and Ward were suspended for Game 6; Johnson and Starks were suspended for Game 7. Miami becomes the 6th team in NBA history to come back from a 3–1 series deficit. This was the first playoff meeting between the Heat and the Knicks. Western Conference semifinals (1) Utah Jazz vs. (4) Los Angeles Lakers In Game 5, Kobe Bryant had an infamous rookie moment in which he airballed 4 jump shots from the end of regulation through the end of overtime. This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting. (2) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (3) Houston Rockets Seattle and Houston individually tie their regular season records with 57 wins apiece. Although the Sonics won the Pacific division, the Rockets won the regular season series over the Sonics 3-1, and gained home-court advantage. This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning the first five meetings. Conference finals Eastern Conference finals (1) Chicago Bulls vs. (2) Miami Heat This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first two meetings. Western Conference finals (1) Utah Jazz vs. (3) Houston Rockets Eddie Johnson hits the game-winning 3-pointer to even the series. John Stockton hits the series-winning 3-pointer. This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning two of the first three meetings. NBA Finals: (E1) Chicago Bulls vs. (W1) Utah Jazz Michael Jordan hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer. Scottie Pippen tied a then-Finals record with 7 3-pointers. John Stockton threw a full-court pass over Michael Jordan to Karl Malone to give Utah the lead for good. (The Flu Game), Michael Jordan plays 44 minutes and scores 38 points despite being ill from food poisoning. Steve Kerr hits the series-winner with 5 seconds left, then Scottie Pippen steals Bryon Russell's inbounds pass and rolls the ball to Toni Kukoč, who dunks it right before the buzzer to bring the Finals to a close. This was the first NBA Finals meeting between the Bulls and the Jazz. References External links Basketball-Reference.com's 1997 Playoffs section National Basketball Association playoffs Playoffs Sports in Portland, Oregon fi:NBA-kausi 1996–1997#Pudotuspelit