficit to 3 with 1:35 left) to send them to another Western Conference Finals. The Spurs were the 4th team to win game 7 on the road after the home team won the first six.

==Conference finals==

===Eastern Conference finals===

====(1) Boston Celtics vs. (2) Detroit Pistons====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 20
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080520/DETBOS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Detroit Pistons]]
| score1 = 79
| score2 = '''88'''
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]'''
| place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1=17–'''22''' |Q2='''23'''–19 |Q3=17–'''28''' |Q4='''22'''–19
| points1=[[Tayshaun Prince]] 16 |points2=[[Kevin Garnett]] 26
| rebounds1=[[Antonio McDyess]] 11 |rebounds2=[[Kendrick Perkins]] 10
| assist1=[[Rasheed Wallace]] 4 |assist2=[[Rajon Rondo]] 7
| referee=Joe Crawford, Greg Willard, Mark Wunderlich
| attendance = 18,624
| time=8:30 pm
| series=Boston leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 22
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080522/DETBOS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''
| score1 = '''103'''
| score2 = 97
| team2 = [[Boston Celtics]]
| place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1=18–'''20''' |Q2='''32'''–23 |Q3='''28'''–26 |Q4=25–'''28'''
| points1=[[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] 25 |points2=[[Paul Pierce]] 26
| rebounds1=[[Rasheed Wallace]] 10 |rebounds2=[[Kevin Garnett]] 13
| assist1=[[Chauncey Billups]] 7 |assist2=[[Rajon Rondo]] 8
| referee=Sean Corbin, Steve Javie, Tom Washington
| time=8:30 pm
| attendance = 18,624
| series=Series tied, 1–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 24
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080524/BOSDET/recap.html Recap]
| team1 ='''[[Boston Celtics]]'''
| score1 = '''94'''
| score2 = 80
| team2 = [[Detroit Pistons]]
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1='''25'''–17 |Q2='''25'''–15 |Q3=23–23 |Q4=21–'''25'''
| points1=[[Kevin Garnett]] 22 |points2=[[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] 26
| rebounds1=[[Kevin Garnett]] 13 |rebounds2=[[Antonio McDyess|McDyess]], [[Rasheed Wallace|Wallace]] 8 each
| assist1=[[Ray Allen]] 6 |assist2=[[Chauncey Billups|Billups]], [[Rodney Stuckey|Stuckey]] 4 each
| referee=Dick Bavetta, Ron Garretson, Monty McCutchen
| time=8:30 pm
| attendance = 22,076
| series=Boston leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 26
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080526/BOSDET/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]]
| score1 = 75
| score2 = '''94'''
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1=17–'''22''' |Q2='''22'''–21 |Q3=19–'''22''' |Q4=17–'''29'''
| points1=[[Kevin Garnett|Garnett]], [[Paul Pierce|Pierce]] 16 each |points2=[[Antonio McDyess]] 21
| rebounds1=[[Kevin Garnett]] 10 |rebounds2=[[Antonio McDyess]] 16
| assist1=[[Rajon Rondo]] 4 |assist2=[[Chauncey Billups|Billups]], [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Hamilton]] 7 each
| referee=Dan Crawford, Bob Delaney, Scott Foster
| attendance = 22,076
| time=8:30 pm
| series=Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 28
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080528/DETBOS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Detroit Pistons]]
| score1 = 102
| score2 = '''106'''
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]'''
| place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1=23–23 |Q2=23–'''29''' |Q3=25–'''32''' |Q4='''31'''–22
| points1=[[Chauncey Billups]] 26 |points2=[[Kevin Garnett]] 33
| rebounds1=[[Chauncey Billups|Billups]], [[Antonio McDyess|McDyess]] 5 each |rebounds2=[[Kendrick Perkins]] 16
| assist1=[[Chauncey Billups|Billups]], [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Hamilton]] 6 each |assist2=[[Rajon Rondo]] 13
| referee=Mike Callahan, Ken Mauer, Eddie Rush
| time=8:30 pm
| attendance = 18,624
| series=Boston leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 30
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080530/BOSDET/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]'''
| score1 = '''89'''
| score2 = 81
| team2 = [[Detroit Pistons]]
| series = Boston wins series, 4–2
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1='''24'''–21 |Q2=16–16 |Q3=20–'''31''' |Q4='''29'''–13
| points1=[[Paul Pierce]] 27 |points2=[[Chauncey Billups]] 29
| rebounds1=[[Paul Pierce]] 8 |rebounds2=[[Rasheed Wallace]] 10
| assist1=[[Kevin Garnett]] 4 |assist2=[[Chauncey Billups]] 6
| referee=Tony Brothers, Joe Derosa, Bennett Salvatore
| attendance = 22,076
| time=8:30 pm
}}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Boston won 2–1 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = December 19, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|12190|id=BOS}}
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' | score1 = '''87'''
| team2 = [[Boston Celtics]] | score2 = 85
| place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = January 5, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|01050|id=DET}}
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' |score1 = '''92'''
| team2 = [[Detroit Pistons]] |score2 = 85
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = March 5, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|03050|id=BOS}}
| team1 = [[Detroit Pistons]] | score1 = 78
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score2 = '''90'''
| place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]]
}}
|}

This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning four of the first seven meetings.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=BOS&opp_id=DET&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Detroit Pistons (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 26, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Boston leads 4–3 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1968
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Detroit Pistons]] | score2 = 2
| place = [[1968 NBA playoffs|1968 Eastern Division Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1985
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Detroit Pistons]] | score2 = 2
| place = [[1985 NBA playoffs|1985 Eastern Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1987
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Detroit Pistons]] | score2 = 3
| place = [[1987 NBA playoffs|1987 Eastern Conference Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1988
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1988 NBA playoffs|1988 Eastern Conference Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1989
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]] | score1 = 0
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' | score2 = 3
| place = [[1989 NBA playoffs|1989 Eastern Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1991
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1991 NBA playoffs|1991 Eastern Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2002
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Detroit Pistons]] | score2 = 1
| place = [[2002 NBA playoffs|2002 Eastern Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
|}

Detroit walked into the NBA Eastern Conference Finals for the sixth straight season. Boston held off the Pistons in Game 1 88–79, but let Detroit rally a strong performance in Game 2 to win it 103–97 (marking Boston's first home court loss in the post-season). However, they let the Celtics win their first road playoff game 94–80 in Game 3. Game 4 saw the Pistons win 94–75, however they lost Game 5 106–102 despite a scoring run late in the game. In Game 6, the Pistons strolled into the fourth quarter leading 70–60, but a lack of focus, a poor game from Rasheed Wallace, and a rally-destroying turnover by Tayshaun Prince ultimately led to their demise, as the Pistons would end their season losing 89–81. With that, the Celtics moved on to the NBA Finals, and they would face the Los Angeles Lakers for the 11th time.

As of 2024 Detroit hasn't won a playoff game since game 4 of this series.

===Western Conference finals===

====(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) San Antonio Spurs====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 21
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080521/SASLAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]]
| score1 = 85
| score2 = '''89'''
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]'''
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1='''27'''–24 |Q2='''24'''–19 |Q3=21–'''22''' |Q4=13–'''24'''
| points1=[[Tim Duncan]] 30 |points2=[[Kobe Bryant]] 27
| rebounds1=[[Tim Duncan]] 18 |rebounds2=[[Lamar Odom]] 8
| assist1=[[Tony Parker]] 6 |assist2=[[Kobe Bryant]] 9
| referee=Jim Clark, Dan Crawford, Bob Delaney
| time=6:00 pm
| attendance = 18,997
| series=LA Lakers lead series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 23
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080523/SASLAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]]
| score1 = 71
| score2 = '''101'''
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]'''
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1=16–'''21''' |Q2=21–'''25''' |Q3=20–'''28''' |Q4=14–'''27'''
| points1=[[Tony Parker]] 13 |points2=[[Kobe Bryant]] 22
| rebounds1=[[Tim Duncan]] 16 |rebounds2=[[Lamar Odom]] 12
| assist1=[[Tony Parker|Parker]], [[Tim Duncan|Duncan]] 4 each |assist2=[[Kobe Bryant]] 5
| referee=Tony Brothers, Ken Mauer, Bennett Salvatore
| time=6:00 pm
| attendance = 18,997
| series=LA Lakers lead series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 25
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080525/LALSAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| score1 = 84
| score2 = '''103'''
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1='''24'''–21 |Q2=15–'''28''' |Q3=18–'''20''' |Q4=27–'''34'''
| points1=[[Kobe Bryant]] 30 |points2=[[Manu Ginóbili]] 30
| rebounds1=[[Lamar Odom]] 11 |rebounds2=[[Tim Duncan]] 21
| assist1=[[Lamar Odom]] 6 |assist2=[[Tim Duncan|Duncan]], [[Tony Parker|Parker]] 5 each
| referee=Mike Callahan, Joe Derosa, Eddie Rush
| time=7:30 pm
| attendance = 18,797
| series=LA Lakers lead series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 27
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080527/LALSAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]'''
| score1 = '''93'''
| score2 = 91
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]]
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1='''28'''–23 |Q2='''25'''–24 |Q3='''24'''–23 |Q4=16–'''21'''
| points1=[[Kobe Bryant]] 28 |points2=[[Tim Duncan]] 29
| rebounds1=[[Kobe Bryant|Bryant]], [[Pau Gasol|Gasol]] 10 each |rebounds2=[[Tim Duncan]] 17
| assist1=[[Pau Gasol]] 6 |assist2=[[Tony Parker]] 9
| referee=Joe Crawford, Joe Forte, Mark Wunderlich
| time=8:00 pm
| attendance = 18,797
| series=LA Lakers lead series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 29
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080529/SASLAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]]
| score1 = 92
| score2 = '''100'''
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]'''
| series = LA Lakers win series, 4–1
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1='''28'''–15 |Q2=20–'''27''' |Q3=15–'''22''' |Q4=29–'''36'''
| points1=[[Tony Parker]] 23 |points2=[[Kobe Bryant]] 39
| rebounds1=[[Tim Duncan]] 15 |rebounds2=[[Pau Gasol]] 19
| assist1=[[Tim Duncan]] 10 |assist2=[[Pau Gasol]] 5
| referee=Steve Javie, Monty McCutchen, Tom Washington
| attendance = 18,997
| time=6:00 pm
}}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 13, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|11130|id=SAS}}
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score1 = 92
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' | score2 = '''107'''
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = December 13, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|12130|id=LAL}}
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] |score1 = 97
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' |score2 = '''102'''
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = January 23, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|01230|id=SAS}}
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score1 = 91
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' | score2 = '''103'''
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = April 13, 2008
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2008|04130|id=LAL}}
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] |score1 = 85
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' |score2 = '''106'''
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
}}
|}

This was the 11th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning seven of the first ten meetings.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=LAL&opp_id=SAS&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 26, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Los Angeles leads 7–3 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1982
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] | score2 = 0
| place = [[1982 NBA playoffs|1982 Western Conference Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1983
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] | score2 = 2
| place = [[1983 NBA playoffs|1983 Western Conference Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1986
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score1 = 3
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] | score2 = 0
| place = [[1986 NBA playoffs|1986 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1988
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score1 = 3
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] | score2 = 0
| place = [[1988 NBA playoffs|1988 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1995
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1995 NBA playoffs|1995 Western Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1999
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score1 = 0
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1999 NBA playoffs|1999 Western Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2001
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] | score2 = 0
| place = [[2001 NBA playoffs|2001 Western Conference Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2002
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] | score2 = 1
| place = [[2002 NBA playoffs|2002 Western Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2003
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[2003 NBA playoffs|2003 Western Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2004
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] | score2 = 2
| place = [[2004 NBA playoffs|2004 Western Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
|}

The series pitted the two best teams in the Western Conference over the last 10 years. Having home court advantage, the Lakers started out as a favorite and did not disappoint their home crowd as they overcame a 20-point deficit in Game 1 and won behind [[Kobe Bryant]]'s 27 points, 25 of which were scored in the second half. Game 2 was a cruise for the Lakers as they made a 9–0 run before halftime, led all game and built the lead to 30.

The Spurs easily took Game 3 at home with [[Manu Ginóbili]] carrying the Spurs after two terrible games at L.A, making 5 3-pointers and finishing with 30 points; Tony Parker and Tim Duncan added 42 more. In Game 4 the Lakers never trailed (the Spurs missed several opportunities to take the lead) and led comfortably late, but a furious run by the Spurs and several mistakes by the Lakers (Bryant attempting a running fallaway with plenty of time on the shot clock, Gasol missing 2 free throws) gave San Antonio a chance to tie or win with seconds left. On a disputed no-call, Derek Fisher jumped up and collided with Brent Barry, but no foul was called and Barry missed a last second 3. The NBA later ruled that a foul should have been called on Fisher when he collided with Barry.

Heading home up 3–1 in the series, the Lakers trailed in the first quarter by 17, but were able to cut the lead to six by halftime. Again, Bryant stepped up by scoring 17 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter, enabling the Lakers to surge ahead and seal the series, helping them to reach the NBA Finals for the 5th time in 9 seasons and the first time in the post-Shaq era.

The Lakers were able to reach the NBA Finals again as the #1 seed. The last time this happened to the team was during the [[2000 NBA playoffs|1999–2000 season]], where they beat the [[Indiana Pacers]] 4–2. They also improved to 4–0 against San Antonio in the Western Conference Finals.

==NBA Finals: (W1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (E1) Boston Celtics==

{{main|2008 NBA Finals}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = June 5
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080605/LALBOS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| score1 = 88
| score2 = '''98'''
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]'''
| place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1=21–'''23''' |Q2='''30'''–23 |Q3=22–'''31''' |Q4=15–'''21'''
| points1=[[Kobe Bryant]] 24 |points2=[[Kevin Garnett]] 24
| rebounds1=[[Pau Gasol]] 8 |rebounds2=[[Kevin Garnett]] 13
| assist1=[[Kobe Bryant]] 6 |assist2=[[Rajon Rondo]] 7
| referee=Dick Bavetta, Scott Foster, Eddie Rush
| time=9:00 pm
| attendance = 18,624
| series=Boston leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = June 8
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080608/LALBOS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| score1 = 102
| score2 = '''108'''
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]'''
| place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1='''22'''–20 |Q2=20–'''34''' |Q3=19–'''29''' |Q4='''41'''–25
| points1=[[Kobe Bryant]] 30 |points2=[[Paul Pierce]] 28
| rebounds1=[[Pau Gasol|Gasol]], [[Vladimir Radmanović|Radmanović]] 10 each |rebounds2=[[Kevin Garnett]] 14
| assist1=[[Kobe Bryant]] 8 |assist2=[[Rajon Rondo]] 16
| referee=Dan Crawford, Bob Delaney, Ken Mauer
| attendance = 18,624
| time=9:00 pm
| series=Boston leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = June 10
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080610/BOSLAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]]
| score1 = 81
| score2 = '''87'''
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]'''
| place = [[Staples Center]], [[Los Angeles]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1=20–20 |Q2=17–'''23''' |Q3='''25'''–17 |Q4=19–'''27'''
| points1=[[Ray Allen]] 25 |points2=[[Kobe Bryant]] 36
| rebounds1=[[Kevin Garnett]] 12 |rebounds2=[[Pau Gasol]] 12
| assist1=[[Kevin Garnett]] 5 |assist2=[[Jordan Farmar]] 5
| referee=Joe Crawford, Bennett Salvatore, Mark Wunderlich
| time=6:00 pm
| attendance = 18,997
| series=Boston leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = June 12
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080612/BOSLAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]'''
| score1 = '''97'''
| score2 = 91
| team2 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| place = [[Staples Center]], [[Los Angeles]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1=14–'''35''' |Q2='''26'''–23 |Q3='''31'''–15 |Q4='''26'''–18
| points1=[[Paul Pierce]] 20 |points2=[[Lamar Odom]] 19
| rebounds1=[[Kevin Garnett]] 11 |rebounds2=[[Pau Gasol|Gasol]], [[Lamar Odom|Odom]] 10 each
| assist1=[[Paul Pierce]] 7 |assist2=[[Kobe Bryant]] 10
| referee=Joe Derosa, Steve Javie, Tom Washington
| time=6:00 pm
| attendance = 18,997
| series=Boston leads series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = June 15
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080615/BOSLAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]]
| score1 = 98
| score2 = '''103'''
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]'''
| place = [[Staples Center]], [[Los Angeles]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1=22–'''39''' |Q2='''30'''–16 |Q3=18–'''24''' |Q4='''28'''–24
| points1=[[Paul Pierce]] 38 |points2=[[Kobe Bryant]] 25
| rebounds1=[[Kevin Garnett]] 14 |rebounds2=[[Pau Gasol]] 13
| assist1=[[Paul Pierce]] 8 |assist2=[[Pau Gasol]] 6
| referee=Dick Bavetta, Scott Foster, Ken Mauer
| time=6:00 pm
| attendance = 18,997
| series=Boston leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = June 17
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080617/LALBOS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| score1 = 92
| score2 = '''131'''
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]'''
| place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| series = Boston wins series, 4–2
| Q1=20–'''24''' |Q2=15–'''34''' |Q3=25–'''31''' |Q4=32–'''42'''
| points1=[[Kobe Bryant]] 22 |points2=[[Kevin Garnett|Garnett]], [[Ray Allen|Allen]] 26 each
| rebounds1=[[Lamar Odom]] 10 |rebounds2=[[Kevin Garnett]] 14
| assist1=[[Lamar Odom]] 5 |assist2=[[Paul Pierce]] 10
| referee=Joe Crawford, Eddie Rush, Bennett Salvatore
| attendance = 18,624
| time=9:00 pm
}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Boston won 2–0 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 23, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|11230|id=BOS}}
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] |score1= 94
| team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' |score2= '''107'''
| place = [[TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = December 30, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|12300|id=LAL}}
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' |score1= '''110'''
| team2 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] |score2= 91
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
}}
|}

This was the 11th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning eight of the first ten meetings. Two teams in the same cities, [[Boston]] and [[Los Angeles]] met in the [[2008 American League Division Series|2008 ALDS]] when the [[2008 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] defeated the [[2008 Los Angeles Angels season|Los Angeles Angels]] in four games.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Previous playoff series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=BOS&opp_id=LAL&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 26, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Boston leads 8–2 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1959
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Minneapolis Lakers]] | score2 = 0
| place = [[1959 NBA Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1962
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score2 = 3
| place = [[1962 NBA Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1963
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score2 = 2
| place = [[1963 NBA Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1965
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score2 = 1
| place = [[1965 NBA Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1966
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score2 = 3
| place = [[1966 NBA Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1968
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score2 = 2
| place = [[1968 NBA Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1969
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score2 = 3
| place = [[1969 NBA Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1984
| team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score2 = 3
| place = [[1984 NBA Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1985
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1985 NBA Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1987
| team1 = [[Boston Celtics]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1987 NBA Finals]]|
}}
|}

==Statistic leaders==
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:left;"
|-
!rowspan=2|Category !!colspan=3|High !!colspan=4|Average
|-
!Player !! Team !! Total !! Player !! Team !! Avg. !! Games played
|-
| [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| [[Kobe Bryant]] || [[Los Angeles Lakers]] || 49
| [[Kobe Bryant]] || [[Los Angeles Lakers]] || 30.1 || 21
|-
| [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| [[Tim Duncan]] || [[San Antonio Spurs]] || 23
| [[Dwight Howard]] || [[Orlando Magic]] || 15.8 || 10
|-
| [[Assist (basketball)|Assists]]
| [[Chris Paul]] || [[New Orleans Hornets]] || 17
| [[Chris Paul]] || [[New Orleans Hornets]] || 11.3 || 12
|-
| [[Steal (basketball)|Steals]]
| [[Rajon Rondo]]<br>[[Derek Fisher]]<br>[[Kevin Garnett]] || [[Boston Celtics]]<br>[[Los Angeles Lakers]]<br>[[Boston Celtics]] || 6
| [[Chris Paul]] || [[New Orleans Hornets]] || 2.3 || 12
|-
| [[Block (basketball)|Blocks]]
| [[Dwight Howard]] || [[Orlando Magic]] || 8
| [[Dwight Howard]] || [[Orlando Magic]] || 3.4 || 10
|}

==Broadcast notes==
*The Playoffs began on Saturday April 19, with the [[Washington Wizards]] facing the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] on [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]. [[NBA on ABC|ABC]] kicked off its coverage with the [[Phoenix Suns]] facing the [[San Antonio Spurs]]. [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]'s coverage began with a tripleheader on Sunday, April 20 in a game between the [[Toronto Raptors]] and the [[Orlando Magic]], with the [[Denver Nuggets]] playing the [[Los Angeles Lakers|L.A. Lakers]] on ABC in between. [[NBA TV]] has been broadcasting weeknight coverage of playoff games for at least the first round.
*The Eastern Conference Finals were televised on [[NBA on ABC|ABC]] and [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]], beginning Tuesday May 20 at 8:30 pm EST. Game 3 was scheduled to be televised on ABC—all other games are scheduled on ESPN.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3349965|title=Tentative 2008 NBA Playoff Schedule|date=16 April 2008|website=ESPN.com|access-date=1 April 2018}}</ref> The last possible end date for the Eastern Conference Finals will be on June 1, if the series goes to a seventh and deciding game.
*The Western Conference Finals were televised on TNT, beginning Wednesday May 21 at 9 pm EST. The last possible end date for the Western Conference Finals will be on June 2, if the series goes to a seventh and deciding game.
*The [[NBA Finals]] were televised on ABC, beginning Thursday June 5 at 9 pm EST. The latest possible end date for the NBA Finals will be June 19, if the Finals goes to a seventh and deciding game.
*[[NBA on ABC|ABC]]'s lead announcing team for the NBA Playoffs (and, by extension, the [[2008 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]]) was play-by-play man [[Mike Breen]], joined by analysts [[Mark Jackson (basketball)|Mark Jackson]] and [[Jeff Van Gundy]] along with sideline reporter [[Michele Tafoya]]. [[Mike Tirico]], [[Hubie Brown]] and [[Lisa Salters]] were the second team broadcasting on ABC. The latter, with the exception of Salters, were the lead broadcast team for [[NBA on ESPN Radio|ESPN Radio]]'s NBA coverage, with [[Jim Durham]] and [[Jack Ramsay]] the secondary broadcast duo.
*[[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]'s other play-by-play announcers include [[Dave Pasch]] and [[Dan Shulman]], along with analysts [[Rick Carlisle]], [[Jon Barry]] and [[Doris Burke]]. Sideline reporters include [[Heather Cox]], [[Holly Rowe]] and [[Ric Bucher]].
*[[NBA on TNT|TNT]]'s lead announcing teams for the NBA Playoffs were [[Marv Albert]] with [[Reggie Miller]] and [[Kevin Harlan]] with [[Doug Collins (basketball)|Doug Collins]]. Play-by-play announcers [[Dick Stockton]] and [[Matt Devlin (sportscaster)|Matt Devlin]] was also teamed with [[Mike Fratello]] and [[Los Angeles Clippers]] head coach [[Mike Dunleavy, Sr.|Mike Dunleavy]] on a rotating basis. Sideline reporters include [[Craig Sager]], [[Cheryl Miller]], [[Pam Oliver]], [[David Aldridge]], Marty Snider, Dei Lynam, and [[Stephanie Ready]].

==Ratings==
TNT's coverage of the 2008 NBA Playoffs was strong in audience delivery, with the playoff averages showing year-over-year growth among households (+15%), viewers (+14%), adults 18–34 (+25%), adults 18–49 (+22%), adults 25–54 (+24%), men 18–34 (+30%), women 18–34 (+5%), men 18–49 (+23%) and men 25–54 (+22%). [http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?date=12/10/08&id=20081210tnt01]

==See also==
* [[NBA records]]

==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.nba.com/ Official website of the NBA]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080430065526/http://www.nba.com/playoffs2008/index.html Official website of the 2008 NBA Playoffs]
* [http://www.nba.com/features/playoffs2007.html Official website of the 2007 NBA Playoffs]
* [https://www.espn.com/nba/index ESPN's NBA page]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/index ESPN's NBA page]


{{NBAPlayoffs}}
{{NBAPlayoffs}}
{{2007–08 NBA season by team}}

[[Category:2007–08 NBA season|Playoffs]]
[[Category:NBA playoffs]]


[[fi:NBA-kausi 2007–2008#Pudotuspelit]]
[[Category:National Basketball Association playoffs]]
[[Category:2007-08 NBA season|Playoffs]]

Latest revision as of 11:54, 25 August 2024

2008 NBA playoffs
Tournament details
DatesApril 19–June 17, 2008
Season2007–08
Teams16
Final positions
ChampionsBoston Celtics (17th title)
Runner-upLos Angeles Lakers
Semifinalists
← 2007
2009 →

The 2008 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Paul Pierce was named NBA Finals MVP.

Overview

[edit]

Thanks to preseason trades for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, the Boston Celtics entered the playoffs with an NBA best 66–16 record. It was also their first playoff appearance since 2005.

The Los Angeles Lakers entered their third consecutive postseason. Thanks to a midseason trade for Pau Gasol, they entered the playoffs as the top seed in the west for the first time since 2000.

The Phoenix Suns entered their fourth consecutive postseason. However, they lost to the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in the first round.

The Atlanta Hawks made the playoffs for the first time since 1999, taking the top seed and eventual champion Boston Celtics to seven games before bowing out.

The New Orleans Hornets made the playoffs for the first time since 2004 and for the first time as a member of the Western Conference. This was notable since this marks the playoff debut of Chris Paul and the Hornets’ first postseason appearance after Hurricane Katrina, pushing the defending champions San Antonio Spurs to seven games in the Conference Semifinals before bowing out. The Hornets would not win another playoff series until 2018, in which they were now known today as the Pelicans. To date, 2008 was the closest the New Orleans franchise had ever come from reaching the Conference Finals; as of 2024 the Pelicans and the Charlotte Hornets are the only active teams to never advance to the Conference Finals.

The Golden State Warriors won 48 games, more than 5 of the 8 playoff teams in the Eastern Conference. However, all eight qualifiers in the Western Conference finished with at least 50 wins, thus leaving the Warriors out of the postseason.

The New Jersey Nets missed the playoffs for the first time since 2001, largely due to a trade that sent Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks. The Miami Heat missed the playoffs for the first time since 2003, thanks to a league worst 15–67 record. It also marked the first NBA postseason since 2003 not to feature Dwyane Wade. The Chicago Bulls also missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

With their first round series victory over the Toronto Raptors, the Orlando Magic won their first playoff series since 1996. However, they lost to the Detroit Pistons in the Conference Semifinals.

With their first round sweep of the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers won their first playoff series since 2004 (when they last made the NBA Finals). It also marked the only sweep of the 2008 playoffs.

With their conference semifinals win over the Orlando Magic, the Detroit Pistons entered their sixth consecutive conference finals. The Pistons also became the first team since the Showtime Lakers to accomplish this feat. As of 2024, this remains The Pistons’ most recent series win.

Game 7 of the conference semifinals between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers became notable for a duel between Paul Pierce and LeBron James, who scored 41 and 45 points, respectively. The Celtics won this game and advanced to the conference finals.

With their conference finals win over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Lakers returned to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2004. They also became the first top seed since 2003 to make the NBA Finals.

With their conference finals win over the Detroit Pistons, the Boston Celtics made the NBA Finals for the first time since 1987. As of 2024, Game 4 of the Conference Finals was The Pistons’ most recent playoff win.

For the first time since 2000, the top seeds from each Conference met in the NBA Finals. The 2008 Finals was also the first since 1998 to feature neither Shaquille O'Neal nor Tim Duncan.

The Boston Celtics played 26 playoff games (2 games short of a full length postseason of 28), breaking the 25 game record of the 1994 Knicks and 2005 Pistons by 1 game for the most playoff games in a single season played by 1 NBA team.[1] The Knicks, however, only played a Best–of–5 First Round, and so had 2 fewer games to accomplish that feat.

Playoff qualifying

[edit]

Eastern Conference

[edit]

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:

  1. Boston Celtics (66–16, clinched Atlantic Division, and home court advantage throughout the playoffs)
  2. Detroit Pistons (59–23, clinched Central Division title)
  3. Orlando Magic (52–30, clinched Southeast Division title)
  4. Cleveland Cavaliers (45–37)
  5. Washington Wizards (43–39)
  6. Toronto Raptors (41–41)
  7. Philadelphia 76ers (40–42)
  8. Atlanta Hawks (37–45)

Western Conference

[edit]

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:

  1. Los Angeles Lakers (57–25, clinched Pacific Division title, and home-court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs)
  2. New Orleans Hornets (56–26, clinched Southwest Division title, 34–18 record vs. Western Conference)
  3. San Antonio Spurs (56–26, 33–19 record vs. Western Conference)
  4. Utah Jazz (54–28, clinched Northwest Division title)
  5. Houston Rockets (55–27, 2–2 head-to-head vs. PHO, 33–19 record vs. Western Conference)
  6. Phoenix Suns (55–27, 2–2 head-to-head vs. HOU, 31–21 record vs. Western Conference)
  7. Dallas Mavericks (51–31)
  8. Denver Nuggets (50–32)

Bracket

[edit]

This was the outlook for the 2008 NBA Playoffs. Teams in italics had home court advantage. Teams in bold advanced to the next round. Numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's original seeding in their respective conferences. Numbers to the right of each team indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions possess an asterisk (*).

First Round Conference Semifinals Conference Finals NBA Finals
            
E1 Boston* 4
E8 Atlanta 3
E1 Boston* 4
E4 Cleveland 3
E4 Cleveland 4
E5 Washington 2
E1 Boston* 4
Eastern Conference
E2 Detroit* 2
E3 Orlando* 4
E6 Toronto 1
E3 Orlando* 1
E2 Detroit* 4
E2 Detroit* 4
E7 Philadelphia 2
E1 Boston* 4
W1 LA Lakers* 2
W1 LA Lakers* 4
W8 Denver 0
W1 LA Lakers* 4
W4 Utah* 2
W4 Utah* 4
W5 Houston 2
W1 LA Lakers* 4
Western Conference
W3 San Antonio 1
W3 San Antonio 4
W6 Phoenix 1
W3 San Antonio 4
W2 New Orleans* 3
W2 New Orleans* 4
W7 Dallas 1
  • * Division winner
  • Bold Series winner
  • Italic Team with home-court advantage

First round

[edit]

Eastern Conference first round

[edit]

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks

[edit]
April 20
8:30 pm (ET)
Atlanta Hawks 81, Boston Celtics 104
Scoring by quarter: 21–29, 19–20, 15–24, 26–31
Pts: Al Horford 20
Rebs: Al Horford 10
Asts: Joe Johnson 7
Pts: Ray Allen 18
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 10
Asts: Rajon Rondo 9
Boston leads series, 1–0
TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
Attendance: 18,624
Referees: Steve Javie, Jimmy Clark, Luis Grillo
April 23
8:00 pm (ET)
Atlanta Hawks 77, Boston Celtics 96
Scoring by quarter: 20–24, 22–28, 16–24, 19–20
Pts: Smith, Williams 13
Rebs: Al Horford 9
Asts: Horford, Smith 3
Pts: Kevin Garnett 19
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 10
Asts: Rajon Rondo 8
Boston leads series, 2–0
TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
Attendance: 18,624
Referees: Joe DeRosa, Bill Spooner, Ed Malloy
April 26
8:00 pm (ET)
Boston Celtics 93, Atlanta Hawks 102
Scoring by quarter: 26–32, 30–24, 18–28, 19–18
Pts: Kevin Garnett 32
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 10
Asts: Paul Pierce 8
Pts: Josh Smith 26
Rebs: Al Horford 14
Asts: Mike Bibby 8
Boston leads series, 2–1
Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 19,725
Referees: Violet Palmer, Bennet Salvatore. Tom Washington
April 28
8:00 pm (ET)
Boston Celtics 92, Atlanta Hawks 97
Scoring by quarter: 24–29, 24–22, 27–14, 17–32
Pts: Ray Allen 21
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 9
Asts: Rajon Rondo 12
Pts: Joe Johnson 35
Rebs: Al Horford 13
Asts: Joe Johnson 6
Series tied, 2–2
Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 20,016
Referees: Mike Callahan, Eddie Rush, Monty McCutchen
April 30
8:30 pm (ET)
Atlanta Hawks 85, Boston Celtics 110
Scoring by quarter: 19–27, 24–31, 21–23, 21–29
Pts: Joe Johnson 21
Rebs: Al Horford 10
Asts: Al Horford 5
Pts: Paul Pierce 22
Rebs: Paul Pierce 7
Asts: Kevin Garnett 7
Boston leads series, 3–2
TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
Attendance: 18,624
Referees: David Jones, Dick Bavetta, Joe Forte
May 2
8:00 pm (ET)
Boston Celtics 100, Atlanta Hawks 103
Scoring by quarter: 32–20, 18–29, 32–30, 18–24
Pts: Kevin Garnett 22
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 7
Asts: Kevin Garnett 6
Pts: Marvin Williams 18
Rebs: Mike Bibby 6
Asts: Mike Bibby 7
Series tied, 3–3
Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 20,425
Referees: Joe Crawford, Mark Wunderlich, Bob Delaney
May 4
1:00 pm (ET)
Atlanta Hawks 65, Boston Celtics 99
Scoring by quarter: 16–27, 10–17, 17–35, 22–20
Pts: Joe Johnson 16
Rebs: Al Horford 12
Asts: Al Horford 3
Pts: Paul Pierce 22
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 11
Asts: Rajon Rondo 6
Boston wins series, 4–3
TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
Attendance: 18,624
Referees: Ken Mauer, Dan Crawford, Bennett Salvatore

This was the tenth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning eight of the first nine meetings.

Games 1 and 2 were Celtic routs, keyed by great team defense (Atlanta averaged 79 points in the first 2 games) and balanced Celtic scoring (six players were in double figures in Game 1, five in Game 2). The most buzz was generated by Mike Bibby stating that Celtic fans were bandwagoners after Game 1, prompting boos every time he touched the ball in Game 2.[3]

In Game 3, Atlanta showed its athleticism with an array of dunks from Josh Smith (26 points) and a strong interior performance by the rookie Al Horford (17 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists), who also jawed with Paul Pierce near the end of the game. There would be more jawing in Game 4 between Zaza Pachulia and Kevin Garnett, but the outcome was a surprise: thanks to fourth quarter heroics by Joe Johnson and Smith, who combined to score 32 of Atlanta's 34 4th quarter points, the upstart Hawks rallied from a 10-point third quarter deficit in Game 4 to tie the series going back to Boston. Boston dominated Game 5, but in Game 6, six Hawks players finished in double figures to force a winner-take-all Game 7. The Hawks were no match for the Celtics in Game 7, as the Celtics held them to 26 points in the 1st half. 3 minutes into the 2nd half, the series' tensions finally boiled over when Marvin Williams was ejected for committing a hard foul on Rajon Rondo. Then after that, Kevin Garnett was noted for trucking Zaza Pachulia while going for a screen.

April 20
6:00 pm (ET)
Philadelphia 76ers 90, Detroit Pistons 86
Scoring by quarter: 22–27, 16–24, 25–19, 27–16
Pts: Andre Miller 20
Rebs: Reggie Evans 14
Asts: Andre Iguodala 8
Pts: Rasheed Wallace 24
Rebs: Jason Maxiell 11
Asts: Richard Hamilton 4
Philadelphia leads series, 1–0
The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Attendance: 22,076
Referees: Tom Washington, Eddie Rush, Monty McCutchen
April 23
7:30 pm (ET)
Philadelphia 76ers 88, Detroit Pistons 105
Scoring by quarter: 18–25, 18–28, 26–31, 26–21
Pts: Lou Williams 17
Rebs: Reggie Evans 11
Asts: Andre Iguodala 4
Pts: Richard Hamilton 20
Rebs: Antonio McDyess 12
Asts: Richard Hamilton 7
Series tied, 1–1
The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Attendance: 22,076
Referees: Steve Javie, Derrick Collins, Mark Wunderlich
April 25
7:00 pm (ET)
Detroit Pistons 75, Philadelphia 76ers 95
Scoring by quarter: 20–20, 20–24, 15–26, 20–25
Pts: Richard Hamilton 23
Rebs: Richard Hamilton 6
Asts: Rodney Stuckey 5
Pts: Samuel Dalembert 22
Rebs: Samuel Dalembert 16
Asts: Andre Iguodala 6
Philadelphia leads series, 2–1
Wachovia Center, Philadelphia
Attendance: 18,805
Referees: Joe Crawford, Bill Spooner, Michael Smith
April 27
7:00 pm (ET)
Detroit Pistons 93, Philadelphia 76ers 84
Scoring by quarter: 19–25, 17–21, 34–16, 23–22
Pts: Tayshaun Prince 23
Rebs: Rasheed Wallace 10
Asts: Chauncey Billups 6
Pts: Thaddeus Young 15
Rebs: Samuel Dalembert 12
Asts: Andre Iguodala 5
Series tied, 2–2
Wachovia Center, Philadelphia
Attendance: 18,347
Referees: Joe DeRosa, Ron Garretson, Derrick Stafford
April 29
7:00 pm (ET)
Philadelphia 76ers 81, Detroit Pistons 98
Scoring by quarter: 21–35, 21–19, 17–25, 22–19
Pts: Andre Iguodala 23
Rebs: Reggie Evans 7
Asts: Andre Iguodala 6
Pts: Chauncey Billups 21
Rebs: Jason Maxiell 11
Asts: Chauncey Billups 12
Detroit leads series, 3–2
The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Attendance: 22,076
Referees: Ken Mauer, Bob Delaney, Tony Brothers
May 1
8:00 pm (ET)
Detroit Pistons 100, Philadelphia 76ers 77
Scoring by quarter: 30–12, 21–21, 28–18, 21–26
Pts: Richard Hamilton 24
Rebs: Tayshaun Prince 7
Asts: Chauncey Billups 7
Pts: Andre Iguodala 18
Rebs: Reggie Evans 6
Asts: Reggie Evans 7
Detroit wins series, 4–2
Wachovia Center, Philadelphia
Attendance: 14,130
Referees: Bennett Salvatore, Scott Foster, Jim Clark

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pistons winning two of the first three meetings. The first meeting took place while the Nationals/76ers franchise were in Syracuse and the Pistons franchise were in Fort Wayne.

Misses down the stretch by Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace kept the Pistons from beating the Sixers at their home floor as Andre Iguodala grabbed clutch defensive rebounds to seize home court advantage. The Pistons responded with a blowout in Game 2. Game 3 was close at halftime, but Samuel Dalembert and Andre Miller helped to break it open with strong overall performances. Detroit was behind by 10 in Game 4 at halftime and in danger of falling behind 3–1 going back home, but three second-half 3s by Rasheed Wallace and strong showings by Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups keyed an 18-point 3rd quarter turnaround which evened the series. Detroit dominated Game 5 behind Billups's 14 points and 5 first quarter assists, jumping out to a 14-point lead and never looking back. Richard Hamilton keyed a similar start in Game 6, scoring 13 points, as the Pistons took an 18-point first quarter lead and eventually rolled into the second round.

April 20
12:30 pm (ET)
Toronto Raptors 100, Orlando Magic 114
Scoring by quarter: 23–43, 24–17, 28–25, 25–29
Pts: Anthony Parker 24
Rebs: Rasho Nesterović 8
Asts: José Calderón 8
Pts: Dwight Howard 25
Rebs: Dwight Howard 22
Asts: Jameer Nelson 7
Orlando leads series, 1–0
Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 17,519
Referees: Derrick Stafford, Greg Willard, Joe DeRosa
April 22
7:30 pm (ET)
Toronto Raptors 103, Orlando Magic 104
Scoring by quarter: 18–35, 39–24, 21–24, 25–21
Pts: Chris Bosh 29
Rebs: Chris Bosh 10
Asts: Bosh, Ford 6 each
Pts: Dwight Howard 29
Rebs: Dwight Howard 20
Asts: Türkoğlu, Lewis 5 each
Orlando leads series, 2–0
Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 17,519
Referees: Jason Phillips, Jim Clark, Bob Delaney
April 24
7:30 pm (ET)
Orlando Magic 94, Toronto Raptors 108
Scoring by quarter: 20–28, 20–33, 29–19, 25–28
Pts: Hedo Türkoğlu 26
Rebs: Dwight Howard 12
Asts: Jameer Nelson 6
Pts: T. J. Ford 21
Rebs: Jamario Moon 10
Asts: José Calderón 13
Orlando leads series, 2–1
Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Attendance: 20,023
Referees: Violet Palmer, Scott Foster, Dan Crawford
April 26
3:00 pm (ET)
Orlando Magic 106, Toronto Raptors 94
Scoring by quarter: 31–26, 17–27, 25–21, 33–20
Pts: Rashard Lewis 27
Rebs: Dwight Howard 16
Asts: Nelson, Lewis 5 each
Pts: Chris Bosh 39
Rebs: Chris Bosh 15
Asts: T. J. Ford 13
Orlando leads series, 3–1
Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Attendance: 20,416
Referees: Derrick Collins, Dick Bavetta, Joe Forte
April 28
7:30 pm (ET)
Toronto Raptors 92, Orlando Magic 102
Scoring by quarter: 26–22, 24–27, 18–25, 24–28
Pts: Chris Bosh 16
Rebs: Chris Bosh 9
Asts: T. J. Ford 5
Pts: Dwight Howard 21
Rebs: Dwight Howard 21
Asts: Hedo Türkoğlu 9
Orlando wins series, 4–1
Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 17,519
Referees: Bennett Salvatore, Tom Washington, Marc Davis

This was the first playoff meeting between the Magic and the Raptors.[5]

Scoring 25 points and grabbing 22 rebounds, Dwight Howard gave the Magic their first playoffs win since 2003 as they practically led the entire game.[6] Howard put up 29 and 20 in Game 2, as Hedo Türkoğlu scored the final four go-ahead points to give the Magic a 2–0 lead. The Raptors would respond with a strong Game 3 victory keyed by great point guard play from T. J. Ford and José Calderón. But Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis and Keith Bogans keyed strong three point shooting in Game 4 and overcame Chris Bosh's 39 points and 15 rebounds to bring the Magic out of Toronto with a 3–1 lead. Howard finished off the series in Game 5 as impressively as he started–21 points, 21 rebounds, 3 blocks giving the Magic their first playoff series victory since 1996.

April 19
12:30 pm
Washington Wizards 86, Cleveland Cavaliers 93
Scoring by quarter: 24–19, 22–27, 23–19, 17–28
Pts: Antawn Jamison 23
Rebs: Antawn Jamison 19
Asts: DeShawn Stevenson 5
Pts: LeBron James 32
Rebs: Zydrunas Ilgauskas 11
Asts: West, Gibson 5 each
Cleveland leads series, 1–0
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Attendance: 20,562
Referees: Bob Delaney, Scott Foster, David Jones
April 21
7:00 pm
Washington Wizards 86, Cleveland Cavaliers 116
Scoring by quarter: 22–27, 18–26, 23–33, 23–30
Pts: three players 12 each
Rebs: Antawn Jamison 9
Asts: Caron Butler 5
Pts: LeBron James 30
Rebs: Ilgauskas, James 9 each
Asts: LeBron James 12
Cleveland leads series, 2–0
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Attendance: 20,562
Referees: Dan Crawford, Rodney Mott, Mark Wunderlich
April 24
8:00 pm
Cleveland Cavaliers 72, Washington Wizards 108
Scoring by quarter: 17–21, 16–28, 18–28, 21–31
Pts: LeBron James 22
Rebs: Anderson Varejão 9
Asts: three players 3 each
Pts: DeShawn Stevenson 19
Rebs: Jamison, Blatche 7 each
Asts: Antonio Daniels 6
Cleveland leads series, 2–1
Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 20,173
Referees: Jim Clark, Sean Corbin, Eddie Rush
April 27
1:00 pm
Cleveland Cavaliers 100, Washington Wizards 97
Scoring by quarter: 24–28, 30–16, 26–29, 20–24
Pts: LeBron James 34
Rebs: James, Wallace 12 each
Asts: LeBron James 7
Pts: Antawn Jamison 23
Rebs: Antawn Jamison 11
Asts: DeShawn Stevenson 5
Cleveland leads series, 3–1
Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 20,173
Referees: Joe Crawford, Michael Smith, Bill Spooner
April 30
6:00 pm
Washington Wizards 88, Cleveland Cavaliers 87
Scoring by quarter: 23–16, 22–27, 24–22, 19–22
Pts: Caron Butler 32
Rebs: Antawn Jamison 11
Asts: Caron Butler 5
Pts: LeBron James 34
Rebs: LeBron James 10
Asts: Delonte West 8
Cleveland leads series, 3–2
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Attendance: 20,562
Referees: Mike Callahan, James Capers, Joe Derosa
May 2
7:00 pm
Cleveland Cavaliers 105, Washington Wizards 88
Scoring by quarter: 27–31, 29–17, 23–16, 26–24
Pts: LeBron James 27
Rebs: LeBron James 13
Asts: LeBron James 13
Pts: Antawn Jamison 23
Rebs: Antawn Jamison 15
Asts: Antonio Daniels 5
Cleveland wins series, 4–2
Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 20,173
Referees: Steve Javie, Ken Mauer, Tom Washington

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Cavaliers winning three of the first four meetings.

LeBron James, labeled as "overrated" by Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson, scored 20 of his 32 points in the second half to help the Cavs draw first blood in their third first round meeting in as many years.[8] The Cavs and Wizards traded blowouts in Games 2 and 3, but Cleveland took a 3–1 lead in the Verizon Center off of Delonte West's last second 3. Washington stayed alive by winning Game 5 when Caron Butler converted a running shot with only seconds left, capping off his 32-point performance. However, James led the Cavs to a dominating Game 6 victory in Washington with a triple-double (27 points, 13 rebounds, 13 assists); he also received crucial outside shooting from Wally Szczerbiak and Daniel Gibson, who combined for 48 points.

This series was marked by several physical plays on James, with Brendan Haywood, Stevenson, and Darius Songaila picking up technical and flagrant fouls for hard contact on him.

Western Conference first round

[edit]
April 20
12:00 pm
Denver Nuggets 114, Los Angeles Lakers 128
Scoring by quarter: 22–26, 34–32, 22–39, 36–31
Pts: Iverson, Anthony 30 each
Rebs: Carmelo Anthony 12
Asts: Allen Iverson 7
Pts: Pau Gasol 36
Rebs: Pau Gasol 16
Asts: Pau Gasol 8
LA Lakers lead series, 1–0
Staples Center, Los Angeles
Attendance: 18,997
Referees: Joe Crawford, Marc Davis, Ken Mauer
April 23
7:30 pm
Denver Nuggets 107, Los Angeles Lakers 122
Scoring by quarter: 32–33, 17–26, 30–30, 28–33
Pts: Allen Iverson 31
Rebs: Marcus Camby 17
Asts: Allen Iverson 6
Pts: Kobe Bryant 49
Rebs: Pau Gasol 10
Asts: Kobe Bryant 10
LA Lakers lead series, 2–0
Staples Center, Los Angeles
Attendance: 18,997
Referees: Luis Grillo, Monty McCutchen, Bennett Salvatore
April 26
3:30 pm
Los Angeles Lakers 102, Denver Nuggets 84
Scoring by quarter: 23–20, 30–26, 30–18, 19–20
Pts: Kobe Bryant 22
Rebs: three players 7 each
Asts: Kobe Bryant 8
Pts: Carmelo Anthony 16
Rebs: Marcus Camby 12
Asts: Marcus Camby 4
LA Lakers lead series, 3–0
Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Attendance: 19,602
Referees: Dan Crawford, Bill Kennedy, Greg Willard
April 28
8:30 pm
Los Angeles Lakers 107, Denver Nuggets 101
Scoring by quarter: 32–23, 32–31, 15–23, 28–24
Pts: Kobe Bryant 31
Rebs: Lamar Odom 12
Asts: Kobe Bryant 6
Pts: Allen Iverson 22
Rebs: Marcus Camby 17
Asts: Anthony Carter 6
LA Lakers win series, 4–0
Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Attendance: 19,264
Referees: Dick Bavetta, Joe Forte, Courtney Kirkland

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first three meetings.

In Pau Gasol's playoff debut with the Lakers, he scored 36 points, 16 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 blocks as the Lakers beat the Nuggets in Game 1. Kobe Bryant gave the fans a vintage performance in Game 2 by scoring 49 points and adding 10 assists in a blowout at Staples Center. The Nuggets were routed at home in Game 3, with Carmelo Anthony stating the team quit in the second half. Game 4 was closer, but Bryant led the Lakers with 14 points in the last 5½ minutes to sweep the Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. It was the first time the Lakers advanced to the second round since the 2004 season.[10] The Lakers led at the end of every quarter throughout the whole series, only the seventh time that had happened in NBA history.[11]

April 19
6:00 pm
Dallas Mavericks 92, New Orleans Hornets 104
Scoring by quarter: 26–19, 26–21, 20–36, 20–28
Pts: Dirk Nowitzki 31
Rebs: Dirk Nowitzki 10
Asts: Jason Kidd 9
Pts: Chris Paul 35
Rebs: Tyson Chandler 15
Asts: Chris Paul 10
New Orleans leads series, 1–0
New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
Attendance: 17,446
Referees: Dick Bavetta, Sean Corbin, Joe Forte
April 22
6:00 pm
Dallas Mavericks 103, New Orleans Hornets 127
Scoring by quarter: 29–39, 22–28, 28–32, 24–28
Pts: Dirk Nowitzki 27
Rebs: Brandon Bass 8
Asts: Jason Kidd 8
Pts: Chris Paul 32
Rebs: Tyson Chandler 11
Asts: Chris Paul 17
New Orleans leads series, 2–0
New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
Attendance: 17,855
Referees: Joe Crawford, Courtney Kirkland, Greg Willard
April 25
7:00 pm
New Orleans Hornets 87, Dallas Mavericks 97
Scoring by quarter: 16–23, 24–24, 23–27, 24–23
Pts: Jannero Pargo 30
Rebs: Tyson Chandler 11
Asts: Chris Paul 10
Pts: Dirk Nowitzki 32
Rebs: Dirk Nowitzki 19
Asts: Nowitzki, Terry 6 each
New Orleans leads series, 2–1
American Airlines Center, Dallas
Attendance: 20,839
Referees: Tony Brothers, Joe DeRosa, Ron Garretson
April 27
8:30 pm
New Orleans Hornets 97, Dallas Mavericks 84
Scoring by quarter: 23–30, 25–14, 28–22, 21–18
Pts: David West 30
Rebs: David West 9
Asts: Chris Paul 8
Pts: Dirk Nowitzki 22
Rebs: Dirk Nowitzki 13
Asts: three players 3 each
New Orleans leads series, 3–1
American Airlines Center, Dallas
Attendance: 20,644
Referees: James Capers, Steve Javie, Mark Wunderlich
April 29
6:00 pm
Dallas Mavericks 94, New Orleans Hornets 99
Scoring by quarter: 22–28, 17–26, 24–17, 31–28
Pts: Dirk Nowitzki 22
Rebs: Dirk Nowitzki 13
Asts: Terry, Kidd 9 each
Pts: David West 29
Rebs: Tyson Chandler 14
Asts: Chris Paul 15
New Orleans wins series, 4–1
New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
Attendance: 18,260
Referees: Dan Crawford, Scott Foster, Bill Kennedy

This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the New Orleans Pelicans/Hornets franchise.[12]

In his playoff debut, Chris Paul scored 35 points, dished out 10 assists, and stole the ball 4 times to lead the Hornets to a comeback home win against the Mavericks.[13] He would replicate that type of performance in Game 2 with 32 points and 17 assists. Dallas would come out with a dominant Game 3 performance at home after inserting Jason Terry into the starting lineup, but New Orleans would win the final 2 games of the series, keyed by David West in Game 4 and Paul's triple-double in Game 5.

April 19
2:00 pm
Phoenix Suns 115, San Antonio Spurs 117 (2OT)
Scoring by quarter: 24–20, 24–20, 23–25, 22–28Overtime: 11–11, 11–13
Pts: Steve Nash 25
Rebs: Leandro Barbosa 8
Asts: Steve Nash 13
Pts: Tim Duncan 40
Rebs: Tim Duncan 15
Asts: three players 5 each
San Antonio leads series, 1–0
AT&T Center, San Antonio
Attendance: 18,797
Referees: Tony Brothers, Mike Callahan, Bennett Salvatore
April 22
8:30 pm
Phoenix Suns 96, San Antonio Spurs 102
Scoring by quarter: 35–26, 26–28, 11–27, 24–21
Pts: Amar'e Stoudemire 33
Rebs: Shaquille O'Neal 14
Asts: Steve Nash 10
Pts: Tony Parker 32
Rebs: Tim Duncan 17
Asts: Tony Parker 7
San Antonio leads series, 2–0
AT&T Center, San Antonio
Attendance: 18,797
Referees: Dick Bavetta, Ken Mauer, Leon Wood
April 25
7:30 pm
San Antonio Spurs 115, Phoenix Suns 99
Scoring by quarter: 33–19, 28–28, 30–25, 24–27
Pts: Tony Parker 41
Rebs: Tim Duncan 10
Asts: Tony Parker 12
Pts: Amar'e Stoudemire 28
Rebs: Amar'e Stoudemire 11
Asts: Steve Nash 9
San Antonio leads series, 3–0
US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Attendance: 18,422
Referees: James Capers, Steve Javie, Monty McCutchen
April 27
1:30 pm
San Antonio Spurs 86, Phoenix Suns 105
Scoring by quarter: 13–34, 30–31, 22–28, 21–12
Pts: Tony Parker 18
Rebs: Tim Duncan 10
Asts: Tony Parker 3
Pts: Raja Bell 27
Rebs: Shaquille O'Neal 12
Asts: Boris Diaw 8
San Antonio leads series, 3–1
US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Attendance: 18,422
Referees: Bob Delaney, Scott Foster, David Jones
April 29
8:30 pm
Phoenix Suns 87, San Antonio Spurs 92
Scoring by quarter: 26–30, 19–24, 27–15, 15–23
Pts: Boris Diaw 22
Rebs: Amar'e Stoudemire 11
Asts: Boris Diaw 8
Pts: Tony Parker 31
Rebs: Tim Duncan 17
Asts: Tony Parker 8
San Antonio wins series, 4–1
AT&T Center, San Antonio
Attendance: 18,797
Referees: Joe Crawford, Derrick Stafford, Greg Willard

This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Spurs winning five of the first eight meetings.

Michael Finley made a game-tying three in regulation, Tim Duncan scored 40 points, including a rare three-point field goal to force a second overtime, and Manu Ginóbili clinched victory with a drive to the basket to break the 115-all deadlock with 1.8 seconds left to win a classic Game 1.[15] Tony Parker would then pace the Spurs to their next two victories in the series, scoring 32 and 41 in Games 2 and 3 respectively. At the brink of elimination, Phoenix responded with a strong Game 4. But costly missed free throws by Shaquille O'Neal and key turnovers by Steve Nash helped San Antonio to prevail in Game 5, led again by Parker's 31 points.

Also notable was Gregg Popovich's use of the Hack-a-Shaq throughout the series to disrupt the Suns offense when Shaquille O'Neal was on the floor. O'Neal would shoot 64 free throws in the five games, making 32 of them.

April 19
8:30 pm
Utah Jazz 93, Houston Rockets 82
Scoring by quarter: 23–18, 24–23, 21–19, 25–22
Pts: Andrei Kirilenko 21
Rebs: Carlos Boozer 16
Asts: Deron Williams 10
Pts: Shane Battier 22
Rebs: Luis Scola 13
Asts: Tracy McGrady 7
Utah leads series, 1–0
Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 18,213
Referees: Dan Crawford, Ron Garretson, Bill Kennedy
April 21
8:30 pm
Utah Jazz 90, Houston Rockets 84
Scoring by quarter: 26–17, 21–24, 22–26, 21–17
Pts: Deron Williams 22
Rebs: Mehmet Okur 16
Asts: Deron Williams 5
Pts: Tracy McGrady 23
Rebs: Tracy McGrady 13
Asts: Tracy McGrady 9
Utah leads series, 2–0
Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 18,158
Referees: Tony Brothers, Mike Callahan, Bennett Salvatore
April 24
8:30 pm
Houston Rockets 94, Utah Jazz 92
Scoring by quarter: 27–23, 17–21, 26–32, 24–16
Pts: Tracy McGrady 27
Rebs: Carl Landry 11
Asts: Tracy McGrady 7
Pts: Deron Williams 28
Rebs: Carlos Boozer 13
Asts: Deron Williams 12
Utah leads series, 2–1
EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City
Attendance: 19,911
Referees: Bob Delaney, Tom Washington, Leon Wood
April 26
8:30 pm
Houston Rockets 82, Utah Jazz 86
Scoring by quarter: 23–21, 15–25, 23–20, 21–20
Pts: Tracy McGrady 23
Rebs: Tracy McGrady 10
Asts: Tracy McGrady 8
Pts: Deron Williams 17
Rebs: Mehmet Okur 18
Asts: Deron Williams 9
Utah leads series, 3–1
EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City
Attendance: 19,911
Referees: Marc Davis, Ken Mauer, Eddie Rush
April 29
8:30 pm
Utah Jazz 69, Houston Rockets 95
Scoring by quarter: 16–18, 16–25, 23–31, 14–21
Pts: Carlos Boozer 19
Rebs: Okur, Boozer 10 each
Asts: Deron Williams 6
Pts: Tracy McGrady 29
Rebs: Luis Scola 12
Asts: Rafer Alston 6
Utah leads series, 3–2
Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 18,269
Referees: Sean Corbin, Steve Javie, Mark Wunderlich
May 2
8:30 pm
Houston Rockets 91, Utah Jazz 113
Scoring by quarter: 22–32, 32–26, 11–27, 26–28
Pts: Tracy McGrady 40
Rebs: Tracy McGrady 10
Asts: Tracy McGrady 5
Pts: Deron Williams 25
Rebs: Mehmet Okur 13
Asts: Deron Williams 9
Utah wins series, 4–2
EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City
Attendance: 19,911
Referees: Joe DeRosa, Bill Spooner, Derrick Stafford

This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning four of the first six meetings.

The Jazz had a balanced game from Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams to steal the home court advantage away from the Rockets.[17] A similar performance in Game 2 put Utah in a commanding 2–0 lead going back to Salt Lake City. Rafer Alston's return to the Houston lineup after injury, along with Tracy McGrady's 27 points and Carl Landry's key block of Deron Williams helped Houston steal Game 3 on the road. Williams responded with a strong performance in a Game 4 victory, plus got some help from Mehmet Okur with his offensive rebound off of his two missed free throws. The Rockets controlled Game 5 to stay alive, but despite getting 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists from McGrady in Game 6 and 15 pts from Luis Scola, the rest of the team shot 10/39 from the field and could not overcome losing Alston to an ankle injury as the Jazz blew the game open with a 27–11 3rd quarter.

Conference semifinals

[edit]

Eastern Conference semifinals

[edit]

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Cleveland Cavaliers

[edit]
May 6
8:00 pm
Cleveland Cavaliers 72, Boston Celtics 76
Scoring by quarter: 15–25, 22–16, 15–12, 20–23
Pts: Zydrunas Ilgauskas 22
Rebs: Zydrunas Ilgauskas 12
Asts: LeBron James 9
Pts: Kevin Garnett 28
Rebs: Kendrick Perkins 12
Asts: Rajon Rondo 6
Boston leads series, 1–0
TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
Attendance: 18,624
Referees: Scott Foster, Eddie Rush, Michael Smith
May 8
7:00 pm
Cleveland Cavaliers 73, Boston Celtics 89
Scoring by quarter: 24–17, 12–27, 15–26, 22–19
Pts: LeBron James 21
Rebs: Anderson Varejão 10
Asts: LeBron James 6
Pts: Paul Pierce 19
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 12
Asts: Rajon Rondo 6
Boston leads series, 2–0
TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
Attendance: 18,624
Referees: Joe Crawford, Bill Spooner, Derrick Stafford
May 10
8:00 pm
Boston Celtics 84, Cleveland Cavaliers 108
Scoring by quarter: 13–32, 22–20, 28–27, 21–29
Pts: Kevin Garnett 17
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 9
Asts: Paul Pierce 5
Pts: James, West 21 each
Rebs: Ben Wallace 9
Asts: LeBron James 8
Boston leads series, 2–1
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Attendance: 20,562
Referees: Bob Delaney, Steve Javie, Mark Wunderlich
May 12
8:00 pm
Boston Celtics 77, Cleveland Cavaliers 88
Scoring by quarter: 21–23, 22–22, 22–23, 12–20
Pts: three players 15 each
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 10
Asts: Garnett, Rondo 4 each
Pts: LeBron James 21
Rebs: Ilgauskas, Wallace 7 each
Asts: LeBron James 13
Series tied, 2–2
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Attendance: 20,562
Referees: Jim Clark, Bennett Salvatore, Greg Willard
May 14
8:00 pm
Cleveland Cavaliers 89, Boston Celtics 96
Scoring by quarter: 23–18, 23–25, 17–29, 26–24
Pts: LeBron James 35
Rebs: Ilgauskas, Varejão 7 each
Asts: LeBron James 5
Pts: Paul Pierce 29
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 16
Asts: Rajon Rondo 13
Boston leads series, 3–2
TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
Attendance: 18,624
Referees: Tony Brothers, Dan Crawford, Ron Garretson
May 16
8:00 pm
Boston Celtics 69, Cleveland Cavaliers 74
Scoring by quarter: 18–18, 15–24, 17–17, 19–15
Pts: Kevin Garnett 25
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 8
Asts: Rajon Rondo 5
Pts: LeBron James 32
Rebs: LeBron James 12
Asts: LeBron James 6
Series tied, 3–3
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Attendance: 20,562
Referees: Dick Bavetta, Joe DeRosa, Joe Forte
May 18
3:30 pm
Cleveland Cavaliers 92, Boston Celtics 97
Scoring by quarter: 13–18, 27–32, 28–23, 24–24
Pts: LeBron James 45
Rebs: Joe Smith 6
Asts: LeBron James 6
Pts: Paul Pierce 41
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 13
Asts: Rajon Rondo 8
Boston wins series, 4–3
TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
Attendance: 18,624
Referees: Ken Mauer, Eddie Rush, Bennett Salvatore

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning two of the first three meetings.

Although the Celtics had a quick turnaround from their unexpected seven-game series with Atlanta, they managed to hold off the Cavs by winning the first two games in Boston. Kevin Garnett scored 28 points and 8 rebounds and made the go-ahead shot in Game 1. LeBron James would only shoot 8 for 42 from the field in the first 2 games.

Cleveland would come back to win the next two games, Game 3, a blowout where five Cavs scored in double figures, and Game 4 where James would punctuate the victory with a dunk over Garnett. James's shooting improved in the return to the Garden in Game 5, but received minimal help from his teammates as Rajon Rondo, Garnett, and Paul Pierce all scored over 20 points to push Boston over the top. Game 6 was an ugly affair, with both teams shooting under 40 percent, but a 32–12–6 performance by James was enough. Boston, the best road team in the regular season, fell to 0–6 on the road.

Game 7 would end in a duel between Pierce (41 points) and James (45 points) that some compared to the BirdWilkins duel in the 1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals.[19][20] But timely offensive rebounding (10 in all), 18 second chance points, and a few key shots from Celtics veteran P.J. Brown helped push Boston into the Eastern Conference Finals.

(2) Detroit Pistons vs. (3) Orlando Magic

[edit]
May 3
7:30 pm
Orlando Magic 72, Detroit Pistons 91
Scoring by quarter: 22–22, 20–21, 16–22, 14–26
Pts: Lewis, Türkoğlu 18 each
Rebs: Dwight Howard 8
Asts: Jameer Nelson 5
Pts: Chauncey Billups 19
Rebs: Jason Maxiell 9
Asts: Chauncey Billups 7
Detroit leads series, 1–0
The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Attendance: 22,076
Referees: Dick Bavetta, Sean Corbin, Monty McCutchen
May 5
7:00 pm
Orlando Magic 93, Detroit Pistons 100
Scoring by quarter: 29–29, 11–21, 36–28, 17–22
Pts: Howard, Nelson 22
Rebs: Dwight Howard 18
Asts: Hedo Türkoğlu 7
Pts: Chauncey Billups 28
Rebs: Tayshaun Prince 10
Asts: Tayshaun Prince 5
Detroit leads series, 2–0
The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Attendance: 22,076
Referees: Joe Forte, Steve Javie, Derrick Stafford
May 7
8:00 pm
Detroit Pistons 86, Orlando Magic 111
Scoring by quarter: 16–30, 26–24, 27–19, 17–38
Pts: Richard Hamilton 24
Rebs: Tayshaun Prince 7
Asts: Hamilton, Prince 3 each
Pts: Rashard Lewis 33
Rebs: Dwight Howard 12
Asts: Hedo Türkoğlu 6
Detroit leads series, 2–1
Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 17,519
Referees: Joe Forte, Steve Javie, Derrick Stafford
May 10
5:00 pm
Detroit Pistons 90, Orlando Magic 89
Scoring by quarter: 21–27, 23–28, 26–15, 20–19
Pts: Richard Hamilton 32
Rebs: Antonio McDyess 14
Asts: Tayshaun Prince 5
Pts: Hedo Türkoğlu 20
Rebs: Dwight Howard 12
Asts: Hedo Türkoğlu 4
Detroit leads series, 3–1
Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 17,519
Referees: Mike Callahan, Joe Crawford, Tom Washington
May 13
7:00 pm
Orlando Magic 86, Detroit Pistons 91
Scoring by quarter: 20–20, 21–27, 27–18, 18–26
Pts: Hedo Türkoğlu 18
Rebs: Dwight Howard 17
Asts: Hedo Türkoğlu 7
Pts: Richard Hamilton 31
Rebs: Antonio McDyess 11
Asts: Rodney Stuckey 6
Detroit wins series, 4–1
The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Attendance: 22,076
Referees: Scott Foster, Ken Mauer, Eddie Rush

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pistons winning two of the first three meetings.

The Pistons opened up with a rout in Game 1, as Detroit's big men keyed in on Dwight Howard and forced him to playoff lows 12 points and 8 rebounds, with five Pistons scoring in double figures. After being quiet in Game 1, the Magic's 3-point shooting picked up (11/26, with Jameer Nelson making 5-of-8), but could not overcome 19 turnovers and fell down in the series 2–0. There was a controversial call at the end of the third quarter, where Chauncey Billups made a 3 near the end of the 3rd quarter when the clock froze and approximately 0.5 seconds remained, but TNT clocks later revealed that Billups could not have gotten the ball off in time.

The Magic would take a 24–6 lead at home in Game 3 and use a 38–17 4th quarter to blow out Detroit; they were paced by 33 points by Rashard Lewis. Billups would injure his right hamstring early in the game and miss the remainder of the series, but they would not need him for Game 4 as Richard Hamilton scored 32 points and the Pistons came from 15 back in the 3rd quarter. Tayshaun Prince made the go-ahead basket with 8.9 seconds left and Hedo Türkoğlu missed a layup as time ran out.

Billups's starting replacement, Rodney Stuckey, struggled in Game 4, but came back with a strong Game 5. The Magic would outshoot the Pistons 48 to 36 percent, would make 36 percent of their 3s compared to 21 percent for Detroit, and outrebound them 46 to 38, but turned the ball over 21 times while Detroit had only 3. Rip Hamilton again led Detroit with 31 points, and Prince made the crucial defensive play by blocking Türkoğlu's layup in the waning seconds. Detroit advanced to their sixth straight Eastern Conference Finals, the longest Conference Finals streak since the Los Angeles Lakers went to eight straight in the 80s. As of 2024, this was most recent postseason series win by the Pistons.

Western Conference semifinals

[edit]

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Utah Jazz

[edit]
May 4
1:30 pm
Utah Jazz 98, Los Angeles Lakers 109
Scoring by quarter: 24–25, 17–29, 31–25, 26–30
Pts: Mehmet Okur 21
Rebs: Mehmet Okur 19
Asts: Deron Williams 9
Pts: Kobe Bryant 38
Rebs: Pau Gasol 10
Asts: Kobe Bryant 7
LA Lakers lead series, 1–0
Staples Center, Los Angeles
Attendance: 18,997
Referees: Jim Clark, Joe Crawford, Ron Garretson
May 7
7:30 pm
Utah Jazz 110, Los Angeles Lakers 120
Scoring by quarter: 18–33, 31–30, 34–30, 27–27
Pts: Deron Williams 25
Rebs: Paul Millsap 10
Asts: Deron Williams 10
Pts: Kobe Bryant 34
Rebs: Lamar Odom 16
Asts: Kobe Bryant 6
LA Lakers lead series, 2–0
Staples Center, Los Angeles
Attendance: 18,997
Referees: Tony Brothers, Dan Crawford, Greg Willard
May 9
7:00 pm
Los Angeles Lakers 99, Utah Jazz 104
Scoring by quarter: 23–23, 20–29, 29–27, 27–25
Pts: Kobe Bryant 34
Rebs: Lamar Odom 12
Asts: Kobe Bryant 7
Pts: Carlos Boozer 27
Rebs: Carlos Boozer 20
Asts: Deron Williams 12
LA Lakers lead series, 2–1
EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City
Attendance: 19,911
Referees: Dick Bavetta, Ken Mauer, Monty McCutchen
May 11
1:30 pm
Los Angeles Lakers 115, Utah Jazz 123 (OT)
Scoring by quarter: 21–31, 34–24, 20–24, 33–29, Overtime: 7–15
Pts: Kobe Bryant 33
Rebs: Lamar Odom 13
Asts: Kobe Bryant 10
Pts: Deron Williams 29
Rebs: Carlos Boozer 12
Asts: Deron Williams 14
Series tied, 2–2
EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City
Attendance: 19,911
Referees: Sean Corbin, Joe DeRosa, Eddie Rush
May 14
7:30 pm
Utah Jazz 104, Los Angeles Lakers 111
Scoring by quarter: 26–29, 28–32, 27–20, 23–30
Pts: Deron Williams 27
Rebs: Mehmet Okur 13
Asts: Deron Williams 10
Pts: Kobe Bryant 26
Rebs: Lamar Odom 11
Asts: Pau Gasol 8
LA Lakers lead series, 3–2
Staples Center, Los Angeles
Attendance: 18,997
Referees: Bob Delaney, Steve Javie, Tom Washington
May 16
8:30 pm
Los Angeles Lakers 108, Utah Jazz 105
Scoring by quarter: 33–20, 29–23, 24–27, 22–35
Pts: Kobe Bryant 34
Rebs: Pau Gasol 13
Asts: Kobe Bryant 6
Pts: Deron Williams 21
Rebs: Carlos Boozer 14
Asts: Deron Williams 14
LA Lakers win series, 4–2
EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City
Attendance: 19,911
Referees: James Capers, Joe Crawford, Scott Foster

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning two of the first three meetings.

The Lakers took Game 1 in Staples Center, winning by 11 against the Jazz. After being presented with the season's NBA MVP award in Game 2, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to victory with 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. However, as the series shifted back to Utah, the Jazz responded, winning Games 3 and 4 behind the performances of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, who bounced back after two poor games in Los Angeles. The Lakers came back with authority as they took Game 5 with Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom scoring 20 plus points each. The Jazz looked to force a Game 7, but the Lakers did not trail and closed out the series in Game 6 with a 108–105 win at Utah, where the Jazz were 37–4 during the regular season. Bryant led the team with 34 points as the Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Finals, which they had not reached since 2004. This was the first playoff meeting between the two teams since the 1998 Western Conference Finals.

(2) New Orleans Hornets vs. (3) San Antonio Spurs

[edit]
May 3
9:00 pm
San Antonio Spurs 82, New Orleans Hornets 101
Scoring by quarter: 27–23, 22–22, 17–29, 16–27
Pts: Tony Parker 23
Rebs: Ginóbili, Oberto 6 each
Asts: Manu Ginóbili 7
Pts: David West 30
Rebs: Tyson Chandler 15
Asts: Chris Paul 13
New Orleans leads series, 1–0
New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
Attendance: 18,040
Referees: Mike Callahan, Marc Davis, Eddie Rush
May 5
8:30 pm
San Antonio Spurs 84, New Orleans Hornets 102
Scoring by quarter: 23–22, 20–20, 18–36, 23–24
Pts: Tim Duncan 18
Rebs: Tim Duncan 8
Asts: Manu Ginóbili 7
Pts: Chris Paul 30
Rebs: Tyson Chandler 11
Asts: Chris Paul 12
New Orleans leads series, 2–0
New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
Attendance: 17,927
Referees: Dick Bavetta, Tom Washington, Mark Wunderlich
May 8
8:30 pm
New Orleans Hornets 99, San Antonio Spurs 110
Scoring by quarter: 23–21, 33–33, 22–29, 21–27
Pts: Chris Paul 35
Rebs: David West 12
Asts: Chris Paul 9
Pts: Tony Parker 31
Rebs: Tim Duncan 13
Asts: Tony Parker 11
New Orleans leads series, 2–1
AT&T Center, San Antonio
Attendance: 18,797
Referees: Bob Delaney, Steve Javie, Bill Kennedy
May 11
7:00 pm
New Orleans Hornets 80, San Antonio Spurs 100
Scoring by quarter: 22–24, 20–31, 19–30, 19–15
Pts: Chris Paul 23
Rebs: Paul, Armstrong 6 each
Asts: Chris Paul 5
Pts: Tim Duncan 22
Rebs: Tim Duncan 15
Asts: Ginóbili, Parker 8 each
Series tied, 2–2
AT&T Center, San Antonio
Attendance: 18,797
Referees: James Capers, Dan Crawford, Ron Garretson
May 13
8:30 pm
San Antonio Spurs 79, New Orleans Hornets 101
Scoring by quarter: 23–21, 24–23, 11–28, 21–29
Pts: Manu Ginóbili 20
Rebs: Tim Duncan 23
Asts: Manu Ginóbili 7
Pts: David West 38
Rebs: David West 14
Asts: Chris Paul 14
New Orleans leads series, 3–2
New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
Attendance: 18,246
Referees: Joe Crawford, Joe DeRosa, Joe Forte
May 15
8:00 pm
New Orleans Hornets 80, San Antonio Spurs 99
Scoring by quarter: 24–36, 27–22, 12–20, 17–21
Pts: Chris Paul 21
Rebs: five players 6 each
Asts: Chris Paul 8
Pts: Manu Ginóbili 25
Rebs: Tim Duncan 15
Asts: Tim Duncan 6
Series tied, 3–3
AT&T Center, San Antonio
Attendance: 18,797
Referees: Ken Mauer, Monty McCutchen, Bennett Salvatore
May 19
7:30 pm
San Antonio Spurs 91, New Orleans Hornets 82
Scoring by quarter: 23–20, 28–22, 20–14, 20–26
Pts: Manu Ginóbili 26
Rebs: Tim Duncan 14
Asts: Parker, Ginóbili 5 each
Pts: David West 20
Rebs: Tyson Chandler 15
Asts: Chris Paul 14
San Antonio wins series, 4–3
New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
Attendance: 18,235
Referees: Dick Bavetta, Scott Foster, Steve Javie

This was the first playoff meeting between the Spurs and the New Orleans Pelicans/Hornets franchise.[23]

The Hornets, who earned the home-court advantage via winning the Southwest division, were able to gain a quick 2–0 lead over the veteran Spurs. But when the series shifted to San Antonio, the Spurs regained their edge, returning the favor in Games 3 and 4. Game 5 back in New Orleans shocked many as the Hornets played off the home crowd to a 22-point rout. The home teams were clearly dominating in this series as Game 6 was more of the same in San Antonio. However, that all changed when a much anticipated Game 7 saw the Spurs build a 15-point lead after 3 quarters, which proved to be enough (even after the Hornets cut the deficit to 3 with 1:35 left) to send them to another Western Conference Finals. The Spurs were the 4th team to win game 7 on the road after the home team won the first six.

Conference finals

[edit]

Eastern Conference finals

[edit]

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (2) Detroit Pistons

[edit]
May 20
8:30 pm
Detroit Pistons 79, Boston Celtics 88
Scoring by quarter: 17–22, 23–19, 17–28, 22–19
Pts: Tayshaun Prince 16
Rebs: Antonio McDyess 11
Asts: Rasheed Wallace 4
Pts: Kevin Garnett 26
Rebs: Kendrick Perkins 10
Asts: Rajon Rondo 7
Boston leads series, 1–0
TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
Attendance: 18,624
Referees: Joe Crawford, Greg Willard, Mark Wunderlich
May 22
8:30 pm
Detroit Pistons 103, Boston Celtics 97
Scoring by quarter: 18–20, 32–23, 28–26, 25–28
Pts: Richard Hamilton 25
Rebs: Rasheed Wallace 10
Asts: Chauncey Billups 7
Pts: Paul Pierce 26
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 13
Asts: Rajon Rondo 8
Series tied, 1–1
TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
Attendance: 18,624
Referees: Sean Corbin, Steve Javie, Tom Washington
May 24
8:30 pm
Boston Celtics 94, Detroit Pistons 80
Scoring by quarter: 25–17, 25–15, 23–23, 21–25
Pts: Kevin Garnett 22
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 13
Asts: Ray Allen 6
Pts: Richard Hamilton 26
Rebs: McDyess, Wallace 8 each
Asts: Billups, Stuckey 4 each
Boston leads series, 2–1
The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Attendance: 22,076
Referees: Dick Bavetta, Ron Garretson, Monty McCutchen
May 26
8:30 pm
Boston Celtics 75, Detroit Pistons 94
Scoring by quarter: 17–22, 22–21, 19–22, 17–29
Pts: Garnett, Pierce 16 each
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 10
Asts: Rajon Rondo 4
Pts: Antonio McDyess 21
Rebs: Antonio McDyess 16
Asts: Billups, Hamilton 7 each
Series tied, 2–2
The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Attendance: 22,076
Referees: Dan Crawford, Bob Delaney, Scott Foster
May 28
8:30 pm
Detroit Pistons 102, Boston Celtics 106
Scoring by quarter: 23–23, 23–29, 25–32, 31–22
Pts: Chauncey Billups 26
Rebs: Billups, McDyess 5 each
Asts: Billups, Hamilton 6 each
Pts: Kevin Garnett 33
Rebs: Kendrick Perkins 16
Asts: Rajon Rondo 13
Boston leads series, 3–2
TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
Attendance: 18,624
Referees: Mike Callahan, Ken Mauer, Eddie Rush
May 30
8:30 pm
Boston Celtics 89, Detroit Pistons 81
Scoring by quarter: 24–21, 16–16, 20–31, 29–13
Pts: Paul Pierce 27
Rebs: Paul Pierce 8
Asts: Kevin Garnett 4
Pts: Chauncey Billups 29
Rebs: Rasheed Wallace 10
Asts: Chauncey Billups 6
Boston wins series, 4–2
The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Attendance: 22,076
Referees: Tony Brothers, Joe Derosa, Bennett Salvatore

This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning four of the first seven meetings.

Detroit walked into the NBA Eastern Conference Finals for the sixth straight season. Boston held off the Pistons in Game 1 88–79, but let Detroit rally a strong performance in Game 2 to win it 103–97 (marking Boston's first home court loss in the post-season). However, they let the Celtics win their first road playoff game 94–80 in Game 3. Game 4 saw the Pistons win 94–75, however they lost Game 5 106–102 despite a scoring run late in the game. In Game 6, the Pistons strolled into the fourth quarter leading 70–60, but a lack of focus, a poor game from Rasheed Wallace, and a rally-destroying turnover by Tayshaun Prince ultimately led to their demise, as the Pistons would end their season losing 89–81. With that, the Celtics moved on to the NBA Finals, and they would face the Los Angeles Lakers for the 11th time.

As of 2024 Detroit hasn't won a playoff game since game 4 of this series.

Western Conference finals

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(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) San Antonio Spurs

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May 21
6:00 pm
San Antonio Spurs 85, Los Angeles Lakers 89
Scoring by quarter: 27–24, 24–19, 21–22, 13–24
Pts: Tim Duncan 30
Rebs: Tim Duncan 18
Asts: Tony Parker 6
Pts: Kobe Bryant 27
Rebs: Lamar Odom 8
Asts: Kobe Bryant 9
LA Lakers lead series, 1–0
Staples Center, Los Angeles
Attendance: 18,997
Referees: Jim Clark, Dan Crawford, Bob Delaney
May 23
6:00 pm
San Antonio Spurs 71, Los Angeles Lakers 101
Scoring by quarter: 16–21, 21–25, 20–28, 14–27
Pts: Tony Parker 13
Rebs: Tim Duncan 16
Asts: Parker, Duncan 4 each
Pts: Kobe Bryant 22
Rebs: Lamar Odom 12
Asts: Kobe Bryant 5
LA Lakers lead series, 2–0
Staples Center, Los Angeles
Attendance: 18,997
Referees: Tony Brothers, Ken Mauer, Bennett Salvatore
May 25
7:30 pm
Los Angeles Lakers 84, San Antonio Spurs 103
Scoring by quarter: 24–21, 15–28, 18–20, 27–34
Pts: Kobe Bryant 30
Rebs: Lamar Odom 11
Asts: Lamar Odom 6
Pts: Manu Ginóbili 30
Rebs: Tim Duncan 21
Asts: Duncan, Parker 5 each
LA Lakers lead series, 2–1
AT&T Center, San Antonio
Attendance: 18,797
Referees: Mike Callahan, Joe Derosa, Eddie Rush
May 27
8:00 pm
Los Angeles Lakers 93, San Antonio Spurs 91
Scoring by quarter: 28–23, 25–24, 24–23, 16–21
Pts: Kobe Bryant 28
Rebs: Bryant, Gasol 10 each
Asts: Pau Gasol 6
Pts: Tim Duncan 29
Rebs: Tim Duncan 17
Asts: Tony Parker 9
LA Lakers lead series, 3–1
AT&T Center, San Antonio
Attendance: 18,797
Referees: Joe Crawford, Joe Forte, Mark Wunderlich
May 29
6:00 pm
San Antonio Spurs 92, Los Angeles Lakers 100
Scoring by quarter: 28–15, 20–27, 15–22, 29–36
Pts: Tony Parker 23
Rebs: Tim Duncan 15
Asts: Tim Duncan 10
Pts: Kobe Bryant 39
Rebs: Pau Gasol 19
Asts: Pau Gasol 5
LA Lakers win series, 4–1
Staples Center, Los Angeles
Attendance: 18,997
Referees: Steve Javie, Monty McCutchen, Tom Washington

This was the 11th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning seven of the first ten meetings.

The series pitted the two best teams in the Western Conference over the last 10 years. Having home court advantage, the Lakers started out as a favorite and did not disappoint their home crowd as they overcame a 20-point deficit in Game 1 and won behind Kobe Bryant's 27 points, 25 of which were scored in the second half. Game 2 was a cruise for the Lakers as they made a 9–0 run before halftime, led all game and built the lead to 30.

The Spurs easily took Game 3 at home with Manu Ginóbili carrying the Spurs after two terrible games at L.A, making 5 3-pointers and finishing with 30 points; Tony Parker and Tim Duncan added 42 more. In Game 4 the Lakers never trailed (the Spurs missed several opportunities to take the lead) and led comfortably late, but a furious run by the Spurs and several mistakes by the Lakers (Bryant attempting a running fallaway with plenty of time on the shot clock, Gasol missing 2 free throws) gave San Antonio a chance to tie or win with seconds left. On a disputed no-call, Derek Fisher jumped up and collided with Brent Barry, but no foul was called and Barry missed a last second 3. The NBA later ruled that a foul should have been called on Fisher when he collided with Barry.

Heading home up 3–1 in the series, the Lakers trailed in the first quarter by 17, but were able to cut the lead to six by halftime. Again, Bryant stepped up by scoring 17 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter, enabling the Lakers to surge ahead and seal the series, helping them to reach the NBA Finals for the 5th time in 9 seasons and the first time in the post-Shaq era.

The Lakers were able to reach the NBA Finals again as the #1 seed. The last time this happened to the team was during the 1999–2000 season, where they beat the Indiana Pacers 4–2. They also improved to 4–0 against San Antonio in the Western Conference Finals.

NBA Finals: (W1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (E1) Boston Celtics

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June 5
9:00 pm
Los Angeles Lakers 88, Boston Celtics 98
Scoring by quarter: 21–23, 30–23, 22–31, 15–21
Pts: Kobe Bryant 24
Rebs: Pau Gasol 8
Asts: Kobe Bryant 6
Pts: Kevin Garnett 24
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 13
Asts: Rajon Rondo 7
Boston leads series, 1–0
TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
Attendance: 18,624
Referees: Dick Bavetta, Scott Foster, Eddie Rush
June 8
9:00 pm
Los Angeles Lakers 102, Boston Celtics 108
Scoring by quarter: 22–20, 20–34, 19–29, 41–25
Pts: Kobe Bryant 30
Rebs: Gasol, Radmanović 10 each
Asts: Kobe Bryant 8
Pts: Paul Pierce 28
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 14
Asts: Rajon Rondo 16
Boston leads series, 2–0
TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
Attendance: 18,624
Referees: Dan Crawford, Bob Delaney, Ken Mauer
June 10
6:00 pm
Boston Celtics 81, Los Angeles Lakers 87
Scoring by quarter: 20–20, 17–23, 25–17, 19–27
Pts: Ray Allen 25
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 12
Asts: Kevin Garnett 5
Pts: Kobe Bryant 36
Rebs: Pau Gasol 12
Asts: Jordan Farmar 5
Boston leads series, 2–1
Staples Center, Los Angeles
Attendance: 18,997
Referees: Joe Crawford, Bennett Salvatore, Mark Wunderlich
June 12
6:00 pm
Boston Celtics 97, Los Angeles Lakers 91
Scoring by quarter: 14–35, 26–23, 31–15, 26–18
Pts: Paul Pierce 20
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 11
Asts: Paul Pierce 7
Pts: Lamar Odom 19
Rebs: Gasol, Odom 10 each
Asts: Kobe Bryant 10
Boston leads series, 3–1
Staples Center, Los Angeles
Attendance: 18,997
Referees: Joe Derosa, Steve Javie, Tom Washington
June 15
6:00 pm
Boston Celtics 98, Los Angeles Lakers 103
Scoring by quarter: 22–39, 30–16, 18–24, 28–24
Pts: Paul Pierce 38
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 14
Asts: Paul Pierce 8
Pts: Kobe Bryant 25
Rebs: Pau Gasol 13
Asts: Pau Gasol 6
Boston leads series, 3–2
Staples Center, Los Angeles
Attendance: 18,997
Referees: Dick Bavetta, Scott Foster, Ken Mauer
June 17
9:00 pm
Los Angeles Lakers 92, Boston Celtics 131
Scoring by quarter: 20–24, 15–34, 25–31, 32–42
Pts: Kobe Bryant 22
Rebs: Lamar Odom 10
Asts: Lamar Odom 5
Pts: Garnett, Allen 26 each
Rebs: Kevin Garnett 14
Asts: Paul Pierce 10
Boston wins series, 4–2
TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
Attendance: 18,624
Referees: Joe Crawford, Eddie Rush, Bennett Salvatore

This was the 11th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning eight of the first ten meetings. Two teams in the same cities, Boston and Los Angeles met in the 2008 ALDS when the Boston Red Sox defeated the Los Angeles Angels in four games.

Statistic leaders

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Category High Average
Player Team Total Player Team Avg. Games played
Points Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers 49 Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers 30.1 21
Rebounds Tim Duncan San Antonio Spurs 23 Dwight Howard Orlando Magic 15.8 10
Assists Chris Paul New Orleans Hornets 17 Chris Paul New Orleans Hornets 11.3 12
Steals Rajon Rondo
Derek Fisher
Kevin Garnett
Boston Celtics
Los Angeles Lakers
Boston Celtics
6 Chris Paul New Orleans Hornets 2.3 12
Blocks Dwight Howard Orlando Magic 8 Dwight Howard Orlando Magic 3.4 10

Broadcast notes

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Ratings

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TNT's coverage of the 2008 NBA Playoffs was strong in audience delivery, with the playoff averages showing year-over-year growth among households (+15%), viewers (+14%), adults 18–34 (+25%), adults 18–49 (+22%), adults 25–54 (+24%), men 18–34 (+30%), women 18–34 (+5%), men 18–49 (+23%) and men 25–54 (+22%). [1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Beck, Howard (June 17, 2008). "Celtics Remain Mindful Of a Missed Opportunity". The New York Times. p. D2.
  2. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Boston Celtics (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  3. ^ http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/04/22/bibby-calls-bostons-fans-bandwagon-jumpers/ Bibby: Boston Fans are "Bandwagon Jumpers", AOL Fanhouse
  4. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  5. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Orlando Magic versus Toronto Raptors (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  6. ^ Dwight Howard's 20–20 Game Leads Magic Past Raptors Archived 2012-11-02 at the Wayback Machine, NBA.com
  7. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Cleveland Cavaliers versus Washington Wizards (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  8. ^ James Scores 20 of his 32 in Second Half, NBA.com
  9. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Denver Nuggets versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  10. ^ Lakers Take 3-0 Series Lead Over Nuggets, NBA.com
  11. ^ Best-of-Seven Annihilations, WhoWins.com
  12. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Dallas Mavericks versus New Orleans Pelicans (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  13. ^ Paul Lifts Hornets over Mavs for Game 1 Win, NBA.com
  14. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  15. ^ Duncan Scores 40 to Lead Spurs to Game 1 Win Over Suns Archived 2012-01-11 at the Wayback Machine, NBA.com
  16. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Houston Rockets versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  17. ^ Jazz beat Rockets 93-82 in series opener, NBA.com
  18. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Cleveland Cavaliers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  19. ^ Pierce–James duel in the 2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals on YouTube
  20. ^ Bird–Wilkins duel in the 1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals on YouTube
  21. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Orlando Magic (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  22. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  23. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — New Orleans Pelicans versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  24. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Detroit Pistons (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  25. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  26. ^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  27. ^ "Tentative 2008 NBA Playoff Schedule". ESPN.com. April 16, 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
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