With the score tied at 98, Russell Westbrook committed a crucial turnover when he slipped and lost the ball. This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first five meetings.

Game 4 was a close one, with the Clippers leading for much of the fourth quarter before the Spurs took the lead on a Duncan hook shot.

With the Sixers leading 78–75 with 12 seconds to go, the Celtics squandered a chance to tie the game, as Garnett was called for an offensive foul.

Boston answered back, holding a 3-point lead in the final minute before James hit a 3 to tie it with 36 seconds left. The regular season ended on Wednesday, April 17, 2013. However, the Spurs blew the game open in the second half and won by 12 to take a 3–0 lead in the series.

However, the Spurs quickly cut the lead to 7 with 36.4 seconds before the half, with the half ending with a 10-point Clipper lead. Following Parker's free-throw that extended the Spurs' lead to 3, the Clippers had one last chance.

However, the Lakers would fail to keep the lead, with the Thunder eventually going on a 9–0 run to take a 2–0 series lead. However, Bass led a run that pushed the Celtics' lead to 11. The Lakers were not able to respond as they watched the Thunder take the series, 4–1, to send the Lakers back home for the second straight season in the Conference Semifinals. Game 2 was much closer, even without Knicks' starting rookie guard This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning three of the first four meetings. Game 3 was close throughout the first half, with the Spurs leading only by 2 after the first half.

Facing the prospect of trailing 1–3 in the series, the Sixers came back to take the game from the Celtics and tie the series going back to Boston.

In Game 6, West and Granger started for the Pacers despite their injuries. Miami eventually won 115–111 to take a 2–0 series lead. Game 1 was close as the teams were tied coming into the 2nd quarter. The Hawks had homecourt advantage for the series despite being the lower seeded team by having the better season-record of the two; the Celtics took the 4th-seed by winning their division title. With the win, the Spurs extended their 2012 playoff record to 10–0. The Sixers then hit their final four free-throws to tie the series at 1 going back to Philadelphia. In Game 4, the Celtics led by as much as 18 in the third quarter.

The Pacers were considered the heavy favorites in the series as the Magic would try to defeat the Pacers without This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece. The Heat defeated the Knicks in Game 1 by 33 points. Notably, before Game 4 had even been played, Jazz forward Al Jefferson commented that he didn't think any team would defeat the SpursThis was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning three of the first four meetings.

Trailing by as many as 27, and down 95–71 with 9:13 left, the Clippers held the Grizzlies to just one field goal the rest of the game and pulled off an improbable 99–98 victory before a stunned, sold-out crowd of 18,119 at FedExForum.This was the first playoff meeting between the Clippers and the Grizzlies.This is the first playoffs that the city of Los Angeles has both teams participating in the Conference Semifinals. Wade recovered from his Game 3 performance by scoring 30. They faced each other in the Eastern Conference First Round in 2010 (won by the Celtics, 4–1) and in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2011 (won by the Heat, 4–1). The third quarter was decisive once again, letting the Heat tie the game going to the fourth quarter, which was even more decisive. In Game 3, the Celtics got strong performances from Rondo, Garnett, and Pierce.

Game 4 was the same story, with the Celtics hitting several 3's and putting on a lead as big as 18. In Game 3, the Sixers held their last lead with 9:09 left in the second quarter as the Celtics took over the rest of the game to lead them to a 2–1 series advantage. Meanwhile, the Clippers were coming off a tough seven-game series against the Memphis Grizzlies and had to play Game 1 just 2 days after the Game 7 ended. The Spurs were touted the heavy favorites in the series, following their 10-game winning streak to end the regular season and their 3–1 season series victory over the Jazz.

However, the Spurs quickly took control in the 2nd and 3rd quarters as they defeated the Clippers, 108–92, and took a 1–0 series lead. With 4:22 left, Pierce fouled out, giving Miami a big chance.

Game 1 would be close, with the Thunder taking a 9-point lead going to the fourth, looking poised to give the Spurs their first loss of the postseason.

He was expected to be out for the rest of the series. They eventually won Game 1 106–91. The Celtics still held a 2-point lead in the dying seconds, but Wade missed a potential game-winning 3 at the buzzer, giving the Celtics a 93–91 win to tie the series going back to Miami.

The Celtics never recovered as the Heat booked a return trip to the Finals with a 101–88 Game 7 win in Miami. Miami had another big 3rd quarter. Then, after the third period, West left the game with a knee injury. The Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat defeated the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder, 4–1, to win their second NBA title. Unlike Game 3, they took the lead. Game 5 in Atlanta was a close one. The fourth quarter was close. All previous meetings took place while the Thunder franchise were still known as the This was the first playoff meeting between the Heat and the Thunder.Conference Finals: (2) Miami Heat vs. (4) Boston Celtics(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (3) Los Angeles LakersConference Finals: (1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (2) Oklahoma City ThunderNBA Finals: (W2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (E2) Miami HeatConference Finals: (2) Miami Heat vs. (4) Boston Celtics(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (3) Los Angeles LakersConference Finals: (1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (2) Oklahoma City ThunderNBA Finals: (W2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (E2) Miami Heat

However, the Spurs took control on both ends in the fourth quarter to stay perfect in the playoffs.

In Game 1, Rondo had another triple-double, but the Sixers held a 10-point lead with 10:53 left in the fourth quarter. However, Boston held on for a 101–91 victory to make it 2–1.