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{{Short description|Postseason tournament}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{infobox basketball tournament season
|title=NBA playoffs
|image=NBA 2007 Playoffs logo.png
|year=2007
|dates=April 21–June 14, 2007
| season =[[2006–07 NBA season|2006–07]]
| num_teams =16
| winners =[[San Antonio Spurs]]
| count =4
| second = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| semifinal1 =[[Detroit Pistons]]
| semifinal2 =[[Utah Jazz]]
| prev_season =[[2006 NBA playoffs|2006]]
| next_season =[[2008 NBA playoffs|2008]]
}}
The '''2007 NBA playoffs''' was the postseason tournament of the [[National Basketball Association]]'s [[2006–07 NBA season|2006–07 season]]. The tournament concluded with the [[Western Conference (NBA)|Western Conference]] champion [[San Antonio Spurs]] defeating the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] champion [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] 4 games to 0 in the [[2007 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]]. [[Tony Parker]] was named [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals MVP]], making him the second Spur after [[Tim Duncan]] and the first European–born player to receive the award.
==Overview==
The [[Dallas Mavericks]] entered their seventh consecutive postseason. In addition, the Mavericks started the playoffs with a league best 67–15 regular season record, the best in franchise history. The Mavericks also became the first team since 2000 to finish the regular season with 65+ wins. Their in-state rivals, the [[San Antonio Spurs]], entered their tenth consecutive postseason.
The defending champion [[Miami Heat]] entered the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Despite winning their third consecutive Southeast Division title, the Heat opened the playoffs on the road against the Chicago Bulls (thanks to the Bulls’ 49–33 record versus the Heat's 44–38 record), marking the second consecutive postseason that a division winner opened the playoffs on the road. This was also [[Pat Riley|Pat Riley's]] final NBA playoff appearance as a head coach, as the Heat would miss the playoffs [[2007–08 Miami Heat season|the following season]].
The [[Houston Rockets]] returned to the playoffs after a one-season absence, and opened the playoffs at home for the first time since [[1997 NBA playoffs|1997]]. This would also be [[Jeff Van Gundy|Jeff Van Gundy's]] last postseason appearance as a head coach. Their first round opponent, the Northwest Division leading [[Utah Jazz]] made the playoffs for the first time since [[2003 NBA playoffs|2003]]. Like the Heat, the Jazz opened their postseason on the road.
The [[New Jersey Nets]] and the [[Detroit Pistons]] entered their sixth consecutive postseason.
The [[Denver Nuggets]] entered their fourth consecutive postseason.
The [[Washington Wizards]], [[Chicago Bulls]], and [[Phoenix Suns]] entered their third consecutive postseason.
The [[Los Angeles Lakers]] entered their second consecutive postseason.
The [[Golden State Warriors]] made the NBA Playoffs for the first time since [[1994 NBA playoffs]].
The [[Toronto Raptors]] made the playoffs for the first time since [[2002 NBA Playoffs|2002]] and earned home-court advantage for the first time in franchise history.
The [[Orlando Magic]] made the playoffs for the first time since [[2003 NBA Playoffs|2003]].
The [[Indiana Pacers]] missed the playoffs for the first time since [[1997 NBA Playoffs|1997]], while the [[Sacramento Kings]] missed the playoffs for the first time since [[1998 NBA Playoffs|1998]]. This also marked the first of sixteen consecutive postseasons not to feature the Sacramento Kings.
===First Round===
The Nets–Raptors series was notable for Nets guard [[Vince Carter]] facing his former team, the Toronto Raptors. His New Jersey Nets won the series in six games, giving the Raptors their second consecutive first round exit. The Nets would not win another playoff series until [[2014 NBA playoffs|2014]] as the [[Brooklyn Nets]], which was also against the Raptors.
With their first round sweep of the Orlando Magic, the Detroit Pistons swept a playoff series for the first time since [[1990 NBA playoffs|1990]]. It was also the Pistons’ first sweep of a best of seven series since the [[1989 NBA Finals]].
With their first round sweep of the defending champion Miami Heat, the Chicago Bulls won their first playoff series since [[1998 NBA Finals|1998]] and swept a best of seven series for the first time since 1996. As of 2024, this was the Bulls’ most recent playoff sweep. With the loss, the Heat became the first defending champion in 50 seasons to be swept in the first round. In addition, the Heat were swept in a postseason series for the first time since [[2001 NBA playoffs|2001]].
For the second consecutive postseason, the Phoenix Suns defeated the Los Angeles Lakers. The Suns would not win another playoff series against the Lakers until [[2021 NBA playoffs|2021]].
With their shocking first round upset over the Dallas Mavericks, The Golden State Warriors became the third eighth seed to beat a top seed and the first team to do so since the first round was extended to a best of seven in 2003. The Warriors were also the first team to eliminate a top seed since the [[1998-99 New York Knicks season|1999 New York Knicks’]] Cinderella run to the Finals. With the loss, the Dallas Mavericks earned the dubious distinction of becoming the first (and currently only) .800 regular season team to lose in the first round. With the win, the Golden State Warriors also won their first playoff series since [[1991 NBA playoffs|1991]].
With their first round series losses, the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks became the first NBA Finals pair to lose in the first round in the following year's playoffs. They also share the dubious distinction of being the second and third top seeds, respectively, to lose to an eighth seed in the first round in the NBA Playoffs.
The Jazz–Rockets series marked the eighth straight postseason in which at least one Game 7 was played. The Utah Jazz won over the Houston Rockets, giving the Jazz their first playoff series win since [[2000 NBA Playoffs|2000]] and the Rockets their fifth consecutive first round exit. This also marked the sole Game 7 of this season's playoffs.
===Conference Semifinals===
With the Heat and Mavericks eliminated in the first round, the Western Conference Semifinals series between the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs was considered “the real finals” as both teams had better records than the other remaining teams in the playoffs (thanks to the Suns’ 61–21 record and the Spurs’ 58–24 record, respectively).
The Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls met in the postseason for the first time since [[1991 NBA playoffs|1991]], renewing the [[Bulls–Pistons rivalry]].
Game 4 of the Suns–Spurs series was extremely notable thanks to [[Robert Horry|Robert Horry's]] flagrant foul on [[Steve Nash]]. During the incident, Horry also struck Raja Bell's shoulder, which resulted in a two-game suspension for Horry. In addition, Amar’e Stoudemire and Boris Diaw were suspended for one game for leaving the bench during the altercation.
With their Western Conference Semifinals victory over the Phoenix Suns, the San Antonio Spurs won their third consecutive playoff series against the Phoenix Suns.
With their Western Conference Semifinals win over the Golden State Warriors, the Utah Jazz made the conference finals for the first time since [[1998 NBA playoffs|1998]] (when they last made the NBA Finals). As of 2024, however, this was the most recent time the Jazz advanced past the Conference Semifinals. The Warriors themselves would not advance past the Conference Semifinals until 2015.
With their Eastern Conference Semifinals win against the New Jersey Nets, the Cleveland Cavaliers made their first Conference Finals appearance since 1992. In addition, Game 6 of the Cavaliers–Nets series was the final NBA Playoff game ever played in New Jersey, as well as the last NBA Playoff game ever played at [[Izod Center|Continental Airlines Arena]]. The Nets would not return to the playoffs until [[2013 NBA Playoffs|2013]] as the Brooklyn Nets.
With their Eastern Conference Semifinals victory over the Chicago Bulls, the Detroit Pistons made their fifth consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearance. The Bulls, on the other hand, would not make the Eastern Conference Finals until 2011.
===Conference Finals===
Despite trailing 2–0 to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers won the series in six games to make their first ever NBA Finals appearance. Game 5 of the Pistons-Cavaliers series was extremely notable thanks to LeBron James scoring the Cavaliers’ final 25 points in a double-overtime thriller.
With their Western Conference Finals win over the Utah Jazz, the San Antonio Spurs made their fourth NBA Finals appearance, and their third of the 2000s decade.
===NBA Finals===
The [[2007 NBA Finals]] was significant due to it being the finals debut for [[LeBron James]]. He would not return to the Finals until 2011 (as a member of the Miami Heat). Due to LeBron's inexperience versus the seasoned San Antonio Spurs, this season's NBA Finals produced the lowest ratings of any NBA Finals until [[2020 NBA Finals|2020]].
The San Antonio Spurs won their fourth NBA Championship with a four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the first finals sweep since 2002. The Spurs also became the second team to win three titles in the 2000s decade (the other being the Los Angeles Lakers, who won three straight titles from 2000 to 2002).
[[Tony Parker]] is the first European Player to win NBA Finals MVP, and the second member of the San Antonio Spurs to do so, the other being [[Tim Duncan]].
After this series, the Spurs would not reach the NBA Finals until [[2013 NBA Finals|2013]] while the Cavaliers would not return until [[2015 NBA Finals|2015]].
==Seeding==
The playoffs are conducted in 4 rounds of the best-of-7 series. The 3 division winners in each conference, along with the 5 best non-division winners, qualify for the playoffs. The division winners and top second-place team are seeded 1–4 based on record, with the remaining non-division winners are seeded 5–8 on record.
Until 2006, the division champions were guaranteed no worse than the third seed, while the non-division winners could do no better than the fourth seed regardless of record. This was the source of controversy in the [[2006 NBA playoffs]] when the 63-win Spurs and 60-win [[Dallas Mavericks]] — the teams with the second-best and third-best records in the entire league—met in the conference semifinals. In response, the NBA changed the seeding system so that the teams with the two best records in the conference are guaranteed the top two seeds even if the second-best team isn't a division champion. Meanwhile, the division champions are guaranteed no worse than the fourth seed. This ensures that the teams with the two best records in the conference cannot meet until the conference finals at the earliest.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2537369 | date = 2006-08-02 | access-date = 2007-04-23 | work = [[ESPN.com]] | agency=[[Associated Press]] | title = NBA announces postseason seeding format change }}</ref>
==Playoff qualifying==
===Eastern Conference===
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:
#[[Detroit Pistons]] (53–29, clinched Central division, best regular season record in Eastern Conference, and home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs)
#[[Cleveland Cavaliers]] (50–32)
#[[Toronto Raptors]] (47–35, clinched Atlantic division)
#[[Miami Heat]] (44–38, clinched Southeast division)
#[[Chicago Bulls]] (49–33)
#[[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]] (41–41; 4–0 head-to-head vs. WSH)
#[[Washington Wizards]] (41–41, 0–4 head-to-head vs. NJ)
#[[Orlando Magic]] (40–42)
===Western Conference===
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:
#[[Dallas Mavericks]] (67–15, clinched Southwest division, best regular season record, and home court advantage throughout the playoffs)
#[[Phoenix Suns]] (61–21, clinched Pacific division)
#[[San Antonio Spurs]] (58–24)
#[[Utah Jazz]] (51–31, clinched Northwest division)
#[[Houston Rockets]] (52–30)
#[[Denver Nuggets]] (45–37)
#[[Los Angeles Lakers]] (42–40, 4–0 head-to-head vs. Golden State)
#[[Golden State Warriors]] (42–40, 0–4 head-to-head vs. LA Lakers)
==Bracket==
This is the bracket for the 2007 NBA Playoffs. Teams in ''italics'' had [[home advantage|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 (*).
<section begin=Bracket />{{16TeamBracket
| RD1=First Round
| RD2=Conference Semifinals
| RD3=Conference Finals
| RD4=[[2007 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]]
| RD2-group1='''[[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]]'''
| RD2-group2='''[[Western Conference (NBA)|Western Conference]]'''
| RD1-seed01=
| RD1-team01='''''[[2006–07 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit
| RD1-score01=
| RD1-seed02=
| RD1-team02=[[
| RD1-score02=0
| RD1-seed03=
| RD1-team03=[[
| RD1-score03=0
| RD1-seed04=
| RD1-team04='''''[[
| RD1-score04=
| RD1-seed05=
| RD1-team05=''[[
| RD1-score05=
| RD1-seed06=
| RD1-team06='''{{nowrap|[[
| RD1-score06=
| RD1-seed07=
| RD1-team07='''''[[2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]'''''
| RD1-score07=
| RD1-seed08=
| RD1-team08=[[
| RD1-score08=0
| RD1-seed09=
| RD1-team09=''[[2006–07 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas
| RD1-score09=
| RD1-seed10=
| RD1-team10='''{{nowrap|[[
| RD1-score10=
| RD1-seed11=
| RD1-team11='''[[
| RD1-score11=
| RD1-seed12=
| RD1-team12=''[[2006–07 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]''
| RD1-score12=
| RD1-seed13=
| RD1-team13='''''{{nowrap|[[
| RD1-score13=
| RD1-seed14=
| RD1-team14=[[
| RD1-score14=
| RD1-seed15=
| RD1-team15='''''[[2006–07 Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix
| RD1-score15=
| RD1-seed16=
| RD1-team16={{nowrap|[[
| RD1-score16=
| RD2-seed01='''E1'''
| RD2-team01='''''Detroit'''''*
| RD2-score01='''4'''
| RD2-seed02=E5
| RD2-team02=Chicago
| RD2-score02=2
| RD2-seed03=E6
| RD2-team03={{nowrap|New Jersey}}
| RD2-score03=2
| RD2-seed04='''E2'''
| RD2-team04='''''Cleveland'''''
| RD2-score04='''4'''
| RD2-seed05=W8
| RD2-team05={{nowrap|Golden State}}
| RD2-score05=1
| RD2-seed06='''W4'''
| RD2-team06='''''Utah'''''*
| RD2-score06='''4'''
| RD2-seed07='''W3'''
| RD2-team07='''{{nowrap|San Antonio}}'''
| RD2-score07='''4'''
| RD2-seed08=W2
| RD2-team08=''Phoenix''*
| RD2-score08=2
| RD3-seed01=E1
| RD3-team01=''Detroit''*
| RD3-score01=2
| RD3-seed02='''E2'''
| RD3-team02='''Cleveland'''
| RD3-score02='''4'''
| RD3-seed03=W4
| RD3-team03=Utah*
| RD3-score03=1
| RD3-seed04='''W3'''
| RD3-team04='''''{{nowrap|San Antonio}}'''''
| RD3-score04='''4'''
| RD4-seed01=E2
| RD4-team01=Cleveland
| RD4-score01=0
| RD4-seed02='''W3'''
| RD4-team02='''''{{nowrap|San Antonio}}'''''
| RD4-score02='''4'''
}}{{ubl
|<nowiki>*</nowiki> Division winner
|'''Bold''' Series winner
|''Italic'' Team with home-court advantage}}<section end=Bracket />
===Notes===
*Houston and Chicago had home court advantage in the first round despite being lower seeds. Both teams had better regular season records than their opponents, but did not have the best record of the non-division-champion playoff teams in their respective conferences.
==First round==
===Eastern Conference first round===
====(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Orlando Magic ====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 21
| time = 7:00 pm
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070421/ORLDET/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Orlando Magic]]
| score1 = 92
| score2 = '''100'''
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills]], [[Michigan]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1 = 16–'''28''' | Q2 = '''27'''–23 | Q3 = 24–'''30''' | Q4 = '''25'''–19
| points1 = [[Hedo Türkoğlu]] 17 | points2 = [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Hamilton]], [[Chauncey Billups|Billups]] 22 each
| rebounds1 = [[Dwight Howard]] 19 | rebounds2 = [[Antonio McDyess]] 9
| assist1 = [[Grant Hill]] 5 | assist2 = [[Chauncey Billups]] 11
| referee = Bob Delaney, Joe Forte, David Jones
| attendance = 22,076
| series=Detroit leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 23
| time = 7:00 pm
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070423/ORLDET/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Orlando Magic]]
| score1 = 90
| score2 = '''98'''
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills]], [[Michigan]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1 = 22–'''28''' | Q2 = '''22'''–19 | Q3 = 15–'''24''' | Q4 = '''31'''–27
| points1 = [[Hedo Türkoğlu]] 22 | points2 = [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] 22
| rebounds1 = [[Dwight Howard]] 11 | rebounds2 = [[Rasheed Wallace]] 11
| assist1 = [[Grant Hill|Hill]], [[Carlos Arroyo|Arroyo]] 4 each | assist2 = [[Chauncey Billups]] 8
| referee = Tim Donaghy, Eddie Rush, Greg Willard
| attendance = 22,076
| series=Detroit leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 26
| time = 8:00 pm
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070426/DETORL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''
| score1 = '''93'''
| score2 = 77
| team2 = [[Orlando Magic]]
| place = [[Amway Arena]], [[Orlando, Florida]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1 = 23–23 | Q2 = '''25'''–19 | Q3 = '''23'''–19 | Q4 = '''22'''–16
| points1 = [[Tayshaun Prince]] 23 | points2 = [[Jameer Nelson]] 27
| rebounds1 = [[Antonio McDyess]] 11 | rebounds2 = [[Dwight Howard]] 12
| assist1 = [[Tayshaun Prince]] 5 | assist2 = [[Jameer Nelson|Nelson]], [[Hedo Türkoğlu|Türkoğlu]] 4 each
| referee = Steve Javie, Jack Nies, Violet Palmer
| attendance = 17,451
| series=Detroit leads series, 3–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 28
| time = 3:00 pm
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070428/DETORL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''
| score1 = '''97'''
| score2 = 93
| team2 = [[Orlando Magic]]
| place = [[Amway Arena]], [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], [[Florida]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1 = 22–'''25''' | Q2 = '''25'''–21 | Q3 = '''26'''–21 | Q4 = 24–'''26'''
| points1 = [[Chauncey Billups]] 25 | points2 = [[Dwight Howard]] 29
| rebounds1 = [[Chris Webber]] 10 | rebounds2 = [[Dwight Howard]] 17
| assist1 = [[Chauncey Billups]] 6 | assist2 = [[Hedo Türkoğlu]] 5
| referee = Tony Brothers, Monty McCutchen, Bennett Salvatore
| attendance = 17,451
| series = Detroit wins series, 4–0
}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Detroit won 4–0 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = December 8, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|12080|id=ORL}}
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' |score1= '''87'''
| team2 = [[Orlando Magic]] |score2= 83
| place = [[Amway Arena]], [[Orlando, Florida]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = February 21, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|02210|id=DET}}
| team1 = [[Orlando Magic]] |score1= 88
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' |score2= '''110'''
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = February 23, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|02230|id=ORL}}
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' |score1= '''94'''
| team2 = [[Orlando Magic]] |score2= 89
| place = [[Amway Arena]], [[Orlando, Florida]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = April 11, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|04110|id=DET}}
| team1 = [[Orlando Magic]] |score1= 99
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' |score2= '''104'''
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
}}
|}
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.
{| 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 22, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Tied 1–1 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]]|
}}
|}
The [[Orlando Magic]]'s first playoff trip in 4 seasons was short lived as the top ranked [[Detroit Pistons]] dispatched the upstart Magic in 4 games. The Pistons recorded their first series sweep since sweeping Indiana in the first round of the [[1990 NBA playoffs]]. The series was also the first time Orlando forward [[Grant Hill (basketball)|Grant Hill]] had appeared in the postseason since leaving Detroit after the [[1999–2000 NBA season|2000 season]].
==== (2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (7) Washington Wizards ====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 22
| time = 12:30 pm
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070422/WASCLE/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Washington Wizards]]
| score1 = 82
| score2 = '''97'''
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1 = 20–'''27''' | Q2 = 21–21 | Q3 = 26–26 | Q4 = 15–'''23'''
| points1 = [[Antawn Jamison]] 28 | points2 = [[Larry Hughes]] 27
| rebounds1 = [[Antawn Jamison]] 14 | rebounds2 = [[Anderson Varejão]] 10
| assist1 = [[Antonio Daniels]] 11 | assist2 = [[LeBron James]] 7
| referee = Joe DeRosa, Luis Grillo, Tom Washington
| attendance = 20,562
| series=Cleveland leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 25
| time = 8:00 pm
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070425/WASCLE/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Washington Wizards]]
| score1 = 102
| score2 = '''109'''
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
| TV = [[NBA TV]]
| Q1 = 23–23 | Q2 = 25–'''28''' | Q3 = 15–'''24''' | Q4 = '''39'''–34
| points1 = [[Antawn Jamison]] 31 | points2 = [[LeBron James]] 27
| rebounds1 = [[Antawn Jamison]] 10 | rebounds2 = [[Drew Gooden]] 14
| assist1 = [[Antonio Daniels]] 11 | assist2 = [[LeBron James]] 7
| referee = Bernie Fryer, Derek Richardson, Greg Willard
| attendance = 20,562
| series=Cleveland leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 28
| time = 5:30 pm
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070428/CLEWAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| score1 = '''98'''
| score2 = 92
| team2 = [[Washington Wizards]]
| place = [[Capital One Arena|Verizon Center]], [[Washington, D.C.]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1 = '''26'''–22 | Q2 = '''35'''–22 | Q3 = 16–'''31''' | Q4 = '''21'''–17
| points1 = [[LeBron James]] 30 | points2 = [[Antawn Jamison]] 38
| rebounds1 = [[Drew Gooden]] 12 | rebounds2 = [[Antawn Jamison]] 11
| assist1 = [[LeBron James]] 9 | assist2 = [[Antonio Daniels]] 13
| referee = Steve Javie, Courtney Kirkland, Jack Nies
| attendance = 20,173
| series=Cleveland leads series, 3–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 30
| time = 7:00 pm
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070430/CLEWAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| score1 = '''97'''
| score2 = 90
| team2 = [[Washington Wizards]]
| place = [[Capital One Arena|Verizon Center]], [[Washington, D.C.]]
| TV = [[NBA TV]]
| Q1 = 22–'''23''' | Q2 = 22–'''24''' | Q3 = '''22'''–20 | Q4 = '''31'''–23
| points1 = [[LeBron James]] 31 | points2 = [[Antawn Jamison]] 31
| rebounds1 = [[Zydrunas Ilgauskas]] 19 | rebounds2 = [[Antonio Daniels]] 6
| assist1 = [[LeBron James]] 7 | assist2 = [[Antonio Daniels]] 12
| referee = Sean Corbin, Joe Forte, Bennett Salvatore
| attendance = 20,173
| series = Cleveland wins series, 4–0
}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Cleveland won 2–1 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 1, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|11010|id=CLE}}
| team1 = [[Washington Wizards]] |score1= 94
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' |score2= '''97'''
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = November 18, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|11180|id=WAS}}
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] |score1= 99
| team2 = '''[[Washington Wizards]]''' |score2= '''111'''
| place = [[Capital One Arena|Verizon Center]], [[Washington, D.C.]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = April 6, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|04060|id=WAS}}
| team1 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' |score1= '''99'''
| team2 = [[Washington Wizards]] |score2= 94
| place = [[Capital One Arena|Verizon Center]], [[Washington, D.C.]]
}}
|}
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Cavaliers 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=CLE&opp_id=WAS&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Cleveland Cavaliers versus Washington Wizards (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 22, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Cleveland leads 2–1 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]]|
}}
|}
A rematch of the previous year's first round series was spoiled when Wizards stars [[Gilbert Arenas]] and [[Caron Butler]] were both forced out of the playoffs due to injuries received in the later parts of the regular season. Without Arenas and Butler, the Wizards were unable to stop [[LeBron James]] and the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] from sweeping them out of the playoffs. It was Cleveland's first playoff sweep in franchise history.
====(3) Toronto Raptors vs. (6) New Jersey Nets ====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 21
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070421/NJNTOR/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = ''' [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]'''
| score1 = '''96'''
| score2 = 91
| team2 = [[Toronto Raptors]]
| place = [[Air Canada Centre]], [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1 = '''23'''–22 | Q2 = '''28'''–19 | Q3 = '''27'''–24 | Q4 = 18–'''26'''
| points1 = [[Richard Jefferson]] 28 | points2 = [[Chris Bosh]] 22
| rebounds1 = [[Jason Kidd]] 10 | rebounds2 = [[Radoslav Nesterović]] 10
| assist1 = Jason Kidd 15 | assist2 = [[José Calderón (basketball)|José Calderón]] 8
| referee = Steve Javie, Scott Wall, Greg Willard
| attendance = 20,330
| time = 12:30 pm
| series=New Jersey leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 24
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070424/NJNTOR/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]
| score1 = 83
| score2 = '''89'''
| team2 = '''[[Toronto Raptors]]'''
| place = Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
| TV = [[NBA TV]]
| Q1 = 12–'''14''' | Q2 = '''24'''–19 | Q3 = '''27'''–25 | Q4 = 20–'''31'''
| points1 = [[Vince Carter]] 19 | points2 = [[Anthony Parker]] 26
| rebounds1 = Carter, Kidd 11 each | rebounds2 = Chris Bosh 13
| assist1 = Jason Kidd 7 | assist2 = [[T. J. Ford]] 6
| referee = Tony Brothers, Joe DeRosa, Scott Foster
| attendance = 20,239
| time = 7:00 pm
| series=Series tied, 1–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 27
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070427/TORNJN/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Toronto Raptors]]
| score1 = 89
| score2 = '''102'''
| team2 = ''' [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]'''
| place = [[Continental Airlines Arena]], [[East Rutherford, New Jersey]]
| TV = [[ESPN2]]
| Q1 = 19–'''31''' | Q2 = 20–'''27''' | Q3 = '''29'''–21 | Q4 = 21–'''23'''
| points1 = T. J. Ford 27 | points2 = Vince Carter 37
| rebounds1 = Chris Bosh 11 | rebounds2 = Jason Kidd 16
| assist1 = T. J. Ford 8 | assist2 = Jason Kidd 19
| referee = Bernie Fryer, Tom Washington, Mark Wunderlich
| attendance = 17,147
| time = 7:00 pm
| series=New Jersey leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 29
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070429/TORNJN/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Toronto Raptors]]
| score1 = 81
| score2 = '''102'''
| team2 = ''' [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]'''
| place = Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1 = 15–'''32''' | Q2 = 22–'''24''' | Q3 = 19–'''30''' | Q4 = '''25'''–16
| points1 = [[Andrea Bargnani]] 16 | points2 = Vince Carter 27
| rebounds1 = Chris Bosh 10 | rebounds2 = Jason Kidd 8
| assist1 = T. J. Ford 5 | assist2 = Jason Kidd 13
| referee = Dick Bavetta, David Jones, Ken Mauer
| attendance = 20,032
| time = 7:30 pm
| series=New Jersey leads series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 1
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070501/NJNTOR/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]
| score1 = 96
| score2 = '''98'''
| team2 = '''[[Toronto Raptors]]'''
| place = Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1 = 13–'''33''' | Q2 = '''29'''–26 | Q3 = '''25'''–20 | Q4 = '''29'''–19
| points1 = Vince Carter 30 | points2 = José Calderón 25
| rebounds1 = [[Mikki Moore]] 10 | rebounds2 = [[Joey Graham]] 10
| assist1 = Jason Kidd 10 | assist2 = José Calderón 8
| referee = Mike Callahan, Bob Delaney, Monty McCutchen
| attendance = 20,511
| time = 7:00 pm
| series=New Jersey leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 4
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070504/TORNJN/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Toronto Raptors]]
| score1 = 97
| score2 = '''98'''
| team2 = ''' [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]'''
| place = Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey
| series = New Jersey wins series, 4–2
| TV = ESPN
| Q1 = 21–21 | Q2 = '''25'''–22 | Q3 = 22–'''32''' | Q4 = '''29'''–23
| points1 = Chris Bosh 23 | points2 = Richard Jefferson 24
| rebounds1 = [[Morris Peterson]] 8 | rebounds2 = Kidd, Moore 8 each
| assist1 = Chris Bosh 9 | assist2 = Jason Kidd 15
| attendance = 17,242
| referee = Jim Clark, Dan Crawford, Tim Donaghy
| time = 8:00 pm
}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 1, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|11010|id=NJN}}
| team1 = [[Toronto Raptors]] |score1 = 92
| team2 = ''' [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]''' |score2 = '''102'''
| place = [[Continental Airlines Arena]], [[East Rutherford, New Jersey]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = December 15, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|12150|id=TOR}}
| team1 = [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]] |score1 = 78
| team2 = '''[[Toronto Raptors]]''' |score2 = '''90'''
| place = [[Air Canada Centre]], [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = January 9, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|01090|id=NJN}}
| team1 = [[Toronto Raptors]] |score1 = 86
| team2 = ''' [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]''' |score2 = '''101'''
| place = [[Continental Airlines Arena]], [[East Rutherford, New Jersey]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = February 14, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|02140|id=TOR}}
| team1 = [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]] |score1 = 109
| team2 = '''[[Toronto Raptors]]''' |score2 = '''120'''
| place = [[Air Canada Centre]], [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]
}}
|}
This was the first playoff meeting between the Nets and the Raptors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=NJN&opp_id=TOR&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Brooklyn Nets versus Toronto Raptors (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 22, 2016}}</ref>
The Nets won the first round of the 2007 NBA Playoffs in their sixth straight appearance in the NBA Playoffs. The series was the only one in the Eastern Conference first round not to result in a sweep.
The series was notable for pitting ex-Raptor [[Vince Carter]], who was traded to the Nets in 2004 after an acrimonious split, against his former team. So great was the Toronto crowd's disdain for Carter, that he was booed every time he touched the ball. The Nets took home court advantage in Game 1, holding off a late Raptors rally in the fourth quarter. The Raptors pulled away in Game 2 and tied the series at 1. When the series shifted to [[New Jersey]], the Nets took charge of the series, winning Games 3 and 4 in routs. New Jersey had a chance to win the series in Game 5 in Toronto, but the Raptors took a 20-point lead after one quarter. Still, New Jersey managed to chip away, and had a chance to win it, but [[Boštjan Nachbar]]'s 3 missed at the buzzer. Needing to win in [[New Jersey]] to force a Game 7, Toronto held a one-point lead with under a minute to play in Game 6, but [[Richard Jefferson]] hit a layup with 8 seconds left. Toronto attempted to try for the game-winning shot, but Jefferson intercepted the pass to seal the series for the Nets.
====(4) Miami Heat vs. (5) Chicago Bulls ====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 21
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070421/MIACHI/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Miami Heat]]
| score1 = 91
| score2 = '''96'''
| team2 = '''[[Chicago Bulls]]'''
| place = [[United Center]], [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1 = '''28'''–27 | Q2 = 18–'''22''' | Q3 = 16–'''23''' | Q4 = '''29'''–24
| points1 = [[Dwyane Wade]] 21 | points2 = [[Luol Deng]] 33
| rebounds1 = [[Shaquille O'Neal|O'Neal]], [[Udonis Haslem|Haslem]] 6 each | rebounds2 = [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] 14
| assist1 = ''five players'' 3 each | assist2 = [[Ben Gordon]] 11
| referee = Monty McCutchen, Eddie Rush, Michael Smith
| time = 2:00 pm
| attendance = 22,183
| series=Chicago leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 24
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070424/MIACHI/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Miami Heat]]
| score1 = 89
| score2 = '''107'''
| team2 = '''[[Chicago Bulls]]'''
| place = United Center, Chicago, Illinois
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1 = 21–'''31''' | Q2 = '''31'''–24 | Q3 = 19–'''30''' | Q4 = 18–'''22'''
| points1 = Dwyane Wade 21 | points2 = Ben Gordon 27
| rebounds1 = O'Neal, [[James Posey|Posey]] 8 each | rebounds2 = Ben Gordon 7
| assist1 = Dwyane Wade 7 | assist2 = [[Kirk Hinrich]] 8
| referee = Luis Grillo, Steve Javie, Ken Mauer
| time = 7:00 pm
| attendance = 23,097
| series=Chicago leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 27
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070427/CHIMIA/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Chicago Bulls]]'''
| score1 = '''104'''
| score2 = 96
| team2 = [[Miami Heat]]
| place = [[American Airlines Arena]], [[Miami]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1 = '''29'''–23 | Q2 = 16–'''29''' | Q3 = '''27'''–24 | Q4 = '''32'''–20
| points1 = Ben Gordon 27 | points2 = Dwyane Wade 28
| rebounds1 = Luol Deng 11 | rebounds2 = Shaquille O'Neal 13
| assist1 = Kirk Hinrich 6 | assist2 = Dwyane Wade 5
| referee = Luis Grillo, Steve Javie, Ken Mauer
| attendance = 20,280
| time = 8:00 pm
| series=Chicago leads series, 3–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 29
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070429/CHIMIA/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Chicago Bulls]]'''
| score1 = '''92'''
| score2 = 79
| team2 = [[Miami Heat]]
| place = American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida
| series = Chicago wins series, 4–0
| TV = ABC
| Q1 = 23–'''28''' | Q2 = '''21'''–20 | Q3 = '''24'''–16 | Q4 = '''24'''–15
| points1 = Ben Gordon 24 | points2 = Dwyane Wade 24
| rebounds1 = Luol Deng 12 | rebounds2 = James Posey 18
| assist1 = Gordon, Hinrich 4 each | assist2 = Dwyane Wade 10
| referee = Bernie Fryer, Tom Washington, Mark Wunderlich
| attendance = 20,283
| time = 1:00 pm
}}
*Game 4 is [[Gary Payton]]'s final NBA game.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Chicago won 3–1 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = October 31, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|10310|id=MIA}}
| team1 = '''[[Chicago Bulls]]''' |score1 = '''108'''
| team2 = [[Miami Heat]] |score2 = 66
| place = [[American Airlines Arena]], [[Miami]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = December 27, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|12270|id=CHI}}
| team1 = [[Miami Heat]] | score1 = 103
| team2 = '''[[Chicago Bulls]]''' | score2 = '''109'''
| place = [[United Center]], [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = January 27, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|01270|id=CHI}}
| team1 = [[Miami Heat]] | score1 = 97
| team2 = '''[[Chicago Bulls]]''' | score2 = '''100'''
| place = [[United Center]], [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = March 7, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|03070|id=MIA}}
| team1 = [[Chicago Bulls]] |score1 = 70
| team2 = '''[[Miami Heat]]''' |score2 = '''103'''
| place = [[American Airlines Arena]], [[Miami]]
}}
|}
This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls 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=CHI&opp_id=MIA&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Miami Heat (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 22, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Chicago leads 3–1 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1992
| team1 = '''[[Chicago Bulls]]''' | score1 = 3
| team2 = [[Miami Heat]] | score2 = 0
| place = [[1992 NBA playoffs|1992 Eastern Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1996
| team1 = '''[[Chicago Bulls]]''' | score1 = 3
| team2 = [[Miami Heat]] | score2 = 0
| place = [[1996 NBA playoffs|1996 Eastern Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1997
| team1 = '''[[Chicago Bulls]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Miami Heat]] | score2 = 1
| place = [[1997 NBA playoffs|1997 Eastern Conference Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2006
| team1 = [[Chicago Bulls]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[Miami Heat]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[2006 NBA playoffs|2006 Eastern Conference First Round]]|
}}
|}
The Bulls won their first playoff series since the [[1998 NBA Finals]] and the retirement of [[Michael Jordan]]. This was the Bulls first 4-game sweep, since sweeping the Magic in the 1996 Eastern Conference Finals. Meanwhile, Miami became the first defending champion since 1957 to be swept in the First Round the following season.
In addition, Southeast Division champions Miami and other division qualifiers Washington and Orlando were swept (0–12) by Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit respectively, all from the Central Division (12–0).
===Western Conference first round===
====(1) Dallas Mavericks vs. (8) Golden State Warriors ====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 22
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070422/GSWDAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Golden State Warriors]]'''
| score1 = '''97'''
| score2 = 85
| team2 = [[Dallas Mavericks]]
| place = [[American Airlines Center]], [[Dallas]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1 = '''23'''–17 | Q2 = 15–'''21''' | Q3 = '''34'''–28 | Q4 = '''25'''–19
| points1 = [[Baron Davis]] 33 | points2 = [[Josh Howard]] 21
| rebounds1 = Baron Davis 14 | rebounds2 = Josh Howard 13
| assist1 = Baron Davis 8 | assist2 = [[Dirk Nowitzki]] 4
| referee = Dick Bavetta, Mike Callahan, Bill Kennedy
| time = 8:30 pm
| attendance = 20,732
| series=Golden State leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 25
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070425/GSWDAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Golden State Warriors]]
| score1 = 99
| score2 = '''112'''
| team2 = '''[[Dallas Mavericks]]'''
| place = American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = '''30'''–28 | Q2 = 22–'''26''' | Q3 = 22–'''33''' | Q4 = 25–25
| points1 = [[Stephen Jackson]] 30 | points2 = [[Jason Terry]] 28
| rebounds1 = [[Jason Richardson]] 10 | rebounds2 = Josh Howard 11
| assist1 = Jason Richardson 3 | assist2 = [[Devin Harris|Harris]], [[Jerry Stackhouse|Stackhouse]] 4 each
| referee = James Capers, Sean Corbin, Bennett Salvatore
| time = 8:30 pm
| attendance = 20,867
| series=Series tied, 1–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 27
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070427/DALGSW/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Dallas Mavericks]]
| score1 = 91
| score2 = '''109'''
| team2 = '''[[Golden State Warriors]]'''
| place = [[Oracle Arena]], [[Oakland, California]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1 = 20–'''29''' | Q2 = 28–'''32''' | Q3 = 23–'''28''' | Q4 = 20–20
| points1 = Nowitzki, Howard 20 each | points2 = Jason Richardson 30
| rebounds1 = Dirk Nowitzki 12 | rebounds2 = [[Andris Biedriņš]] 10
| assist1 = Terry, Harris 5 each | assist2 = Stephen Jackson 6
| referee = Dan Crawford, Tim Donaghy, Joe Forte
| time = 7:30 pm
| attendance = 20,629
| series=Golden State leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 29
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070429/DALGSW/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Dallas Mavericks]]
| score1 = 99
| score2 = '''103'''
| team2 = '''[[Golden State Warriors]]'''
| place = Oracle Arena, Oakland, California
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = '''27'''–21 | Q2 = 22–'''28''' | Q3 = 28–28 | Q4 = 22–'''26'''
| points1 = Dirk Nowitzki 23 | points2 = Baron Davis 33
| rebounds1 = Dirk Nowitzki 15 | rebounds2 = Baron Davis 8
| assist1 = Jason Terry 5 | assist2 = Baron Davis 4
| referee = Joe DeRosa, Michael Smith, Derrick Stafford
| time = 7:00 pm
| attendance = 20,672
| series=Golden State leads series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 1
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070501/GSWDAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Golden State Warriors]]
| score1 = 112
| score2 = '''118'''
| team2 = '''[[Dallas Mavericks]]'''
| place = American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = 28–'''38''' | Q2 = '''27'''–24 | Q3 = '''32'''–28 | Q4 = 25–'''28'''
| points1 = Baron Davis 27 | points2 = Dirk Nowitzki 30
| rebounds1 = [[Mickaël Piétrus]] 10 | rebounds2 = Dirk Nowitzki 12
| assist1 = Baron Davis 9 | assist2 = Devin Harris 7
| referee = Jim Clark, Bernie Fryer, Ken Mauer
| attendance = 21,041
| time = 8:30 pm
| series=Golden State leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 3
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070503/DALGSW/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Dallas Mavericks]]
| score1 = 86
| score2 = '''111'''
| team2 = '''[[Golden State Warriors]]'''
| place = Oracle Arena, Oakland, California
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = 25–'''28''' | Q2 = '''23'''–22 | Q3 = 15–'''36''' | Q4 = 23–'''25'''
| points1 = Howard, Stackhouse 20 each | points2 = Stephen Jackson 33
| rebounds1 = Dirk Nowitzki 10 | rebounds2 = Andris Biedriņš 12
| assist1 = Devin Harris 9 | assist2 = [[Matt Barnes]] 7
| referee = Ron Garretson, Steve Javie, Mark Wunderlich
| time = 7:30 pm
| attendance = 20,677
| series = Golden State wins series, 4–2
}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Golden State won 3–0 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 6, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|11060|id=DAL}}
| team1 = '''[[Golden State Warriors]]''' |score1 = '''107'''
| team2 = [[Dallas Mavericks]] |score2 = 104
| place = [[American Airlines Center]], [[Dallas]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = March 12, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|03120|id=GSW}}
| team1 = [[Dallas Mavericks]] | score1 = 100
| team2 = '''[[Golden State Warriors]]''' | score2 = '''117'''
| place = [[Oracle Arena]], [[Oakland, California]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = April 17, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|04170|id=GSW}}
| team1 = [[Dallas Mavericks]] | score1 = 82
| team2 = '''[[Golden State Warriors]]''' | score2 = '''111'''
| place = [[Oracle Arena]], [[Oakland, California]]
}}
|}
This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the Warriors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=DAL&opp_id=GSW&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Dallas Mavericks versus Golden State Warriors (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 22, 2016}}</ref>
The Warriors qualified for the playoffs for the first time since [[1994 NBA playoffs|1994]], the second longest such streak in league history. However, the Warriors were heavy underdogs against the Dallas Mavericks despite sweeping the regular season series between the teams, as Dallas had one of the best records in NBA regular season history. Expectations of a short series were immediately dashed by Golden State's Game 1 victory in Dallas, behind guard [[Baron Davis]] and his rather frantic style of play. The Mavericks came back to win Game 2 to tie the series at 1.
But when the series shifted to Oakland for the next two games, a new X-factor emerged for the Warriors: their home crowd at the [[Oracle Arena]]. The electric crowd, which was the highest paid attendance crowd for an NBA game in the history of that arena, gave the Warriors a huge lift as they blew out Dallas in Game 3, and edged out a close victory in Game 4. As the series shifted back to Dallas, the top-ranked Mavericks found themselves one game from seeing their record breaking season end prematurely. The Mavericks gave their all and staved off elimination in Game 5, but had nothing left in Game 6 in Oakland. The Warriors used a third-quarter 18–0 run, sparked by [[Stephen Jackson]]'s 13 straight points en route to a franchise playoff record seven 3-pointers, and an unexpected collapse from MVP candidate [[Dirk Nowitzki]] (2–13 from the field with 8 points) to finish Dallas and become the first #8 seed to win a best-of-7 series in the first round, and just the third overall in NBA history, following the [[Denver Nuggets]] in [[1994 NBA playoffs|1994]] and the [[New York Knicks]] en route to the [[1999 NBA Finals]]. The Warriors also won their first playoff series since 1991. The Mavericks also became the second team who had a 65+ winning record not to win a championship, the first being the [[1972–73 Boston Celtics season|1972–73 Boston Celtics]], and the most recently, [[2017-18 Houston Rockets season|the 2017-18 Houston Rockets]]. To date, they are the only ones who were eliminated in the first round.
Both 2006 NBA Finalists (Dallas and Miami) were eliminated in the first round despite being top 4 seeds. This was the first time since 1957 that this had happened. This would not happen again until 2021 when the NBA Finalists from the previous season (L.A. Lakers and Miami Heat) were eliminated in the first round as lower-seeded teams.
====(2) Phoenix Suns vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers ====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 22
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070422/LALPHX/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| score1 = 87
| score2 = '''95'''
| team2 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]'''
| place = [[US Airways Center]], [[Phoenix, Arizona]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1 = '''23'''–18 | Q2 = '''25'''–21 | Q3 = 29–'''35''' | Q4 = 10–'''21'''
| points1 = [[Kobe Bryant]] 39 | points2 = [[Amar'e Stoudemire]] 23
| rebounds1 = [[Lamar Odom]] 16 | rebounds2 = [[Shawn Marion]] 16
| assist1 = [[Luke Walton]] 6 | assist2 = [[Steve Nash]] 10
| referee = Bernie Fryer, Ken Mauer, Leon Wood
| time = 12:00 pm
| attendance = 18,422
| series=Phoenix leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 24
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070424/LALPHX/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| score1 = 98
| score2 = '''126'''
| team2 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]'''
| place = US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1 = 25–'''31''' | Q2 = 22–'''37''' | Q3 = 23–'''27''' | Q4 = 28–'''31'''
| points1 = Kobe Bryant 15 | points2 = [[Leandro Barbosa]] 26
| rebounds1 = [[Andrew Bynum]] 12 | rebounds2 = Shawn Marion 10
| assist1 = Kobe Bryant 5 | assist2 = Steve Nash 14
| referee = Dick Bavetta, Marc Davis, Joe Forte
| time = 7:30 pm
| attendance = 18,422
| series=Phoenix leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 26
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070426/PHXLAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Phoenix Suns]]
| score1 = 89
| score2 = '''95'''
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]'''
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = '''31'''–17 | Q2 = 20–'''31''' | Q3 = 19–'''26''' | Q4 = 19–'''21'''
| points1 = Amar'e Stoudemire 24 | points2 = Kobe Bryant 45
| rebounds1 = Amar'e Stoudemire 10 | rebounds2 = Lamar Odom 16
| assist1 = Steve Nash 13 | assist2 = Kobe Bryant 6
| referee = Mike Callahan, Bob Delaney, Derrick Stafford
| time = 7:30 pm
| attendance = 18,997
| series=Phoenix leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 29
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070429/PHXLAL/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]'''
| score1 = '''113'''
| score2 = 100
| team2 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| place = Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
| TV = ABC
| Q1 = '''33'''–28 | Q2 = '''25'''–23 | Q3 = '''27'''–20 | Q4 = 28–'''29'''
| points1 = Amar'e Stoudemire 27 | points2 = Kobe Bryant 31
| rebounds1 = Amar'e Stoudemire 21 | rebounds2 = Lamar Odom 19
| assist1 = Steve Nash 23 | assist2 = Kobe Bryant 9
| referee = Dan Crawford, Tim Donaghy, Ron Garretson
| time = 12:30 pm
| attendance = 18,997
| series=Phoenix leads series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 2
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070502/LALPHX/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| score1 = 110
| score2 = '''119'''
| team2 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]'''
| place = US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona
| series = Phoenix wins series, 4–1
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = 23–'''32''' | Q2 = 29–'''32''' | Q3 = '''33'''–27 | Q4 = 25–'''28'''
| points1 = Kobe Bryant 34 | points2 = Shawn Marion 26
| rebounds1 = Odom, [[Ronny Turiaf|Turiaf]] 10 each | rebounds2 = Amar'e Stoudemire 16
| assist1 = Odom, [[Jordan Farmar|Farmar]] 2 each | assist2 = Steve Nash 10
| referee = Scott Foster, Eddie Rush, Greg Willard
| time = 7:30 pm
| attendance = 18,422
}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Phoenix won 3–1 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = October 31, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|10310|id=LAL}}
| team1 = [[Phoenix Suns]] |score1= 106
| team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' |score2= '''114'''
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = March 4, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|03040|id=PHO}}
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] |score1= 94
| team2 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]''' |score2= '''99'''
| place = [[US Airways Center]], [[Phoenix, Arizona]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = April 8, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|04080|id=LAL}}
| team1 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]''' |score1= '''115'''
| team2 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] |score2= 107
| place = [[Staples Center]], Los Angeles
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = April 13, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|04130|id=PHO}}
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] |score1= 85
| team2 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]''' |score2= '''93'''
| place = [[US Airways Center]], [[Phoenix, Arizona]]
}}
|}
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=PHO&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Phoenix Suns (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 22, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Los Angeles leads 7–3 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1970
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Phoenix Suns]] | score2 = 3
| place = [[1970 NBA playoffs|1970 Western Division Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1980
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Phoenix Suns]] | score2 = 1
| place = [[1980 NBA playoffs|1980 Western Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1982
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Phoenix Suns]] | score2 = 0
| place = [[1982 NBA playoffs|1982 Western Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1984
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Phoenix Suns]] | score2 = 2
| place = [[1984 NBA playoffs|1984 Western Conference Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1985
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score1 = 3
| team2 = [[Phoenix Suns]] | score2 = 0
| place = [[1985 NBA playoffs|1985 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1989
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Phoenix Suns]] | score2 = 0
| place = [[1989 NBA playoffs|1989 Western Conference Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1990
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score1 = 1
| team2 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1990 NBA playoffs|1990 Western Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1993
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]''' | score2 = 3
| place = [[1993 NBA playoffs|1993 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2000
| team1 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Phoenix Suns]] | score2 = 1
| place = [[2000 NBA playoffs|2000 Western Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2006
| team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] | score1 = 3
| team2 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[2006 NBA playoffs|2006 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
|}
[[Kobe Bryant]] and the Lakers went up against the high powered [[Phoenix Suns]] in a rematch of the previous year's first round series, which saw the Lakers take a 3–1 lead before the Suns took the series in 7. Unlike the previous series, the Suns had near complete control of the series, taking the series in 5. The Suns advanced to their third straight conference semifinals by eliminating the Lakers in the first round for the second straight year. In Game 4, Phoenix point guard [[Steve Nash]] made a run at the record for most assists in a playoff game, finishing one shy of the record 24 shared by [[Magic Johnson]] and [[John Stockton]].
====(3) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Denver Nuggets ====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 22
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070422/DENSAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Denver Nuggets]]'''
| score1 = '''95'''
| score2 = 89
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]]
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1 = '''21'''–16 | Q2 = 23–'''26''' | Q3 = 23–'''24''' | Q4 = '''28'''–23
| points1 = [[Allen Iverson]] 31 | points2 = [[Tony Parker]] 19
| rebounds1 = [[Nenê]] 12 | rebounds2 = [[Tim Duncan]] 10
| assist1 = Allen Iverson 5 | assist2 = Tony Parker 8
| referee = Ron Garretson, Jack Nies, Bennett Salvatore
| time = 6:00 pm
| attendance = 18,797
| series=Denver leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 25
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070425/DENSAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Denver Nuggets]]
| score1 = 88
| score2 = '''97'''
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| place = AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = 18–'''24''' | Q2 = 23–'''25''' | Q3 = 19–'''25''' | Q4 = '''28'''–23
| points1 = [[Carmelo Anthony]] 26 | points2 = Tim Duncan 22
| rebounds1 = [[Marcus Camby]] 18 | rebounds2 = [[Fabricio Oberto]] 10
| assist1 = [[Steve Blake]] 7 | assist2 = Tony Parker 6
| referee = Derrick Collins, Dan Crawford, Monty McCutchen
| time = 6:00 pm
| attendance = 18,797
| series=Series tied, 1–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 28
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070428/SASDEN/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| score1 = '''96'''
| score2 = 91
| team2 = [[Denver Nuggets]]
| place = [[Pepsi Center]], [[Denver]], [[Colorado]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1 = 22–'''25''' | Q2 = '''21'''–15 | Q3 = '''32'''–27 | Q4 = 21–'''24'''
| points1 = Tony Parker 21 | points2 = Carmelo Anthony 28
| rebounds1 = Tim Duncan 13 | rebounds2 = Carmelo Anthony 12
| assist1 = Tony Parker 6 | assist2 = Steve Blake 7
| referee = Mike Callahan, Bob Delaney, Scott Wall
| time = 6:00 pm
| attendance = 19,951
| series=San Antonio leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 30
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070430/SASDEN/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| score1 = '''96'''
| score2 = 89
| team2 = [[Denver Nuggets]]
| place = Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = 20–'''27''' | Q2 = 22–'''23''' | Q3 = '''25'''–23 | Q4 = '''29'''–16
| points1 = Tim Duncan 22 | points2 = Carmelo Anthony 29
| rebounds1 = Tim Duncan 11 | rebounds2 = Marcus Camby 17
| assist1 = Duncan, [[Manu Ginóbili|Ginóbili]] 6 each | assist2 = Allen Iverson 7
| referee = Scott Foster, Bill Kennedy, Eddie Rush
| time = 8:30 pm
| attendance = 19,644
| series=San Antonio leads series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 2
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070502/DENSAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Denver Nuggets]]
| score1 = 78
| score2 = '''93'''
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| place = AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
| series = San Antonio wins series, 4–1
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = 21–'''25''' | Q2 = '''27'''–19 | Q3 = 11–'''19''' | Q4 = 19–'''30'''
| points1 = Iverson, Anthony 21 each | points2 = [[Michael Finley]] 26
| rebounds1 = Marcus Camby 19 | rebounds2 = Tim Duncan 12
| assist1 = Allen Iverson 8 | assist2 = Tony Parker 10
| referee = Sean Corbin, Joe DeRosa, Tom Washington
| attendance = 18,797
| time = 7:00 pm
}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!San Antonio won 2–1 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = January 10, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|01100|id=DEN}}
| team1 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' |score1= '''92'''
| team2 = [[Denver Nuggets]] |score2= 83
| place = [[Pepsi Center]], [[Denver]], [[Colorado]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = February 20, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|02200|id=SAS}}
| team1 = [[Denver Nuggets]] |score1= 80
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' |score2= '''95'''
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = April 18, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|04180|id=SAS}}
| team1 = '''[[Denver Nuggets]]''' |score1= '''100'''
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] |score2= 77
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
}}
|}
This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Spurs winning four of the first five 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=SAS&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Denver Nuggets versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 22, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!San Antonio leads 4–1 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1983
| team1 = [[Denver Nuggets]] | score1 = 1
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1983 NBA playoffs|1983 Western Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1985
| team1 = '''[[Denver Nuggets]]''' | score1 = 3
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] | score2 = 2
| place = [[1985 NBA playoffs|1985 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1990
| team1 = [[Denver Nuggets]] | score1 = 0
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' | score2 = 3
| place = [[1990 NBA playoffs|1990 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1995
| team1 = [[Denver Nuggets]] | score1 = 0
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' | score2 = 3
| place = [[1995 NBA playoffs|1995 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2005
| team1 = [[Denver Nuggets]] | score1 = 1
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[2005 NBA playoffs|2005 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
|}
The Nuggets duo of [[Carmelo Anthony]] and [[Allen Iverson]] got Denver off to a fast start, winning Game 1 and taking home-court advantage away from [[Tim Duncan]] and the Spurs. Despite the early letdown, the Spurs showed their championship mettle and bounced back for a 97–88 win in Game 2. In the pivotal Game 3, the Nuggets built an eight-point first-quarter lead before [[Manu Ginóbili]]'s eight second-quarter points put San Antonio up 43–40 at halftime. A back-and-forth contest turned in the final 2:24 of the third quarter: [[Michael Finley]] hit two 3-pointers, and [[Robert Horry]] later hit a 3 that gave the Spurs a 75–67 lead at the end of the quarter. They hung on for a 96–91 win.
Denver started strong again in Game 4 and led by eight at halftime. But San Antonio stormed back after Anthony went to the bench in the third quarter with his fourth foul. The Spurs held a one-point lead with 30 seconds left when Horry, playing for his seventh championship ring, hit a 3 from the right corner to help seal a 96–89 win. The stunned Nuggets did not recover from the Game 4 letdown. Finley was the hero in Game 5, hitting a team-playoff-record eight threes for 26 points as San Antonio won 93–78 to end the series, marking the Nuggets' fourth straight season where they lost in the first round in five games. This is the second time in three seasons that the Nuggets lost the first-round series to the Spurs, after taking Game 1 in San Antonio (the first also happened in five games).
====(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) Houston Rockets ====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 21
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070421/UTAHOU/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]]
| score1 = 75
| score2 = '''84'''
| team2 = '''[[Houston Rockets]]'''
| place = [[Toyota Center]], [[Houston]], [[Texas]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1 = 19–'''20''' | Q2 = '''23'''–13 | Q3 = 11–'''26''' | Q4 = 22–'''25'''
| points1 = [[Deron Williams|Williams]], [[Derek Fisher|Fisher]] 15 each | points2 = [[Yao Ming]] 28
| rebounds1 = [[Carlos Boozer]] 12 | rebounds2 = Yao Ming 13
| assist1 = Deron Williams 9 | assist2 = [[Rafer Alston]] 8
| referee = Ron Garretson, Jack Nies, Bennett Salvatore
| attendance = 18,195
| time = 8:30 pm
| series=Houston leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 23
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070423/UTAHOU/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]]
| score1 = 90
| score2 = '''98'''
| team2 = '''[[Houston Rockets]]'''
| place = Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1 = '''26'''–17 | Q2 = 15–'''22''' | Q3 = 21–'''28''' | Q4 = 28–'''31'''
| points1 = Carlos Boozer 41 | points2 = [[Tracy McGrady]] 31
| rebounds1 = Carlos Boozer 12 | rebounds2 = [[Chuck Hayes]] 12
| assist1 = Deron Williams 7 | assist2 = Alston, McGrady 5 each
| referee = James Capers, Sean Corbin, Bob Delaney
| time = 8:30 pm
| attendance = 18,206
| series=Houston leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 26
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070426/HOUUTA/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Houston Rockets]]
| score1 = 67
| score2 = '''81'''
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]'''
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
| TV = [[NBA TV]]
| Q1 = 17–'''23''' | Q2 = 25–25 | Q3 = 10–'''13''' | Q4 = 15–'''20'''
| points1 = Yao Ming 26 | points2 = Carlos Boozer 22
| rebounds1 = Yao Ming 14 | rebounds2 = Carlos Boozer 12
| assist1 = Rafer Alston 5 | assist2 = Deron Williams 8
| referee = Marc Davis, Joe DeRosa, Ron Garretson
| attendance = 19,911
| time = 7:00 pm
| series=Houston leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = April 28
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070428/HOUUTA/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Houston Rockets]]
| score1 = 85
| score2 = '''98'''
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]'''
| place = EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
| TV = ESPN
| Q1 = '''21'''–19 | Q2 = 24–'''31''' | Q3 = 17–'''33''' | Q4 = '''23'''–15
| points1 = Yao Ming 20 | points2 = Deron Williams 25
| rebounds1 = Alston, Yao 9 each | rebounds2 = Carlos Boozer 10
| assist1 = Rafer Alston 6 | assist2 = Deron Williams 7
| referee = Scott Foster, Bill Kennedy, Eddie Rush
| attendance = 19,911
| time = 8:30 pm
| series=Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = April 30
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070430/UTAHOU/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]]
| score1 = 92
| score2 = '''96'''
| team2 = '''[[Houston Rockets]]'''
| place = Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = '''23'''–21 | Q2 = 21–'''22''' | Q3 = '''28'''–25 | Q4 = 20–'''28'''
| points1 = Carlos Boozer 26 | points2 = Tracy McGrady 26
| rebounds1 = [[Mehmet Okur]] 9 | rebounds2 = Yao Ming 15
| assist1 = Deron Williams 6 | assist2 = Tracy McGrady 16
| referee = Steve Javie, Courtney Kirkland, Jack Nies
| time = 7:00 pm
| attendance = 18,314
| series=Houston leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 3
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070503/HOUUTA/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Houston Rockets]]
| score1 = 82
| score2 = '''94'''
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]'''
| place = EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = '''22'''–20 | Q2 = 21–'''26''' | Q3 = 19–'''22''' | Q4 = 20–'''26'''
| points1 = Tracy McGrady 26 | points2 = Carlos Boozer 22
| rebounds1 = Tracy McGrady 10 | rebounds2 = Okur, Boozer 9 each
| assist1 = [[Shane Battier]] 4 | assist2 = Deron Williams 8
| referee = Dick Bavetta, Joe Forte, Ken Mauer
| time = 6:00 pm
| attendance = 19,911
| series=Series tied, 3–3
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 5
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070505/UTAHOU/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]'''
| score1 = '''103'''
| score2 = 99
| team2 = [[Houston Rockets]]
| place = Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
| series = Utah wins series, 4–3
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = '''29'''–22 | Q2 = '''24'''–21 | Q3 = 22–'''24''' | Q4 = 28–'''32'''
| points1 = Carlos Boozer 35 | points2 = McGrady, Yao 29 each
| rebounds1 = Carlos Boozer 14 | rebounds2 = [[Juwan Howard]] 7
| assist1 = Deron Williams 14 | assist2 = Tracy McGrady 13
| referee = Mike Callahan, Bernie Fryer, Tom Washington
| time = 8:30 pm
| attendance = 18,307
}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Utah won 3–1 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 1, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|11010|id=UTA}}
| team1 = [[Houston Rockets]] |score1 = 97
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' |score2 = '''107'''
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = January 5, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|01050|id=HOU}}
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]] | score1 = 86
| team2 = '''[[Houston Rockets]]''' |score2 = '''100'''
| place = [[Toyota Center]], [[Houston]], [[Texas]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = April 1, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|04010|id=HOU}}
| team1 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' | score1 = '''86'''
| team2 = [[Houston Rockets]] |score2 = 83
| place = [[Toyota Center]], [[Houston]], [[Texas]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = April 18, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|04180|id=UTA}}
| team1 = [[Houston Rockets]] |score1 = 91
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' |score2 = '''101'''
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
}}
|}
This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning three of the first five 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 22, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Utah leads 3–2 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]]|
}}
|}
The resurgent [[Utah Jazz]], fresh off one of their best seasons since the [[John Stockton]]/[[Karl Malone]] years, faced [[Yao Ming]], [[Tracy McGrady]] and the [[Houston Rockets]], who were seeking their first playoff series victory in 10 years. Home court advantage proved to be the key as the series progressed, as both the Rockets and the Jazz won closely contested matches in front of their home crowds.
As a result, the series had to go to a seventh and deciding game, which was played in Houston since the Rockets had the better record and thereby earned home court advantage, despite the division-winning Jazz being the higher-seeded team. Nevertheless, Utah overcame the Houston crowd and stunned the Rockets for the win on the road. The Jazz became only the third road team in history to win Game 7 of a seven-game series in which the home team won each of the first six games, after the [[Boston Celtics]] in the [[1969 NBA Finals]] and the [[Washington Wizards|Baltimore Bullets]] in the [[1971 NBA playoffs|1971 Eastern Conference Finals]]. Houston's [[Tracy McGrady]] lost his sixth straight post-season series (out of 10 seasons) and has never played past the first round in his entire career.
After losing the series, the Rockets failed to reach a new contract agreement with their head coach [[Jeff Van Gundy]], who was subsequently fired.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/news/jeff_van_gundy_and_rockets_part_ways.html Houston Rockets and Jeff Van Gundy to Part Ways], nba.com, accessed May 18, 2007</ref>
==Conference semifinals==
===Eastern Conference semifinals===
==== (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (5) Chicago Bulls ====
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 5
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070505/CHIDET/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Chicago Bulls]]
| score1 = 69
| score2 = '''95'''
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1 = 23–'''29''' | Q2 = 18–'''25''' | Q3 = 16–16 | Q4 = 12–'''25'''
| points1 = [[Luol Deng]] 18 | points2 = [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Hamilton]], [[Chauncey Billups|Billups]] 20 each
| rebounds1 = [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|B. Wallace]], Deng 8 each | rebounds2 = [[Antonio McDyess]] 10
| assist1 = [[Kirk Hinrich]] 6 | assist2 = [[Lindsey Hunter]] 6
| referee = Tony Brothers, Joe DeRosa, Bennett Salvatore
| time = 7:00 pm
| attendance = 22,076
| series=Detroit leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 7
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070507/CHIDET/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Chicago Bulls]]
| score1 = 87
| score2 = '''108'''
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''
| place = The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = 18–'''34''' | Q2 = '''25'''–24 | Q3 = 19–'''25''' | Q4 = 25–25
| points1 = [[Tyrus Thomas]] 18 | points2 = [[Tayshaun Prince]] 25
| rebounds1 = Ben Wallace 7 | rebounds2 = Richard Hamilton 9
| assist1 = Kirk Hinrich 7 | assist2 = Chauncey Billups 10
| referee = Dick Bavetta, Joe Forte, Leon Wood
| time = 8:00 pm
| attendance = 22,076
| series=Detroit leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 10
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070510/DETCHI/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''
| score1 = '''81'''
| score2 = 74
| team2 = [[Chicago Bulls]]
| place = [[United Center]], [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1 = 18–'''20''' | Q2 = 10–'''24''' | Q3 = '''32'''–17 | Q4 = '''21'''–13
| points1 = Tayshaun Prince 23 | points2 = Luol Deng 21
| rebounds1 = Prince, [[Rasheed Wallace|R. Wallace]] 11 each | rebounds2 = Luol Deng 14
| assist1 = Chauncey Billups 7 | assist2 = Kirk Hinrich 7
| referee = Bernie Fryer, Ron Garretson, Tom Washington
| time = 8:00 pm
| attendance = 23,462
| series=Detroit leads series, 3–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 13
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070513/DETCHI/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Detroit Pistons]]
| score1 = 87
| score2 = '''102'''
| team2 = '''[[Chicago Bulls]]'''
| place = United Center, Chicago, Illinois
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1 = 19–'''27''' | Q2 = '''24'''–23 | Q3 = 13–'''27''' | Q4 = '''31'''–25
| points1 = Chauncey Billups 23 | points2 = Luol Deng 25
| rebounds1 = Antonio McDyess 8 | rebounds2 = Ben Wallace 17
| assist1 = Chauncey Billups 8 | assist2 = Kirk Hinrich 10
| referee = Dan Crawford, Ken Mauer, Monty McCutchen
| time = 2:30 pm
| attendance = 23,099
| series=Detroit leads series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee
| date = May 15
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070515/CHIDET/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Chicago Bulls]]'''
| score1 = '''108'''
| score2 = 92
| team2 = [[Detroit Pistons]]
| place = The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = '''31'''–25 | Q2 = '''28'''–26 | Q3 = '''33'''–20 | Q4 = 16–'''21'''
| points1 = [[Ben Gordon]] 28 | points2 = Chauncey Billups 17
| rebounds1 = [[P. J. Brown]] 8 | rebounds2 = [[Chris Webber]] 8
| assist1 = Kirk Hinrich 13 | assist2 = Chauncey Billups 6
| referee = Jim Clark, Luis Grillo, Eddie Rush
| time = 8:00 pm
| attendance = 22,076
| series=Detroit leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #fff
| date = May 17
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070517/DETCHI/boxscore.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''
| score1 = '''95'''
| score2 = 85
| team2 = [[Chicago Bulls]]
| place = United Center, Chicago, Illinois
| TV = ESPN
| Q1 = '''28'''–23 | Q2 = 15–'''25''' | Q3 = '''31'''–21 | Q4 = '''21'''–16
| points1 = Richard Hamilton 23 | points2 = P. J. Brown 20
| rebounds1 = Rasheed Wallace 13 | rebounds2 = Ben Wallace 7
| assist1 = Chauncey Billups 7 | assist2 = Kirk Hinrich 11
| referee = Sean Corbin, Jack Nies, Bennett Salvatore
| time = 7:00 pm
| attendance = 23,030
| series = Detroit wins series, 4–2
}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Chicago won 3–1 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = January 6, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|01060|id=CHI}}
| team1 = [[Detroit Pistons]] | score1 = 89
| team2 = '''[[Chicago Bulls]]''' | score2 = '''106'''
| place = [[United Center]], [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = February 25, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|02250|id=DET}}
| team1 = [[Chicago Bulls]] |score1 = 93
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' |score2 = '''95'''
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = March 29, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|03290|id=CHI}}
| team1 = [[Detroit Pistons]] | score1 = 81
| team2 = '''[[Chicago Bulls]]''' | score2 = '''83'''
| place = [[United Center]], [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = April 4, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|04040|id=DET}}
| team1 = '''[[Chicago Bulls]]''' |score1 = '''106'''
| team2 = [[Detroit Pistons]] |score2 = 88
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
}}
|}
This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pistons winning three of the first five 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=CHI&opp_id=DET&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Detroit Pistons (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 22, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Detroit leads 3–2 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1974
| team1 = '''[[Chicago Bulls]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Detroit Pistons]] | score2 = 3
| place = [[1974 NBA playoffs|1974 Western Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1988
| team1 = [[Chicago Bulls]] | score1 = 1
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1988 NBA playoffs|1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1989
| team1 = [[Chicago Bulls]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1989 NBA playoffs|1989 Eastern Conference Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1990
| team1 = [[Chicago Bulls]] | score1 = 3
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1990 NBA playoffs|1990 Eastern Conference Finals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1991
| team1 = '''[[Chicago Bulls]]''' | score1 = 4
| team2 = [[Detroit Pistons]] | score2 = 0
| place = [[1991 NBA playoffs|1991 Eastern Conference Finals]]|
}}
|}
In a renewal of a rivalry from the late '80s and early '90s, the [[Chicago Bulls]] and the [[Detroit Pistons]] faced off against each other. This was also the first time since [[1995 Stanley Cup playoffs|1995]] that teams from the two cities met in a major league postseason or game. The series began fairly one-sided as the Pistons took Games 1 and 2 in Detroit in blowout fashion, followed by another convincing victory in Game 3 in Chicago. In all 3 games, the Bulls looked severely outmatched against the more experienced Pistons squad. Expectations were low for the Bulls, since no NBA team has ever won a seven-game series after being down 3–0. (It has only happened five times total in sports history, the 1942 [[Toronto Maple Leafs]], 1975 [[New York Islanders]], 2004 [[Boston Red Sox]], 2010 [[Philadelphia Flyers]] and 2014 [[Los Angeles Kings]].)
Despite the huge obstacle, the Bulls rallied to take Game 4 in a romp, and then proceeded to shock everyone with a blow-out victory in Detroit in Game 5. Despite the renewed momentum, the Pistons' playoff experience ultimately won out as they closed out the Bulls in a 95-85 Game 6 win. The Pistons advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth straight year.
====(2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (6) New Jersey Nets====
{{basketballbox
| bg =#eee
| date = May 6
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070506/NJNCLE/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]
| score1 = 77
| score2 = '''81'''
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1 = 20–'''23''' | Q2 = '''21'''–20 | Q3 = '''18'''–16 | Q4 = 18–'''22'''
| points1 = [[Vince Carter]] 21 | points2 = [[LeBron James]] 21
| rebounds1 = Vince Carter 13 | rebounds2 = [[Drew Gooden|Gooden]], [[Zydrunas Ilgauskas|Ilgauskas]] 14 each
| assist1 = [[Jason Kidd]] 9 | assist2 = LeBron James 7
| referee = Luis Grillo, Steve Javie, Jack Nies
| time = 1:00 pm
| attendance = 20,562
| series=Cleveland leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#fff
| date = May 8
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070508/NJNCLE/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]
| score1 = 92
| score2 = '''102'''
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| place = Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1 = '''28'''–24 | Q2 = 17–'''24''' | Q3 = '''28'''–26 | Q4 = 19–'''28'''
| points1 = Vince Carter 26 | points2 = LeBron James 36
| rebounds1 = Jason Kidd 10 | rebounds2 = Drew Gooden 14
| assist1 = Jason Kidd 8 | assist2 = LeBron James 12
| referee = Ken Mauer, Bennett Salvatore, Michael Smith
| time = 8:00 pm
| attendance = 20,562
| series=Cleveland leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#eee
| date = May 12
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070512/CLENJN/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| score1 = 85
| score2 = '''96'''
| team2 = ''' [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]'''
| place = [[Continental Airlines Arena]], [[East Rutherford, New Jersey]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1 = 15–'''22''' | Q2 = '''28'''–23 | Q3 = 21–'''28''' | Q4 = 21–'''23'''
| points1 = [[Larry Hughes]] 23 | points2 = ''three players'' 23 each
| rebounds1 = Zydrunas Ilgauskas 8 | rebounds2 = Jason Kidd 13
| assist1 = LeBron James 12 | assist2 = Jason Kidd 14
| referee = Scott Foster, Bernie Fryer, Ron Garretson
| time = 5:00 pm
| attendance = 20,032
| series=Cleveland leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#fff
| date = May 14
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070514/CLENJN/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| score1 = '''87'''
| score2 = 85
| team2 = [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]
| place = Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = 19–'''20''' | Q2 = 23–'''26''' | Q3 = '''29'''–23 | Q4 = 16–16
| points1 = LeBron James 30 | points2 = Carter, [[Mikki Moore|Moore]] 25 each
| rebounds1 = Zydrunas Ilgauskas 11 | rebounds2 = Jason Kidd 17
| assist1 = LeBron James 7 | assist2 = Vince Carter 9
| referee = Dick Bavetta, Joe Forte, Mark Wunderlich
| time = 7:00 pm
| attendance = 20,032
| series=Cleveland leads series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#eee
| date = May 16
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070516/NJNCLE/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = ''' [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]'''
| score1 = '''83'''
| score2 = 72
| team2 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| place = Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = '''24'''–18 | Q2 = '''23'''–21 | Q3 = '''30'''–20 | Q4 = 6–'''13'''
| points1 = Jason Kidd 20 | points2 = LeBron James 20
| rebounds1 = Jason Kidd 9 | rebounds2 = LeBron James 9
| assist1 = Vince Carter 10 | assist2 = LeBron James 5
| referee = Mike Callahan, Dan Crawford, Bob Delaney
| time = 8:00 pm
| attendance = 20,562
| series=Cleveland leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#fff
| date = May 18
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070518/CLENJN/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| score1 = '''88'''
| score2 = 72
| team2 = [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]
| place = Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey
| TV = ESPN
| Q1 = '''32'''–15 | Q2 = 21–'''23''' | Q3 = 8–'''22''' | Q4 = '''27'''–12
| points1 = LeBron James 23 | points2 = Jason Kidd 19
| rebounds1 = LeBron James 8 | rebounds2 = Jason Kidd 12
| assist1 = LeBron James 8 | assist2 = Jason Kidd 8
| referee = Jim Clark, Joe DeRosa, Eddie Rush
| time = 7:00 pm
| attendance = 20,032
| series = Cleveland wins series, 4–2
}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Cleveland won 2–1 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = December 20, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|12200|id=NJN}}
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] | score1 = 111
| team2 = ''' [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]]''' | score2 = '''113'''
| place = [[Continental Airlines Arena]], [[East Rutherford, New Jersey]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = January 6, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|01060|id=CLE}}
| team1 = [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]] |score1 = 91
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' |score2 = '''96'''
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = April 12, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|04120|id=CLE}}
| team1 = [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]] |score1 = 76
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' |score2 = '''94'''
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
}}
|}
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Cavaliers winning the first two 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=NJN&opp_id=CLE&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder —Brooklyn Nets versus Cleveland Cavaliers (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 22, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Cleveland leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1992
| team1 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' | score1 = 3
| team2 = [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]] | score2 = 1
| place = [[1992 NBA playoffs|1992 Eastern Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1993
| team1 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' | score1 = 3
| team2 = [[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]] | score2 = 2
| place = [[1993 NBA playoffs|1993 Eastern Conference First Round]]|
}}
|}
The Cavaliers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1992, while the Nets lost in the Conference Semifinals in three out of the last four years. Game 6 was the final playoff game at the Continental Airlines Arena, while also the last NBA playoff game ever played in New Jersey (the [[Prudential Center]] never hosted an NBA playoff game during the Nets' tenure from 2010 to 2012).
[[Brooklyn Nets|New Jersey Nets]] point guard [[Jason Kidd]] averaged a [[triple double]] the entire playoffs, scoring 14.6 points, grabbing 10.9 rebounds and dishing out 10.9 assists per game.
===Western Conference semifinals===
==== (2) Phoenix Suns vs. (3) San Antonio Spurs ====
{{basketballbox
| bg =#eee
| date = May 6
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070506/SASPHX/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| score1 = '''111'''
| score2 = 106
| team2 = [[Phoenix Suns]]
| place = [[US Airways Center]], [[Phoenix, Arizona]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1 = '''27'''–26 | Q2 = 24–'''27''' | Q3 = '''26'''–22 | Q4 = '''34'''–31
| points1 = [[Tim Duncan]] 33 | points2 = [[Steve Nash]] 31
| rebounds1 = Tim Duncan 16 | rebounds2 = [[Amar'e Stoudemire]] 18
| assist1 = [[Tony Parker]] 8 | assist2 = Steve Nash 8
| referee = James Capers, Bob Delaney, Mark Wunderlich
| time = 12:30 pm
| attendance = 18,422
| series=San Antonio leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#fff
| date = May 8
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070508/SASPHX/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]]
| score1 = 81
| score2 = '''101'''
| team2 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]'''
| place = US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1 = '''25'''–19 | Q2 = 17–'''30''' | Q3 = 22–22 | Q4 = 17–'''30'''
| points1 = Tim Duncan 29 | points2 = Amar'e Stoudemire 27
| rebounds1 = Tim Duncan 11 | rebounds2 = [[Shawn Marion]] 10
| assist1 = [[Manu Ginóbili]] 5 | assist2 = Steve Nash 16
| referee = Jim Clark, Dan Crawford, Bill Kennedy
| time = 7:30 pm
| attendance = 18,422
| series=Series tied, 1–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#eee
| date = May 12
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070512/PHXSAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Phoenix Suns]]
| score1 = 101
| score2 = '''108'''
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio, Texas]]
| TV = ABC
| Q1 = '''30'''–25 | Q2 = 23–'''30''' | Q3 = 19–'''25''' | Q4 = '''29'''–28
| points1 = Shawn Marion 26 | points2 = Tim Duncan 33
| rebounds1 = [[Kurt Thomas (basketball)|Kurt Thomas]] 12 | rebounds2 = Tim Duncan 19
| assist1 = Steve Nash 11 | assist2 = Tony Parker 5
| referee = Tim Donaghy, Eddie Rush, Greg Willard
| time = 7:00 pm
| attendance = 18,797
| series=San Antonio leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#fff
| date = May 14
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070514/PHXSAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]'''
| score1 = '''104'''
| score2 = 98
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]]
| place = AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = '''24'''–22 | Q2 = 16–'''23''' | Q3 = 32–'''35''' | Q4 = '''32'''–18
| points1 = Amar'e Stoudemire 26 | points2 = Tony Parker 23
| rebounds1 = Shawn Marion 12 | rebounds2 = Tim Duncan 11
| assist1 = Steve Nash 15 | assist2 = Tony Parker 7
| referee = Joe DeRosa, Steve Javie, Jack Nies
| time = 8:30 pm
| attendance = 18,797
| series=Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#eee
| date = May 16
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070516/SASPHX/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| score1 = '''88'''
| score2 = 85
| team2 = [[Phoenix Suns]]
| place = US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = 13–'''24''' | Q2 = 20–20 | Q3 = '''23'''–18 | Q4 = '''32'''–23
| points1 = Manu Ginóbili 26 | points2 = Shawn Marion 24
| rebounds1 = Tim Duncan 12 | rebounds2 = Shawn Marion 17
| assist1 = Tony Parker 5 | assist2 = Steve Nash 12
| referee = Bernie Fryer, Ron Garretson, Michael Smith
| time = 7:30 pm
| attendance = 18,422
| series=San Antonio leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#fff
| date = May 18
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070518/PHXSAS/recap.html Recap]
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| score2 = '''114'''
| score1 = 106
| team1 = [[Phoenix Suns]]
| place = AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
| series = San Antonio wins series, 4–2
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1 = 23–23 | Q2 = 28–'''30''' | Q3 = 16–'''28''' | Q4 = '''39'''–33
| points1 = Amar'e Stoudemire 38 | points2 = Manu Ginóbili 33
| rebounds1 = Amar'e Stoudemire 12 | rebounds2 = Tim Duncan 13
| assist1 = Steve Nash 14 | assist2 = Parker, Ginóbili 6 each
| referee = Dick Bavetta, Joe Forte, Tom Washington
| attendance = 18,797
| time = 9:30 pm
}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!San Antonio won 2–1 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 8, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|11080|id=SAS}}
| team1 = [[Phoenix Suns]] |score1= 106
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' |score2= '''111''' |overtime=OT
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = February 1, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|02010|id=PHO}}
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] |score1= 87
| team2 = '''[[Phoenix Suns]]''' |score2= '''103'''
| place = [[US Airways Center]], [[Phoenix, Arizona]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = April 5, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|04050|id=SAS}}
| team1 = [[Phoenix Suns]] |score1= 85
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' |score2= '''92'''
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
}}
|}
This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Spurs 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=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 22, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!San Antonio leads 4–3 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]]|
}}
|}
The highly anticipated match-up between the high-powered [[Phoenix Suns]], led by 2-time MVP [[Steve Nash]], and the fundamentally sound [[San Antonio Spurs]], led by 3-time Finals MVP [[Tim Duncan]], had high expectations before the series tip-off. The Suns were looking to make the conference finals for the third straight year, and also looking for their first Finals berth since 1993. The Spurs on the other hand, were looking for their third trip in five years, and their fourth NBA title overall. The series received international interest with a playoff-record of 12 players originating outside the US.<ref>espn.com, [https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=2871543&type=story Spurs-Suns series highlights NBA's international scope]</ref> When the series ended, it had become one of the most hotly contested and controversial series in recent NBA history.
The Suns had their home court advantage quickly taken away as the Spurs took a tight Game 1, a game that saw Nash missing the final minutes for Phoenix due to a gash to his nose, which bled profusely. Nash and the Suns recovered to take Game 2 but after the game, Suns forward [[Amar'e Stoudemire]] accused the Spurs, especially [[Bruce Bowen]] and [[Manu Ginóbili]], of being a dirty team. Despite the added scrutiny by the media circles, the Spurs won Game 3. The Suns, trying to overcome their recent failures against Texas teams in the playoffs (the Spurs and the Mavericks both defeated them in the Conference Finals), willed themselves to a come-from-behind victory in Game 4 to tie the series at 2.
However, the celebration was short-lived. In the closing minute of Game 4, with the Suns up 3, Nash brought up the ball and was shoved into the press table by [[Robert Horry]], creating a momentary ruckus, wherein [[Raja Bell]] received a technical. As this took place, Stoudemire and [[Boris Diaw]] left the Suns bench. Although they were not involved in the altercation, they broke an established NBA rule that prohibits players from leaving the bench during an altercation. As a result, the NBA suspended Stoudemire and Diaw for one game, while Horry received a two-game suspension for the flagrant foul and ejection. Severely undermanned, the Suns came into Game 5 with the task of beating the Spurs without their star big man.
Although the Suns were able to control most of the game without the suspended players, even taking a 16-point lead on the Spurs at one point, the Spurs came back to win an incredibly close Game 5. Diaw and Stoudemire did return for the Suns in Game 6, though that didn't help the Suns to force a Game 7 and the Spurs eliminated them to advance to the Western Conference Finals with a 114–106 win.
====(4) Utah Jazz vs. (8) Golden State Warriors ====
{{basketballbox
| bg =#eee
| date = May 7
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070507/GSWUTA/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Golden State Warriors]]
| score1 = 112
| score2 = '''116'''
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]'''
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1 = 35–'''37''' | Q2 = '''31'''–26 | Q3 = '''23'''–21 | Q4 = 23–'''32'''
| points1 = [[Baron Davis]] 24 | points2 = [[Deron Williams]] 31
| rebounds1 = [[Matt Barnes|Barnes]], [[Jason Richardson|Richardson]] 10 each | rebounds2 = [[Carlos Boozer]] 20
| assist1 = Baron Davis 7 | assist2 = Deron Williams 8
| referee = Monty McCutchen, Eddie Rush, Greg Willard
| time = 8:30 pm
| attendance = 19,911
| series=Utah leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#fff
| date = May 9
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070509/GSWUTA/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Golden State Warriors]]
| score1 = 117
| score2 = '''127'''
| overtime = OT
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]'''
| place = EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = '''31'''–28 | Q2 = 27–'''35''' | Q3 = '''31'''–27 | Q4 = '''24'''–23 | OT = 4–'''14'''
| points1 = Baron Davis 36 | points2 = Carlos Boozer 30
| rebounds1 = Matt Barnes 7 | rebounds2 = [[Mehmet Okur]] 18
| assist1 = Baron Davis 7 | assist2 = Deron Williams 14
| referee = Joe DeRosa, Scott Foster, Steve Javie
| time = 7:00 pm
| attendance = 19,911
| series=Utah leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#eee
| date = May 11
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070511/UTAGSW/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]]
| score1 = 105
| score2 = '''125'''
| team2 = '''[[Golden State Warriors]]'''
| place = [[Oracle Arena]], [[Oakland, California]]
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1 = 27–'''30''' | Q2 = 22–'''40''' | Q3 = '''36'''–34 | Q4 = 20–'''21'''
| points1 = Carlos Boozer 19 | points2 = Baron Davis 32
| rebounds1 = Carlos Boozer 11 | rebounds2 = [[Andris Biedriņš]] 13
| assist1 = Deron Williams 6 | assist2 = Baron Davis 9
| referee = Dick Bavetta, Jim Clark, Sean Corbin
| time = 6:00 pm
| attendance = 20,655
| series=Utah leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#fff
| date = May 13
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070513/UTAGSW/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]'''
| score1 = '''115'''
| score2 = 101
| team2 = [[Golden State Warriors]]
| place = Oracle Arena, Oakland, California
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = '''25'''–23 | Q2 = 25–'''26''' | Q3 = 25–'''29''' | Q4 = '''40'''–23
| points1 = Carlos Boozer 34 | points2 = [[Stephen Jackson|Jackson]], [[Al Harrington|Harrington]] 24 each
| rebounds1 = Carlos Boozer 12 | rebounds2 = Andris Biedriņš 10
| assist1 = Deron Williams 13 | assist2 = Baron Davis 7
| referee = Tony Brothers, Mike Callahan, Tom Washington
| time = 6:00 pm
| attendance = 20,679
| series=Utah leads series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#eee
| date = May 15
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070515/GSWUTA/recap.html Recap]
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]'''
| score2 = '''100'''
| score1 = 87
| team1 = [[Golden State Warriors]]
| place = EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
| series = Utah wins series, 4–1
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = '''32'''–29 | Q2 = 22–'''23''' | Q3 = 19–'''25''' | Q4 = 14–'''23'''
| points1 = Baron Davis 21 | points2 = Boozer, [[Andrei Kirilenko|Kirilenko]] 21 each
| rebounds1 = Jason Richardson 8 | rebounds2 = Carlos Boozer 14
| assist1 = Baron Davis 8 | assist2 = Deron Williams 7
| referee = James Capers, Ken Mauer, Bennett Salvatore
| attendance = 19,911
| time = 8:30 pm
}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 4, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|11040|id=UTA}}
| team1 = [[Golden State Warriors]] |score1 = 82
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' |score2 = '''106'''
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = November 25, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|11250|id=GSW}}
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]] | score1 = 78
| team2 = '''[[Golden State Warriors]]''' | score2 = '''91'''
| place = [[Oracle Arena]], [[Oakland, California]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = March 20, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|03200|id=UTA}}
| team1 = [[Golden State Warriors]] |score1 = 100
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' |score2 = '''104'''
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = April 9, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|04090|id=GSW}}
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]] | score1 = 102
| team2 = '''[[Golden State Warriors]]''' | score2 = '''126'''
| place = [[Oracle Arena]], [[Oakland, California]]
}}
|}
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Warriors winning the first two 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=GSW&opp_id=UTA&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Golden State Warriors versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 22, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Golden State leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1987
| team1 = '''[[Golden State Warriors]]''' | score1 = 3
| team2 = [[Utah Jazz]] | score2 = 2
| place = [[1987 NBA playoffs|1987 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1989
| team1 = '''[[Golden State Warriors]]''' | score1 = 3
| team2 = [[Utah Jazz]] | score2 = 0
| place = [[1989 NBA playoffs|1989 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
|}
[[Image:GSW Vs Utah.jpg|thumb|150px|The Warriors play the Jazz at [[Oracle Arena]] in Game 3.]]
Fresh off their stunning upset of the top-seeded [[Dallas Mavericks]], the [[Golden State Warriors]] faced a very different team in Utah. The Warriors continued the frantic style of play they exhibited against the Mavericks, but the Jazz, a more defensive-minded team, managed to shut them down to take Game 1. The Warriors tried to bounce back in Game 2, and took the Jazz to overtime. But the Jazz were able to prevail, due to the inspired clutch play of guard [[Derek Fisher]], who arrived at halftime after being with his family in New York City because of his daughter's emergency eye cancer surgery.
The series shifted back to Oakland and the raucous [[Oracle Arena]] crowd, which lifted the Warriors to a resounding blowout in Game 3, a game which saw the Warriors hit a playoff record 11 threes in the first half. However, the Jazz shrugged off the crowd and handed the Warriors their only playoff home loss of the year in Game 4. The Warriors' playoff run ended as the Jazz finished them off in Game 5. The Jazz advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1998.
==Conference finals==
===Eastern Conference finals===
====(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (2) Cleveland Cavaliers====
{{basketballbox
| bg =#eee
| date = May 21
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070521/CLEDET/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| score1 = 76
| score2 = '''79'''
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
| series = Detroit leads series, 1–0
| TV = [[NBA on TNT|TNT]]
| Q1 = '''24'''–19 | Q2 = '''17'''–16 | Q3 = 14–'''21''' | Q4 = 21–'''23'''
| points1 = [[Zydrunas Ilgauskas]] 22 | points2 = [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]] 24
| rebounds1 = Zydrunas Ilgauskas 13 | rebounds2 = [[Rasheed Wallace]] 12
| assist1 = [[LeBron James]] 9 | assist2 = [[Tayshaun Prince]] 9
| referee = Steve Javie, Ken Mauer, Greg Willard
| attendance = 22,076
| time = 8:00 pm
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#fff
| date = May 24
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070524/CLEDET/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| score1 = 76
| score2 = '''79'''
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]'''
| place = The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
| series = Detroit leads series, 2–0
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = 16–'''20''' | Q2 = '''34'''–18 | Q3 = 13–'''22''' | Q4 = 13–'''19'''
| points1 = LeBron James 19 | points2 = Rasheed Wallace 16
| rebounds1 = [[Anderson Varejão]] 14 | rebounds2 = Rasheed Wallace 11
| assist1 = LeBron James 7 | assist2 = [[Chauncey Billups]] 6
| referee = Jim Clark, Bernie Fryer, Mark Wunderlich
| attendance = 22,076
| time = 8:00 pm
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#eee
| date = May 27
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070527/DETCLE/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Detroit Pistons]]
| score1 = 82
| score2 = '''88'''
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
| series = Detroit leads series, 2–1
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = 22–22 | Q2 = 21–'''24''' | Q3 = '''20'''–16 | Q4 = 19–'''26'''
| points1 = Rasheed Wallace 16 | points2 = LeBron James 32
| rebounds1 = [[Antonio McDyess]] 9 | rebounds2 = LeBron James 9
| assist1 = ''three players'' 3 each | assist2 = LeBron James 9
| referee = Dick Bavetta, Scott Foster, Tom Washington
| attendance = 20,562
| time = 8:30 pm
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#fff
| date = May 29
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070529/DETCLE/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Detroit Pistons]]
| score1 = 87
| score2 = '''91'''
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| place = Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
| series = Series tied, 2–2
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = 22–'''26''' | Q2 = 21–'''24''' | Q3 = '''24'''–15 | Q4 = 20–'''26'''
| points1 = Chauncey Billups 23 | points2 = LeBron James 25
| rebounds1 = Chauncey Billups 9 | rebounds2 = [[Drew Gooden]] 8
| assist1 = Tayshaun Prince 4 | assist2 = LeBron James 11
| referee = Mike Callahan, Dan Crawford, Joe Forte
| attendance = 20,562
| time = 8:00 pm
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#eee
| date = May 31
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070531/CLEDET/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| score1 = '''109'''
| score2 = 107
| overtime = 2OT
| team2 = [[Detroit Pistons]]
| place = The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
| series = Cleveland leads series, 3–2
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = 23–'''29''' | Q2 = '''28'''–23 | Q3 = '''19'''–18 | Q4 = 21–21 | OT = 9–9, '''9'''–7
| points1 = LeBron James 48 | points2 = Richard Hamilton 26
| rebounds1 = Zydrunas Ilgauskas 16 | rebounds2 = Tayshaun Prince 9
| assist1 = LeBron James 7 | assist2 = Richard Hamilton 5
| referee = Bob Delaney, Ron Garretson, Bennett Salvatore
| attendance = 22,076
| time = 8:00 pm
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#fff
| date = June 2
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070602/DETCLE/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Detroit Pistons]]
| score1 = 82
| score2 = '''98'''
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]'''
| place = Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
| series = Cleveland wins series, 4–2
| TV = TNT
| Q1 = 21–'''27''' | Q2 = '''27'''–21 | Q3 = 18–'''19''' | Q4 = 16–'''31'''
| points1 = Richard Hamilton 29 | points2 = [[Daniel Gibson]] 31
| rebounds1 = ''three players'' 6 each | rebounds2 = LeBron James 14
| assist1 = Tayshaun Prince 6 | assist2 = LeBron James 8
| referee = Joe DeRosa, Jack Nies, Eddie Rush
| attendance = 20,562
| time = 8:30 pm
}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Detroit won 3–1 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = December 21, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|12210|id=CLE}}
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' |score1= '''87'''
| team2 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] |score2= 71
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = February 4, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|02040|id=CLE}}
| team1 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' |score1= '''90'''
| team2 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] |score2= 78
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = March 7, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|03070|id=DET}}
| team1 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' |score1= '''101'''
| team2 = [[Detroit Pistons]] |score2= 97 |overtime=OT
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = April 8, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|04080|id=DET}}
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] |score1= 82
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' |score2= '''87'''
| place = [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], [[Auburn Hills, Michigan]]
}}
|}
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pistons winning the first meeting.
{| 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=DET&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Cleveland Cavaliers versus Detroit Pistons (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 22, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Detroit leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 2006
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] | score1 = 3
| team2 = '''[[Detroit Pistons]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[2006 NBA playoffs|2006 Eastern Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
|}
In a rematch of the thrilling 2006 second-round series, the Pistons and Cavaliers matched up in perhaps one of the most closely contested series in NBA history, with the first five games being decided by six points or less. The spotlight fell on [[LeBron James]]. Despite gaining some momentum in the opening games of the series against the experienced Pistons, key last-second decisions by James led to Cleveland losses in Games 1 and 2 in Detroit, by identical scores, in which Cleveland led for most of the two games. They faced a 0–2 deficit for the second straight year, but would easily remember from the year before that they could win three straight games to get back into the series.
With media circles on his back for his complacency in these games (James had a then playoff career low 10 points in Game 1), James came back to will the Cavs to close victories in Games 3 and 4 in Cleveland, evening the series at 2. The series shifted back to Detroit for a Game 5 that proved to be one of the most memorable postseason games in recent NBA history. In a match that went into double overtime, the Cavaliers stunned the Pistons on their home court, thanks to LeBron James' playoff career-high 48-point performance. James scored the Cavaliers' final 25 points, including all 18 points in overtime, forced the second OT with a driving dunk and made a driving layup with 2.2 seconds left in the second OT to silence the Palace crowd. A game tying buzzer beater by Chauncey Billups rimmed out making it two straight 2-point wins at the Palace in Game 5.
The Cavaliers took advantage of their home court in 2007 and exploded in Game 6 to close out the Pistons, and to clinch the franchise's first trip to the NBA Finals (in the process denying a rematch of the [[2005 NBA Finals]] between the Pistons and Spurs). Rookie [[Daniel Gibson]] scored a career-high 31 points, including five 3-pointers, to lift the Cavs in the second half behind a roaring home crowd.
===Western Conference finals===
====(3) San Antonio Spurs vs. (4) Utah Jazz====
{{basketballbox
| bg =#eee
| date = May 20
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070520/UTASAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]]
| score1 = 100
| score2 = '''108'''
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1 = 20–'''23''' | Q2 = 16–'''31''' | Q3 = '''26'''–24 | Q4 = '''38'''–30
| points1 = [[Deron Williams]] 34 | points2 = [[Tim Duncan]] 27
| rebounds1 = [[Carlos Boozer]] 12 | rebounds2 = Tim Duncan 10
| assist1 = Deron Williams 9 | assist2 = [[Manu Ginóbili]] 10
| referee = Mike Callahan, Dan Crawford, Ron Garretson
| time = 2:30 pm
| attendance = 18,300
| series=San Antonio leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#fff
| date = May 22
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070522/UTASAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]]
| score1 = 96
| score2 = '''105'''
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| place = AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
| TV = [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]]
| Q1 = 24–'''26''' | Q2 = 17–'''32''' | Q3 = '''24'''–23 | Q4 = '''31'''–24
| points1 = Carlos Boozer 33 | points2 = Tim Duncan 26
| rebounds1 = Carlos Boozer 15 | rebounds2 = Tim Duncan 14
| assist1 = Deron Williams 10 | assist2 = [[Tony Parker]] 14
| referee = Sean Corbin, Jack Nies, Bennett Salvatore
| time = 8:00 pm
| attendance = 18,797
| series=San Antonio leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#eee
| date = May 26
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070526/SASUTA/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]]
| score1 = 83
| score2 = '''109'''
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]'''
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
| TV = ABC
| Q1 = '''23'''–15 | Q2 = 24–'''28''' | Q3 = 20–'''32''' | Q4 = 16–'''34'''
| points1 = Tony Parker 25 | points2 = Deron Williams 31
| rebounds1 = Tim Duncan 8 | rebounds2 = Carlos Boozer 12
| assist1 = Tony Parker 7 | assist2 = Deron Williams 8
| referee = Bob Delaney, Monty McCutchen, Eddie Rush
| time = 6:30 pm
| attendance = 19,911
| series=San Antonio leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#fff
| date = May 28
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070528/SASUTA/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| score1 = '''91'''
| score2 = 79
| team2 = [[Utah Jazz]]
| place = EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
| TV = ESPN
| Q1 = '''21'''–20 | Q2 = '''29'''–22 | Q3 = 13–'''20''' | Q4 = '''28'''–17
| points1 = Manu Ginóbili 22 | points2 = Deron Williams 27
| rebounds1 = [[Fabricio Oberto]] 11 | rebounds2 = Carlos Boozer 9
| assist1 = [[Jacque Vaughn]] 4 | assist2 = Deron Williams 10
| referee = Steve Javie, Joe DeRosa, Ken Mauer
| time = 7:00 pm
| attendance = 19,911
| series=San Antonio leads series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#eee
| date = May 30
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070530/UTASAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]]
| score1 = 84
| score2 = '''109'''
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| place = AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
| series = San Antonio wins series, 4–1
| TV = ESPN
| Q1 = 15–'''34''' | Q2 = '''24'''–21 | Q3 = 17–'''28''' | Q4 = '''28'''–26
| points1 = [[Andrei Kirilenko]] 13 | points2 = Duncan, Parker 21 each
| rebounds1 = Carlos Boozer 12 | rebounds2 = Fabricio Oberto 10
| assist1 = Carlos Boozer 4 | assist2 = Jacque Vaughn 6
| referee = Bernie Fryer, Tom Washington, Greg Willard
| attendance = 18,797
| time = 8:00 pm
}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 29, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|11290|id=UTA}}
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] |score1 = 75
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' |score2 = '''83'''
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = December 28, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|12280|id=SAS}}
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]] | score1 = 83
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' | score2 = '''106'''
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = January 31, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|01310|id=UTA}}
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] |score1 = 93
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' |score2 = '''97'''
| place = [[EnergySolutions Arena]], [[Salt Lake City]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = March 30, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|03300|id=SAS}}
| team1 = [[Utah Jazz]] | score1 = 93
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]''' | score2 = '''102'''
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]]
}}
|}
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz 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=SAS&opp_id=UTA&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — San Antonio Spurs versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 22, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Utah leads 3–0 in all-time playoff series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1994
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] | score1 = 1
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' | score2 = 3
| place = [[1994 NBA playoffs|1994 Western Conference First Round]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1996
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] | score1 = 2
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1996 NBA playoffs|1996 Western Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = 1998
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] | score1 = 1
| team2 = '''[[Utah Jazz]]''' | score2 = 4
| place = [[1998 NBA playoffs|1998 Western Conference Semifinals]]|
}}
|}
For the first time since [[1990 NBA playoffs|1990]], neither the #1 nor #2 seed participated in the Western Conference Finals. However, the series pitted youth against experience as the up-and-coming [[Utah Jazz]] faced off against the seasoned [[San Antonio Spurs]]. Coming into the series, the Jazz were not given much of a chance due to their inexperience. However, [[Carlos Boozer]], [[Deron Williams]] and the Jazz were able to hold their own against San Antonio for a good part of the series.
Unfortunately, it was not enough. The series' first 2 games – both San Antonio home victories – saw the Spurs blow big first-half leads and the Jazz mount last-gasp rallies that were thwarted by San Antonio's clutch shooting. When the Spurs' 19-point first-half lead dwindled to 95-87 late in the fourth quarter of Game 1, [[Tim Duncan]], [[Tony Parker]], [[Manu Ginóbili]] came through with timely shots down the stretch. When San Antonio's 22-point edge shrank to 83-76 late in Game 2, [[Bruce Bowen]] broke Utah's rhythm with a 3 from the left corner and another from the right to end the threat.
The Jazz, who were undefeated at home in the postseason coming into the series, had their most cohesive effort in a 109-83 Game 3 rout. Utah pestered Duncan into early foul trouble and got baskets from players other than Williams and Boozer, who had combined for 57.7% of their team's points through the first two games. But Jazz fans' euphoria over the team's only series victory gave way to frustration in Game 4 – with most of it aimed at Ginóbili and his flopping. 11 of his 16 fourth-quarter points came at the foul line in an ugly overall team performance in which the Spurs made more free throws (30) than field goals (28). Contributing to that discrepancy were four technical fouls called against Utah in the fourth. The subsequent ejections of Utah head coach [[Jerry Sloan]] and Jazz guard [[Derek Fisher]] had a charged-up [[EnergySolutions Arena]] crowd raining debris onto the court in protest.
The unflappable Spurs responded with yet another commanding start in Game 5. They outscored the Jazz by 19 in the first quarter and led by as many as 29. Not even another late-game arrival of Fisher (from New York again) could help the Jazz enough and the Spurs won a 109–84 series-clinching victory and an eventual date in the NBA Finals with the Cavaliers.
==NBA Finals: (W3) San Antonio Spurs vs. (E2) Cleveland Cavaliers==
{{main|2007 NBA Finals}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#eee
| date = June 7
| time = 8:00 pm
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070607/CLESAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| score1 = 76
| score2 = '''85'''
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1 = 15–'''20''' | Q2 = 20–20 | Q3 = 14–'''24''' | Q4 = '''27'''–21
| points1 = [[Daniel Gibson]] 16 | points2 = [[Tony Parker]] 27
| rebounds1 = [[LeBron James]] 7 | rebounds2 = [[Tim Duncan]] 13
| assist1 = [[LeBron James|James]], [[Daniel Gibson|Gibson]] 4 each | assist2 = [[Tony Parker]] 7
| referee = Mike Callahan, Steve Javie, Ken Mauer
| attendance = 18,797
| series=San Antonio leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#fff
| date = June 10
| time = 8:00 pm
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070610/CLESAS/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| score1 = 92
| score2 = '''103'''
| team2 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1 = 17–'''28''' | Q2 = 16–'''30''' | Q3 = 29–'''31'''| Q4 = '''30'''–14
| points1 = [[LeBron James]] 25 | points2 = [[Tony Parker]] 30
| rebounds1 = [[Anderson Varejão]] 10 | rebounds2 = [[Tim Duncan|Duncan]], [[Robert Horry|Horry]] 9 each
| assist1 = [[LeBron James]] 6 | assist2 = [[Tim Duncan]] 8
| referee = Dick Bavetta, Jim Clark, Joe DeRosa
| attendance = 18,797
| series=San Antonio leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#eee
| date = June 12
| time = 9:00 pm
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070612/SASCLE/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| score1 = '''75'''
| score2 = 72
| team2 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1 = 16–'''18''' | Q2 = '''24'''–20 | Q3 = '''15'''–12 | Q4 = 20–'''22'''
| points1 = [[Tony Parker]] 17 | points2 = [[LeBron James]] 25
| rebounds1 = [[Bruce Bowen|Bowen]], [[Tim Duncan|Duncan]] 9 each | rebounds2 = [[Zydrunas Ilgauskas]] 18
| assist1 = [[Manu Ginóbili]] 5 | assist2 = [[LeBron James]] 7
| referee = Dan Crawford, Bob Delaney, Bernie Fryer
| attendance = 20,562
| series=San Antonio leads series, 3–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg =#fff
| date = June 14
| time = 9:00 pm
| report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20070614/SASCLE/recap.html Recap]
| team1 = '''[[San Antonio Spurs]]'''
| score1 = '''83'''
| score2 = 82
| team2 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
| TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]]
| Q1 = 19–'''20''' | Q2 = '''20'''–14 | Q3 = '''21'''–18 | Q4 = 23–'''30'''
| points1 = [[Manu Ginóbili]] 27 | points2 = [[LeBron James]] 24
| rebounds1 = [[Tim Duncan]] 15 | rebounds2 = [[Zydrunas Ilgauskas]] 13
| assist1 = ''three players'' 3 each | assist2 = [[LeBron James]] 10
| referee = Joe Forte, Eddie Rush, Bennett Salvatore
| attendance = 20,562
| series = San Antonio wins series 4–0
}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series
|-
!Cleveland won 2–0 in the regular-season series
|-
|
{{basketballbox
| bg=#fff
| date = November 3, 2006
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2006|11030|id=SAS}}
| team1 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' |score1= '''88'''
| team2 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] |score2= 81
| place = [[AT&T Center]], [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]]
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = January 2, 2007
| report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|2007|01020|id=CLE}}
| team1 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] |score1= 78
| team2 = '''[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]''' |score2= '''82'''
| place = [[Quicken Loans Arena]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
}}
|}
This was the first playoff meeting between the Cavaliers and the Spurs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=CLE&opp_id=SAS&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Cleveland Cavaliers versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=February 22, 2016}}</ref>
The Cavaliers, led by superstar [[LeBron James]], entered the 2007 Finals looking for their first franchise championship, as well as the first championship for a pro team based out of Cleveland since the [[Cleveland Browns]] won the 1964 [[National Football League]] Championship. However, the Cavs were considered heavy underdogs against the 3-time champion Spurs. The Spurs' veteran leadership and championship experience overwhelmed the Cavs, who were swept by the Spurs after two blowouts in San Antonio and two close games in Cleveland.
==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]]
| [[LeBron James]] || [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] || 48
| [[Kobe Bryant]] || [[Los Angeles Lakers]] || 32.8 || 5
|-
| [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| [[Amar'e Stoudemire]] || [[Phoenix Suns]] || 21
| [[Marcus Camby]] || [[Denver Nuggets]] || 14.8 || 5
|-
| [[Assist (basketball)|Assists]]
| [[Steve Nash]] || [[Phoenix Suns]] || 23
| [[Steve Nash]] || [[Phoenix Suns]] || 13.3 || 11
|-
| [[Steal (basketball)|Steals]]
| [[Baron Davis]] || [[Golden State Warriors]] || 6
| [[Baron Davis]] || [[Golden State Warriors]] || 2.9 || 11
|-
| [[Block (basketball)|Blocks]]
| [[Tim Duncan]] || [[San Antonio Spurs]] || 9
| [[Marcus Camby]] || [[Denver Nuggets]] || 3.2 || 5
|}
== Broadcasters ==
{{Missing information|section|broadcasts for Conference Finals|date=July 2022}}
===Eastern Conference first round===
====National television====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Teams
!Network
!Play-by-play announcer
!Color analyst(s)
!Sideline reporter(s)
!Studio host
!Studio analyst(s)
|-
|rowspan=2|2007
|rowspan=2|[[2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]–[[2006–07 Washington Wizards season|Washington]]
|[[NBA on TNT|TNT]] (Games 1, 3)<br>[[NBA TV]] (Games 2, 4)
|Marv Albert
|
|
|
|
|}
====Local television====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Teams
!Network
!Play-by-play announcer
!Color analyst(s)
!Sideline reporter(s)
|-
|rowspan=2|2007
|rowspan=2|[[2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]–[[2006–07 Washington Wizards season|Washington]]
|[[Fox Sports Ohio]] and [[WUAB-TV]] ([[2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]] area)
|Michael Reghi
|Austin Carr
|
|-
|[[Comcast SportsNet]] ([[2006–07 Washington Wizards season|Washington]] D.C. area)
|
|
|
|}
====Local radio====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Year'''
|'''Teams'''
|'''Flagship station'''
|'''[[Play-by-play]]'''
|'''[[Color commentator|Color commentator(s)]]'''
|-
|rowspan=8|2007
|rowspan=2|[[2006–07 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit]]–[[2006–07 Orlando Magic season|Orlando]]
|[[WDFN|WDFN-AM]] ([[2006–07 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit]])
|
|
|-
|[[WDBO (AM)|WDBO-AM]] ([[2006–07 Orlando Magic season|Orlando]])
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|[[2006–07 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]–[[2006–07 Miami Heat season|Miami]]
|[[WCFS-FM|WCKG-FM]] ([[2006–07 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]])
|
|
|-
|[[WIOD-AM]] ([[2006–07 Miami Heat season|Miami]])
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|[[2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]–[[2006–07 Washington Wizards season|Washington]]
|[[WTAM|WTAM-AM]] ([[2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]])
|[[Joe Tait]]
|
|-
|[[WTEM|WTEM-AM]] ([[2006–07 Washington Wizards season|Washington]])
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|[[2006–07 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]–[[2006–07 Toronto Raptors season|Toronto]]
|[[WFAN (AM)|WFAN-AM]] ([[2006–07 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]])
|
|
|-
|[[CJCL (AM)|CJCL-AM]] ([[2006–07 Toronto Raptors season|Toronto]])
|
|
|}
===Western Conference first round===
===Eastern Conference semifinals===
====National television====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Teams
!Network
!Play-by-play announcer
!Color analyst(s)
!Sideline reporter(s)
!Studio host
!Studio analyst(s)
|-
|rowspan=2|2007
|rowspan=2|[[2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]–[[2006–07 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
|[[NBA on ESPN|ABC]] (Game 1)<br>[[NBA on TNT|TNT]] (Games 2, 4–5)<br>[[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]] (Games 3, 6)
|
|
|
|
|
|}
====Local television====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Teams
!Network
!Play-by-play announcer
!Color analyst(s)
!Sideline reporter(s)
|-
|rowspan=2|2007
|rowspan=2|[[2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]–[[2006–07 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
|[[Fox Sports Ohio]] and [[WUAB-TV]] ([[2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]] area) (Games 3, 6)
|
|
|
|-
|[[YES Network]] ([[2006–07 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]) ([[New York (state)|New York]] area) (Games 3, 6)
|
|
|
|}
====National radio====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Year'''
|'''Teams'''
|'''Network'''
|'''[[Play-by-play]]'''
|'''[[Color commentator|Color commentator(s)]]'''
|-
|rowspan=2|2007
|[[2006–07 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit]]–[[2006–07 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
|
|
|
|-
|[[2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]–[[2006–07 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
|[[NBA on ESPN Radio|ESPN]] (Game 1)
|
|
|}
====Local radio====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Year'''
|'''Teams'''
|'''Flagship station'''
|'''[[Play-by-play]]'''
|'''[[Color commentator|Color commentator(s)]]'''
|-
|rowspan=4|2007
|rowspan=2|[[2006–07 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit]]–[[2006–07 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
|[[WDFN|WDFN-AM]] ([[2006–07 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit]])
|
|
|-
|[[WCFS-FM|WCKG-FM]] ([[2006–07 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]])
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|[[2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]–[[2006–07 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
|[[WTAM|WTAM-AM]] ([[2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]])
|[[Joe Tait]]
|
|-
|[[WFAN (AM)|WFAN-AM]] ([[2006–07 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]])
|
|
|}
===Eastern Conference finals===
===Western Conference finals===
===NBA Finals===
==See also==
* [[NBA records]]
== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090318062611/http://www.nba.com/playoffs2007/index.html Official website of the 2007 NBA Playoffs]
* [https://www.espn.com/nba/index ESPN's NBA page]
{{NBAPlayoffs}}
{{2006–07 NBA season by team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2007 NBA Playoffs}}
[[Category:NBA playoffs]]
[[Category:2006–07 NBA season|Playoffs]]
[[fi:NBA-kausi 2006–2007#Pudotuspelit]]
| |||