The 2001 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2000-01 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 1. Shaquille O'Neal was named NBA Finals MVP for the second straight year. Overview The Dallas Mavericks made the playoffs for the first time since 1990. Along the way they had many abysmal seasons, including back-to-back years with 11 and 13 wins. The Los Angeles Lakers entered the postseason with an eight game winning streak, while the Milwaukee Bucks entered the playoffs as division champions for the first time since 1986. For the first time since 1997, all four late 80’s expansion teams (Miami, Orlando, Charlotte, and Minnesota) made the playoffs. As of 2023, this remains the most recent occurrence of all four expansion teams making the playoffs. With their series win over the Orlando Magic, the Milwaukee Bucks won their first playoff series since 1989. With their 3-2 series win over the Utah Jazz in the first round, they won their first playoff series since 1988. This also marked the first time since 1995 that the Jazz failed to advance past the first round. The Sacramento Kings won their first playoff series since 1981 (when they were the Kansas City Kings) and the first since moving to Sacramento. The Toronto Raptors also won their first playoff series in franchise history with their 3–2 first round victory over the New York Knicks. They would not win another playoff series until 2016. For the first time since 1991, the Knicks failed to win a first-round playoff series. Coincidentally, this also marked the first time since 1996 that the Heat and the Knicks did not meet in the playoffs as both teams were eliminated in the first round by Charlotte and Toronto, respectively. The Heat and the Knicks would not return to the playoffs until 2004. 2001 also marked the closest the Charlotte Hornets came to making the Conference Finals, taking a 3-2 series lead over the Milwaukee Bucks before bowing out in seven games. After eliminating the Hornets, the Milwaukee Bucks made the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1986. For the Bucks, this was their most recent playoff series win until 2019. The Western Conference Semi-Finals series between the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks also marked the start of the Mavericks-Spurs