Head coach Gregg Popovich Arena Alamodome | Owner(s) Peter Holt Record 37–13 (.740) | |
Place Division: 1st (Midwest)
Conference: 1st (Western) Playoff finish NBA Champions
(Defeated Knicks 4-1) | ||
The 1998–99 San Antonio Spurs season was their 32nd as a franchise, the 26th in San Antonio, and the 23rd season in the National Basketball Association (NBA). During the offseason, the Spurs acquired Antonio Daniels from the Vancouver Grizzlies and signed free agents Mario Elie, Steve Kerr and Jerome Kersey. After a promising rookie season from Tim Duncan, Spurs fans had to wait three and a half months as part of the NBA regular season was wiped out by a lockout. When the season started, the Spurs started slowly, posting a 6–8 record in February. However, in March and April they won 31 of their final 36 games on their way to a league-best record, 37–13.
Contents
- Offseason
- West First Round
- West Conference Semifinals
- West Conference Finals
- NBA finals
- Summary
- Schedule
- Award winners
- References
In the playoffs, the Spurs defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in four games of the first round winning three games to one. In the semifinals, the Spurs' "Twin Towers" of David Robinson and Tim Duncan outplayed Shaquille O'Neal as the Spurs swept the Los Angeles Lakers in four straight games. In the Western Conference Finals, the Spurs faced the Portland Trail Blazers. After taking Game 1, the Spurs trailed in Game 2 as the Blazers led by double digits. However, in the fourth quarter, the Spurs made a run and with 0.9 seconds left, Sean Elliott tip-toed down the sidelines staying barely inbounds to nail a game-winning three-pointer. From there, the Spurs would go on to sweep the Trail Blazers to become the first former American Basketball Association (ABA) team to play in the NBA Finals. In the Finals, they defeated the 8th-seeded New York Knicks in five games. Avery Johnson hit the title-winning three with 47 seconds left to seal the Spurs' first title in franchise history. Following the season, Will Perdue re-signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls.
Offseason
West First Round
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Minnesota Timberwolves: Spurs win series 3-1
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Spurs and Timberwolves.
West Conference Semifinals
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (4) Los Angeles Lakers: Spurs win series 4-0
Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Western Conference Semifinals (San Antonio won 4-2)
West Conference Finals
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (2) Portland Trail Blazers: Spurs win series 4-0
Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Western Conference First Round (San Antonio won 3-1)
NBA finals
This final saw some firsts for both the Spurs and the opposing New York Knicks.
The Spurs:
The Knicks became the first (and to this date, the only) 8th seed to ever play in an NBA Finals.
Summary
The following scoring summary is written in a line score format, except that the quarter numbers are replaced by game numbers.
With time running out in Game 5, and the 1999 championship on the line, the Spurs looked to Avery Johnson as he hit a long clutch 2 from the corner with 47 seconds to go, giving the Spurs a 1-point lead. It was considered one of the franchise's best moments since the first 26 years in San Antonio.
Schedule
The Finals were played using a 2-3-2 site format, where the first two and last two games are held at the team with home court advantage. The NBA, after experimenting in the early years, restored this original format for the Finals in 1985. So far, the other playoff series are still running on a 2-2-1-1-1 site format.