2021 NBA playoffs explained
The 2021 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2020–21 season. With the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the NBA for the second consecutive year, the regular season was reduced to 72 games for each team and the start date of the playoffs was moved from its usual time in mid-April to May 22, 2021. It ended with the 2021 NBA Finals in July.
The 2021 NBA Finals matchup featured the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks won the NBA Finals in six games after being down 0–2, their first championship since 1971.
Both the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers and the 2020 NBA Finals runner-up Miami Heat lost in the first round to the eventual finalists: the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks, respectively. The Suns advanced to their first NBA Finals since 1993 after winning the Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Clippers in six games; the Bucks also won the Eastern Conference finals in six games, against the Atlanta Hawks to reach their first NBA Finals since 1974.[1]
It was the first year the NBA used a 20-team playoff, with a two-stage system in both conferences, with 16 of the 20 teams advancing to the second stage. The first stage, the NBA play-in games, was a four-team playoff in each conference for the No. 7 to No. 10 seeds in each conference. In this format, the No. 7 and No. 8 teams need to win one game to advance to the second stage, with a double chance, while the No. 9 and No. 10 teams need to win two games to advance, eliminated by just one loss.
Overview
Notable updates to postseason appearances
- The Portland Trail Blazers entered their eighth consecutive postseason, which was the longest active streak in the NBA until their failure to qualify the following year.
- The Boston Celtics entered their seventh consecutive postseason.
- The Utah Jazz and Milwaukee Bucks entered their fifth consecutive postseason.
- Milwaukee also advanced to their first NBA Finals since 1974 and this was the Bucks' first Eastern Conference championship in franchise history as the team was in the Western Conference until 1980.
- The Philadelphia 76ers entered their fourth consecutive postseason.
- The Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets entered their third consecutive postseason.
- The Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks entered their second consecutive postseason.
- The Washington Wizards made their first postseason appearance since 2018.
- The Atlanta Hawks (which entered their first Conference finals appearance since 2015) and Memphis Grizzlies made their first postseason appearance since 2017.
- The New York Knicks made their first postseason appearance since 2013.
- The Phoenix Suns made their first postseason appearance since 2010.
- Phoenix also won the Western Conference and advanced to their first NBA Finals since 1993.
- The Houston Rockets missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years.
- The Toronto Raptors missed the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
- The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers missed the playoffs for the first time in six years.
- The Orlando Magic missed the playoffs for the first time in three years.
- The San Antonio Spurs returned to the postseason after missing the playoffs the previous year, but were eliminated after losing to Memphis in the first stage of the Page–McIntyre system system tournament.
- The Golden State Warriors returned to the postseason after missing the playoffs the previous year, being the first team to be eliminated from the Page–McIntyre system tournament with the double chance. They were the No. 8 seed, losing to the No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers in the first game of the first stage, then losing to No. 9 Memphis in the second game of the first stage.
Notable occurrences
- The Memphis Grizzlies became the first No. 9 seed to advance to the playoffs, defeating the Golden State Warriors in the second game of the first stage play–in.
- The Milwaukee Bucks swept the Miami Heat in the first round, marking the 45th straight year a sweep occurred in the NBA playoffs. The last year a sweep did not occur in the playoffs was 1976.
- With Miami not winning a road game, their streak of winning a road game in a playoff series ends at 23, a streak that started in 2011. This record would be surpassed by the Warriors in the following year.
- The Mavericks–Clippers series was the first of the 2021 playoffs to have a Game 7, making it the 22nd consecutive NBA postseason to feature a Game 7. The last time a Game 7 did not take place in the playoffs was 1999.
- Not counting the 2020 NBA playoffs which was held at a neutral site, the Mavericks–Clippers series was the first in NBA history where the road team won the first six games of a best–of–7 and the first since 1995 to have the road team win the first five games of a best–of–7.
- Both 2020 NBA finalists (Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat) were eliminated in the first round. This was the third time overall and the first since 2007 that this had happened, in which the Miami Heat were also one of the finalists who were eliminated.
- The Los Angeles Lakers first round loss to the Phoenix Suns marked the first time that the defending NBA champions was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs since the San Antonio Spurs in the 2015 playoffs.
- With the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Miami Heat eliminated in the first round (along with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, and Toronto Raptors failing to qualify for the playoffs), by the second round the 2021 playoffs ensured one team of its first championship in the 21st century.
- This Finals was the first since 1999 to not feature the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, or San Antonio Spurs.
- This Finals was the first since 2014 to not include Andre Iguodala, who had played in the past six finals with the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat.
- For the first time in his 18-year career, LeBron James lost a first-round playoffs series when the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in Game 6.[2] This would happen again 3 years later.
- Damian Lillard set an NBA record of 12 three-point field goals made in a single playoff game, which was previously held by Klay Thompson in 2016.[3]
- LeBron James became the only player in NBA history to be in the playoff top 10 for all five major statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals).
- Chris Paul became the first player to reach 15 assists with 0 turnovers three separate times in the NBA playoffs.
- Nikola Jokić joined Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players with 30 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists in an NBA playoff game.
- Kevin Durant became the first player in NBA history with 45 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists in a single playoff game. He also set an NBA record for most points in a Game 7 with 48 against the Milwaukee Bucks.[4]
- The Los Angeles Clippers became the first team in NBA history to overcome an 0–2 deficit twice in the same postseason. They also made it to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history.[5]
- With the Clippers advancing to the Western Conference finals to face the Suns, this ensured that a Pacific Division team played in the NBA Finals for the seventh consecutive postseason.
- The Milwaukee Bucks won a Game 7 on the road for the first time in franchise history.
- Neither the first–seeded team nor the second-seeded team made the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight year.
- The Atlanta Hawks became the fourth team in the last 40 years to reach the conference finals with a midseason coaching replacement.
- Neither first–seeded team made the conference finals for the first time since 1994.
- Devin Booker joined Charles Barkley and LeBron James as the only players with 40–point triple–double in a conference finals game. He also joined Oscar Robertson and Luka Dončić as the only players with a 40–point triple–double before turning 25.
- Deandre Ayton became the first player in the shot–clock era with a 70+ FG% in any 12–game postseason span (min. 100 att), and the first since 1954–55 NBA season.
- Deandre Ayton became the first player in NBA history to average 15 points and 10 rebounds while shooting at least 65% from the field in a single postseason.
- Jae Crowder now owns the longest active finals streak when the Phoenix Suns made the NBA Finals, having also made it last year with Miami.
- Chris Paul became the oldest player in NBA history with 40+ points in a closeout game. He is also the second oldest player to drop 40 points in any playoff game.
- With Rajon Rondo losing in the Western Conference finals to the Suns, Shaquille O'Neal's 37–year streak of having a former teammate in the NBA Finals came to an end.
- The Phoenix Suns became the first team in NBA history to move on to the NBA Finals after missing the postseason in the prior ten seasons. They also held the worst record (.302 winning pct) in five seasons prior to an appearance in the final postseason round in the history of the NBA, NFL, NHL, or MLB.
- Both NBA finalists in the 2020–2021 season have not been in the finals for over two decades (the Suns in 1993, the Bucks in 1974).
- Trae Young became the second player in NBA history to average 28+ PPG and 9+ APG in a single playoff run (minimum 15 games, LeBron James in 2018).
- Trae Young tied LeBron James and Dirk Nowitzki by scoring the 4th most points in a Conference finals game with 48 against the Milwaukee Bucks.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 5th player in NBA history with 9+ 30/10 games in a single postseason since 1963.
- By winning the 2021 Eastern Conference finals, the Milwaukee Bucks are the only NBA franchise to win both the Eastern & Western Conference Titles. However, the Warriors franchise achieved the same deeds when the East and the West were called "Divisions", before they were realigned as "Conferences" in the 1970-71 expansion. Before 1970–71, the teams emerged from the East and West playoff brackets were called Eastern Division Champions and Western Division Champions, respectively. The Philadelphia Warriors won the Eastern Division in 1956, while the San Francisco Warriors won the Western Division in 1964 and 1967. The Golden State Warriors also won 7 conference titles after 1970–71.
- Chris Paul joins Michael Jordan as the only players with 30+ points and 9+ assists in an NBA Finals debut. Jordan accomplished this feat in 1991. He also joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Tim Duncan as players with 30+ points in an NBA Finals game age 36 or older.[6]
- Deandre Ayton became the fourth player in the shot-clock era (since 1955) with at least 20 points, 15 rebounds, and shooting 80+ FG% in an NBA Finals game (Bill Russell, Kareem-Abdul Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain). Ayton joins Abdul-Jabbar as the only players to do so in their Finals debuts.
- Chris Paul scored or assisted on 54 points in Game 1, the 3rd most in an NBA Finals debut all time (Allen Iverson with 61 in 2001, Michael Jordan with 60 in 1991).
- The Phoenix Suns became the third team to make 20+ three-point shots in a Finals game, joining the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Golden State Warriors.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo joined Shaquille O'Neal as the only players with 40+ points and 10+ rebounds in back–to–back Finals games. He also scored 103 points through the first three Finals game of his career, ranking fourth behind Rick Barry (122), Allen Iverson (106), and Willis Reed (104).
- Devin Booker set a new record for most points for a player in his first NBA playoffs appearance, accumulating 601 points, overtaking Ricky Barry (521) and Julius Erving (518).
- The Suns became the first team in NBA history to lose a Finals game despite shooting better than 50% and keeping their opponent below at least 42%.
- Khris Middleton and Devin Booker became the 4th pair of opponents to put up at least 40 points in the same game.
- Devin Booker became the seventh player in NBA history to put up back–to–back 40 point games in the Finals. Booker is also the first Suns player to achieve this and is also the first overall to lose both of these games.
- Devin Booker's 82 points in Games 4 and 5 of the NBA Finals reflects the highest total of any player who lost consecutive Finals Games (John Havlicek and LeBron James each had 80 in consecutive games).
- Devin Booker joined Rick Barry as the only players to record at least ten 30 point games in their first postseason all time.
- The Suns became the first team in NBA history to lose a playoff game shooting at least 55% from the field and at least 60% from three.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton became the 2nd pair of teammates to record at least 500 points and 100 assists in a single postseason.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and Khris Middleton became the 5th trio of teammates in NBA Finals history to record at least 25 points while shooting at least 50% from the field in the same game.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 5th player in NBA Finals history to record at least 30 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, and 0 turnovers.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 2nd player in NBA Finals history to record at least 3 games recording 40 points and 10 rebounds.
- With Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo winning a championship this year, they join Kostas Antetokounmpo (2020 with Los Angeles Lakers) as the only sibling trio in NBA history to win a championship.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 7th player in NBA Finals history to record a 50-point game. He also tied Bob Pettit for the most points scored in a Finals closeout game.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 5th player in NBA Finals history to record at least 30 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, and 0 turnovers.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 1st player in NBA Finals history to record 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks in a game, then became the first to record 50 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks in a game.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded the second-most games in a single postseason scoring at least 30 points and 10 rebounds.
- Chris Paul became the 1st player in NBA history to blow four separate 2–0 series leads in a best–of–7 series.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 3rd player in NBA history to win multiple regular–season MVPs, Defensive Player of the Year Award, and Finals MVP (Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 2nd player in NBA history to win multiple regular–season MVPs and Finals MVP while playing at the power forward position (Tim Duncan).
- Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 1st player in NBA Finals history to average 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists while shooting at least 60% FG. In addition, he is the 1st player in NBA Finals history to average 30 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal while shooting at least 50% on field goals.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 9th player in NBA history to win multiple MVPs and a Finals MVP. He joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Tim Duncan as the only ones to do so at 26 years old or younger.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first player in NBA history with 5 All-Star selections, 5 All-NBA selections, multiple MVPs, 1 Finals MVP, and 1 DPOY before turning 27 years old.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo tied Kevin Durant by averaging the 5th most PPG in an NBA Finals win with 35.2 (Durant averaged 35.2 PPG in 2017).
- Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 1st player in NBA history to win Most Improved Player, MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo became the fourth international player and third European player to win the Finals MVP, joining Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria) in 1994 and 1995, Tony Parker (France) in 2007, and Dirk Nowitzki (Germany) in 2011.
- The Milwaukee Bucks became the fifth team in NBA Finals history to overcome an 0–2 deficit and win the title. They also became the third team to win 4 consecutive games after being down 0–2. The last team to accomplish this feat is the 2006 Miami Heat.
- The Milwaukee Bucks became the second team in NBA playoff history to overcome an 0–2 deficit twice in the same postseason (2021 Los Angeles Clippers).
- The Milwaukee Bucks became the first team below the 2nd seed to win a championship since the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.
Format
The NBA Board of Governors approved a format for the 2020–21 season to have a play-in tournament involving the teams that ranked 7th through 10th in each conference. The 7th place team and 8th place team participate in the double-chance game, with the winner advancing to the playoffs as the 7-seed. The loser then plays the winner of the elimination game between the 9th place and 10th place teams to determine the playoff's 8-seed. The NBA's regular playoff format would then proceed as normal.[7]
Under the NBA's regular playoff format, the eight teams with the most wins in each conference qualified for the playoffs. The seedings were based on each team's record. Each conference's bracket was fixed; there was no reseeding. All rounds were best-of-seven series; the series ended when one team won four games, and that team advanced to the next round. All rounds, including the NBA Finals, were in a 2–2–1–1–1 format. In the conference playoffs, home court advantage went to the higher-seeded team (number one being the highest). Seeding was based on each team's regular season record within a conference; if two teams had the same record, standard tiebreaker rules were used. Conference seedings were ignored for the NBA Finals: Home court advantage went to the team with the better regular season record, and, if needed, ties were broken based on head-to-head record, followed by intra-conference record.
Playoff qualifying
On April 25, 2021, the Utah Jazz became the first team to clinch a playoff spot.[8] While noted in the below tables, division titles have no bearing on seeding.[9]
Eastern Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Clinched |
|---|
Play-in
berth | Playoff berth | Division title | Best record
in conference | Best record
in NBA |
|---|
| 1 | | 49–23 | — | April 28[10] | May 14[11] | May 14 | — |
| 2 | | 48–24 | — | April 27[12] | — | — | — |
| 3 | | 46–26 | — | May 4[13] | April 30[14] | — | — |
| 4 | | 41–31 | — | May 12 | — | — | — |
| 5 | | 41–31 | — | May 12[15] | May 15[16] | — | — |
| 6 | | 40–32 | — | May 11[17] | — | — | — |
| 7 | | 36–36 | May 12 | May 18[18] | — | — | — |
| 8 | | 34–38 | May 14[19] | May 20[20] | — | — | — | |
Indiana (34–38) and
Charlotte (33–39) also secured play-in berths but did not advance to the playoffs.
Western Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Clinched |
|---|
Play-in
berth | Playoff berth | Division title | Best record
in conference | Best record
in NBA |
|---|
| 1 | | 52–20 | — | April 25 | May 7[21] | May 16[22] | May 16 |
| 2 | | 51–21 | — | April 28[23] | May 14[24] | — | — |
| 3 | | 47–25 | — | May 3[25] | — | — | — |
| 4 | | 47–25 | — | May 3[26] | — | — | — |
| 5 | | 42–30 | — | May 14[27] | May 7[28] | — | — |
| 6 | | 42–30 | — | May 16[29] | — | — | — |
| 7 | | 42–30 | May 16 | May 19[30] | — | — | — |
| 8 | | 38–34 | May 10[31] | May 21[32] | — | — | — | |
Golden State (39–33) and
San Antonio (33–39) also secured play-in berths but did not advance to the playoffs.
[33] Play-in tournament brackets
Western Conference
Bracket
Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Teams with home court advantage, the higher seeded team, are shown in italics.
Notes and References
- Web site: McMenamin . Dave . Phoenix Suns finish off LA Clippers in 6, advance to first NBA Finals since 1993 . ESPN . July 2021 . 1 July 2021.
- News: Lakers Eliminated from Playoffs With Game 6 Loss to Suns. June 4, 2021. June 4, 2021. Scott Cacciola. The New York Times.
- Web site: Young . Royce . Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard hits playoff-record 12 3s in 2OT loss . ESPN . June 2, 2021 . 21 July 2021.
- Web site: Salvador . Joseph . Bucks Advance to Eastern Conference finals in Epic Game 7 Over Nets . Sports Illustrated . 21 July 2021.
- Web site: Gonzalez . Norma . Led by Terance Mann, the resilient LA Clippers stage a playoff comeback for the ages . The Salt Lake Tribune . 21 July 2021.
- Web site: Botkin . Brad . NBA Finals: Suns' Chris Paul joins Michael Jordan with historic debut, leaves Bucks searching for answers . CBS News . 21 July 2021.
- Web site: NBA announces structure and format for 2020–21 season. NBA.com. November 19, 2020.
- Web site: Utah Jazz become first team in the NBA to clinch a playoff spot this season. Maloney. Jack. CBS Sports. April 25, 2021. April 26, 2021.
- News: 5 Things to Know: NBA division winners not guaranteed playoff spot . Matt . Moore . . September 9, 2015 . April 6, 2022.
- Web site: 76ers clinch playoff spot with victory over Hawks . Sportsnet.ca . April 29, 2021 . April 28, 2021.
- Web site: Franklin. Chris. Sixers clinch the Atlantic Division, No. 1 seed for the first time in 20 years. May 15, 2021. nj.com. May 15, 2021.
- Web site: Andrews . Malika . Brooklyn Nets first in Eastern Conference to clinch playoff berth . ESPN . April 29, 2021 . April 27, 2021.
- Web site: Bucks rally in 4th to beat Nets 124–118, clinch playoff spot . ESPN . May 6, 2021 . May 4, 2021.
- Bucks . 1388333777752035334 . April 30, 2021 . The most Central Division titles in NBA history. . May 4, 2021.
- Web site: NBA playoff watch: Atlanta Hawks wrap up berth; Boston Celtics land in play-in . ESPN . May 13, 2021 . May 13, 2021.
- Web site: Hawks clinch NBA Southeast, play final game tonight before playoffs start . wsbtv.com . May 16, 2021 . May 15, 2021.
- Web site: By The Numbers: HEAT Clinch 22nd Postseason Appearance. NBA.com. May 12, 2021. May 11, 2021.
- Web site: Mulford . Michael . Tatum drops 50 points as the Celtics beat Wizards, clinch 7-seed . Celtics Wire . June 5, 2021 . May 18, 2021.
- Web site: Selbe . Nick . Wizards Beat Cavs to Clinch Play-In Berth, Finalize Postseason Field . Sports Illustrated . May 16, 2021 . May 14, 2021.
- Web site: Zillgitt . Jeff . Wizards complete turnaround with rout of Pacers to clinch No. 8 seed in Eastern Conference . USA Today . June 5, 2021 . May 20, 2021.
- Web site: Anderson . Ben . Jazz Win Thriller Over Nuggets, Clinch Top Three Seed . KSL Sports . May 12, 2021 . May 7, 2021.
- Web site: Burt . Spencer . Utah Jazz clinch #1 playoff seed, best record across league . KSTU . May 17, 2021 . May 16, 2021.
- Web site: Klapper . Clayton . Phoenix Suns clinch first playoff berth in 10 seasons . KNXV . April 29, 2021 . April 29, 2021.
- Web site: Olson . Kellan . Phoenix Suns win Pacific Division, clinch top-2 seed after Clippers loss . Arizona Sports . May 16, 2021 . May 14, 2021.
- Web site: Denver Nuggets clinch playoff spot, 3rd in the Western Conference . FOX31 Denver . May 4, 2021 . May 3, 2021.
- Web site: Lowry leads depleted Raptors past Lakers; Clippers clinch playoff spot . Sportsnet.ca . May 3, 2021 . May 3, 2021.
- Web site: Odom . Joel . Dallas Mavericks clinch playoff spot; Nuggets move up to 3rd: NBA Western Conference playoff race, standings watch . oregonlive . May 16, 2021 . May 14, 2021.
- Web site: Mavs clinch Southwest division with 110–90 over Cavs . Mavs.com. May 7, 2021 . May 7, 2021.
- Web site: CJ McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers clinch playoff berth Lakers vs Warriors in Play-In . Sky Sports . May 17, 2021 . May 16, 2021.
- Web site: Rivas . Christian . Lakers advance to play Suns in first round . Silver Screen and Roll . June 5, 2021 . May 19, 2021.
- Web site: Lopez . Andrew . Memphis Grizzlies clinch play-in spot: 'Job is not done,' Dillon Brooks says . ESPN . May 12, 2021 . May 10, 2021.
- Web site: Grizzlies clinch eighth seed in West with OT win over Warriors – Sportsnet.ca . Sportsnet.ca . June 5, 2021 . May 21, 2021.
- Web site: 2021 Play-In Tournament . NBA.com . April 2021 . April 6, 2022.
