Arena ARCO Arena | Owner(s) The Maloof Family Record 61–21 (.744) | |
Playoff finish West Conference Finals(eliminated 3–4) | ||
The 2001–02 Sacramento Kings season was the team's 53rd season in the National Basketball Association and 17th in Sacramento. During the offseason, the Kings acquired point guards Mike Bibby from the Memphis Grizzlies and Mateen Cleaves from the Detroit Pistons. The Kings won their division for the first time since 1979, when the team was in Kansas City. The Kings also made the Western Conference finals for the first time since 1981 (also as the Kansas City Kings). The Kings finished the season with a 61–21 record (.744 winning percentage), the best record in the league. Chris Webber and Peja Stojaković were both selected to the 2002 NBA All-Star Game.
Contents
- Game log
- West First Round
- West Conference Semifinals
- West Conference Finals
- Awards and records
- References
In the playoffs, the Kings defeated the Utah Jazz three games to one in the first round, and the Dallas Mavericks four games to one in the semifinals. In their first trip to the Western Conference Finals, they would take a 3–2 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers, but went on to lose the final two games in one of the most controversial playoff series in NBA history. (See 2002 NBA Playoffs#(1) Sacramento Kings vs. (3) Los Angeles Lakers). It was also the third straight year that the Kings had their playoff run ended by the Lakers.
Game log
All times are PACIFIC time
West First Round
(1) Sacramento Kings vs. (8) Utah Jazz Last Playoff Meeting: 1999 Western Conference First Round (Utah won 3-2)
West Conference Semifinals
(1) Sacramento Kings vs. (4) Dallas Mavericks Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Kings and Mavericks.
West Conference Finals
(1) Sacramento Kings vs. (3) Los Angeles Lakers Last Playoff Meeting: 2001 Western Conference Semifinals (Los Angeles won 4-0)