The Miami Heat almost pulled off one of the most improbable, astonishing, and impressive championship runs in NBA history. They finished the regular season 44-38 and entered the play-in tournament as the No. 7 seed. They lost the first game of the play-in, but won the second game to advance to the playoffs.
The Heat became the sixth No. 8 seed in NBA history to defeat a No. 1 seed in the first round – taking down the Milwaukee Bucks in five games. They then defeated the New York Knicks (No. 5 seed) in six games and the Boston Celtics (No. 2 seed) to advance to their second NBA Finals in the past four years.
Miami wasn’t able to move past the Denver Nuggets, falling to the No. 1 seed in five games and bringing their improbable championship run to an end. It would’ve gone down as one of the most impressive runs, considering half of the Heat’s roster consisted of undrafted players who most people haven’t heard of.
What Are the Most Improbable Title Runs in NBA History?
Every year, we see one or two NBA teams enter the playoffs as favorites to win it all. Sometimes it’s a result of season-long dominance (like the Denver Nuggets), while other times it’s a result of mid-season adjustments and/or additions (like the Phoenix Suns). Either way, we all have teams we feel good about.
But this is the NBA – where amazing happens. Where being a favorite means nothing unless you’re willing to live up to that title. And while teams often do (again, like the Denver Nuggets), we often see teams over-exceed expectations and put together a championship run that none of us could’ve imagined.
Throughout NBA history, there have been several teams who fall into that category – a category the Miami Heat were hoping to join this postseason. While the Heat weren’t able to finish what they started, let’s take a look at some of the most improbable and impressive championship runs in NBA history.
15. 1998 NBA Finals – Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls were a No. 1 seed in the 1998 NBA Finals, so you might be wondering what made this championship run improbable. First off, the Bulls had won the past two seasons and five of the past six seasons, but their ‘big 3’ was drained by this point and they were bound to lose eventually – but not yet.
The Bulls dropped Game 1 to the Utah Jazz, but won the next three games to take a 3-1 series lead. Another loss in Game 5 kept the Jazz alive, but the Bulls closed the series out in Game 6 with a tight 87-86 win. Michael Jordan had 45 points in that Game 6, earning the second three-peat of his career.
14. 1951 NBA Finals – Rochester Royals
The Rochester Royals entered the 1951 playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. They beat the Fort Wayne Pistons in three games in the first round, but had their work cut out for them in the Division Finals against the No. 1 seeded Minneapolis Lakers. They lost Game 1, but won the next three.
The Royals advanced to the 1951 NBA Finals and were matched up against the No. 3 seeded New York Knicks. Rochester got off to a hot start and won the first three games of the series, but the Knicks came back to win the next three and tied the series 3-3. The Royals beat the Knicks by four points in Game 7.
13. 1978 NBA Finals – Washington Bullets
The Washington Bullets entered the 1978 playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. They defeated the Atlanta Hawks 2-0 in the first round, with their second win coming in overtime, and defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4-2 in the Conference Semifinals to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Matched up against the No. 1 seeded Philadelphia 76ers, the Bullets won Games 1, 3, and 4 to take a 3-1 series lead. The 76ers kept their season alive in Game 5, but the Bullets won Game 6 to advance to their third NBA Finals. They found themselves down 3-2 in the Finals, but won Games 6 and 7 to win it all.
12. 1981 NBA Finals – Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics entered the 1981 playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, but Larry Bird was in just his second year and they were coming off a season that ended with a 4-1 loss to the 76ers in the Conference Finals. After sweeping the Chicago Bulls in the second round, Boston got their revenge.
The Celtics found themselves down 3-1 to the 76ers in the Conference Finals, but won the remaining three games to take the series in seven games. They then went on to face the Houston Rockets in the 1981 NBA Finals. While the series was tied 2-2 through four games, the Celtics won Games 5 and 6.
11. 1975 NBA Finals – Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors entered the 1975 playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, but they faced some resistance on their way to the NBA Finals. First up was Spencer Haywood and the Seattle Supersonics, who the Warriors defeated in Game 6 behind strong play by guard Rick Barry.
They were matched up against the Chicago Bulls in the Conference Finals and were up 3-2 in the series, but the Bulls forced a Game 7 – which the Warriors won by four points. Even more impressive was their four-game sweep of Elvin Hayes, Wes Unseld, and the Washington Bullets in the 1975 NBA Finals.
10. 1969 NBA Finals – Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics entered the 1969 playoffs as the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Division, but that didn’t stop them from handling the No. 2 seeded Philadelphia 76ers 41- in the division semifinals. They then faced the No. 3 seeded New York Knicks in the division finals, but they couldn’t stop them either.
The Celtics had a 3-1 lead over the Knicks and lost Game 5, but finished the series in six – two of their four wins in the series were by one point. The 1969 Finals saw them matched up against the No. 1 seeded Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics lost the first two games and were down 3-2 at one point, but they won two straight – including a two-point Game 7 victory.
9. 2022 NBA Finals – Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors entered the 2022 playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, but all eyes were on the Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies – no one was picking the Warriors to win it all. Still, they steamrolled their way through the playoffs, starting with a 4-1 win over the Denver Nuggets.
They faced a little resistance from the Grizzlies, but were able to finish them in six games before finishing the Dallas Mavericks in five games. They met the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals and were down 1-2 in the series after three games, but won the next three games to capture their fourth title in eight years.
8. 2019 NBA Finals – Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors entered the 2019 playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, but a lot of people weren’t picking them to go all the way – instead, they were looking at the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Houston Rockets. Nonetheless, the Raptors prevailed.
Toronto ran through the Orlando Magic 4-1 in the first round, but faced some resistance in the second round when they beat the 76ers in seven games. They were down 0-2 vs. the Bucks in the Conference Finals, but won four straight and stunned the Warriors in six games to capture their first ever title.
7. 2006 NBA Finals – Miami Heat
The Miami Heat entered the 2006 playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, but no one expected them to win. Dwyane Wade was only in his third season and Shaquille O’Neal was aging, but the duo found a way to dominate when it mattered most and brought 305 its first-ever championship.
The Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls 4-2 in the first round, the New Jersey Nets 4-1 in the conference semifinals, and the Detroit Pistons 4-2 in the Conference Finals. While they found themselves down 0-2 in the 2006 NBA Finals, they managed to win the next four games to officially put Wade County on the map.
6. 2003 NBA Finals – San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs entered the 2003 playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, but no one expected Tim Duncan to carry this team – which featured a rookie Manu Ginobili, second-year Tony Parker, and a David Robinson in his final season – to a title. Nonetheless, they did exactly that.
The Spurs defeated Marbury/Marion/Stoudemire and the Suns 4-2 in the first round before moving past the defending champion Lakers 4-2 in the second round. Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki couldn’t stop them and they ended the title run with a six-game series against Jason Kidd and the New Jersey Nets.
5. 2016 NBA Finals – Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the 2016 playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and a lot of people knew they had a shot at winning a title, but they didn’t make it easy on themselves – at least not towards the end. They started a perfect 8-0 after sweeping the Pistons and Hawks in the first two rounds.
They took a 2-0 lead in the Conference Finals, but lost the next two games before closing the series out in six games. Matched up against the Golden State Warriors, the Cavaliers fell down 0-2 and 1-3 in the 2016 NBA Finals, but never gave up. They won the next three games to complete the series comeback.
4. 1977 NBA Finals – Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers entered the 1977 playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and were pegged as a long shot to win the NBA title. They started off with a 2-1 series win over the Chicago Bulls and advanced to the Western Conference Finals with a 4-2 series win over the Denver Nuggets.
Led by Bill Walton, the Trail Blazers shocked the world when they swept Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Conference Finals. They went on to face Julius Erving and the No. 1 seeded Philadelphia 76ers in the 1977 NBA Finals – they fell down 0-2 in the series, but won the next four games.
3. 2004 NBA Finals – Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons entered the 2004 playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. They didn’t have a bonafide superstar on the team, but had a group of players who knew how to flourish in their role and excelled on the defensive side of the ball. They were physical and they showed it during this run.
They ended up beating the Milwaukee Bucks in five games before turning out a tough seven-game series win against the New Jersey Nets. They punched their ticked into the NBA Finals with a 4-2 series win over the Indiana Pacers and ran through the LA Lakers in five games – they made it look way too easy.
2. 2011 NBA Finals – Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks entered the 2011 playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, but most people had their eyes on the Miami Heat in the East and the San Antonio Spurs or LA Lakers in the West. After a tight 4-2 series win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas steamrolled their way into the Finals.
They completed an impressive sweep of the LA Lakers in the Conference Semifinals before dismantling the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games in the Conference Finals. They were matched up against the Miami Heat’s ‘Big Three’ and found themselves down 1-2 in the series, but won the next three games.
1. 1995 NBA Finals – Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets entered the 1995 playoffs as the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference and went on to become the lowest-seeded team to ever win an NBA title. The Rockets had no business winning that championship, but they believed in themselves and overcame the odds to complete the repeat.
The Rockets beat the Utah Jazz 3-2 in the first round, the Phoenix Suns 4-3 in the second round, and the San Antonio Spurs 4-2 in the Conference Finals. They then had to work their way through Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway, and the Orlando Magic – the Houston Rockets swept them in four games.
Who Has the Most Championships in NBA History?
Did you know there are 11 teams in the NBA that have never won a championship before? The Nuggets used to be one of those teams, but they’re finally free. Now they’re tasked with trying to do what only 11 franchises have done in NBA history – win multiple titles. They’re certainly the favorites moving forward!
As of 2023, the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics are tied for the most championships in NBA history – they each have 17 titles since 1947. The Golden State Warriors have seven titles, the Chicago Bulls have six, and the San Antonio Spurs have five, while the 76ers, Pistons, and Heat each have three.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Nikola Jokic Makes History With 11th Career Playoff Triple-Double — Here’s a Look Back at Each Performance
Likewise, there are only three teams to have more than 10 Finals appearances in NBA history – the Warriors have made 12 appearances, the Celtics have made 22 appearances, and the Lakers have made 32 appearances. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are 1 for 1 in the NBA Finals and will look to improve on that.
Miami Heat Become the 6th No. 8 Seed to Defeat a No. 1 Seed in the NBA Playoffs – Who Are the Others?
The Miami Heat finished the 2022-23 regular season with a 44-38 record and had the seventh-best record in the Eastern Conference. With the way the NBA playoffs are set up these days, the Heat needed to make their way through the play-in tournament before securing their spot – which they narrowly did.
Their first shot at a spot in the NBA playoffs came against the Atlanta Hawks – a win would’ve made Miami a No. 7 seed, but they lost the game 116-105. They weren’t done, though. The Heat still had one more shot at a playoff spot against the Chicago Bulls, beating them 102-91 and earning that No. 8 seed.
As the No. 8 seed, the Miami Heat were matched up against the Milwaukee Bucks – the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. While no one was counting Miami out, they certainly weren’t favored to win the series and knew they had an uphill battle if they wanted to advance to the next round – which they did.
RELATED: Only 10 NBA Players Played in All 82 Games This Season — Can You Name Who They Are?
Which No. 8 Seeds Have Beat a No. 1 Seed in the NBA Playoffs?
It only took the Miami Heat five games to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks and advance to the second round. They ended up splitting the first two games on the road before winning the next two games in Miami. With a 3-1 series lead, the Heat handled business in Game 5 and ended the series on the Bucks’ home court.
With the series win, the Miami Heat became just the sixth No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in the history of the NBA playoffs and the first team to do so in 11 years. It’s something we don’t get to see often, which makes it that much more incredible when it happens – I mean, who doesn’t love a good Cinderella story?
The Miami Heat have an opportunity to become just the second No. 8 seed to advance past the second round. All they need to do is defeat the No. 5 seed New York Knicks, who coincidentally is the last team to do so – the Knicks are also the only No. 8 seed to ever advance to the NBA Finals, doing so in 1999.
Let’s take a closer look at the six No. 8 seeds who have beaten a No. 1 seed in the NBA playoffs:
6. Miami Heat Defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 in 2023
The Miami Heat finished the 2022-23 season as the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 44-38 record, but entered the playoffs as the No. 8 seed after narrowly making it out of the play-in tournament. They were matched up against the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks (58-24) in the first round of the playoffs.
The Heat beat the Bucks 130-117 in Game 1 and were led by Jimmy Butler, who finished with 35 points, 5 rebounds, 11 assists, and 3 steals in the win. Caleb Martin and Kevin Love combined for 33 points off the bench, while Bam Adebayo had a near-triple-double with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists.
After a 122-138 loss in Game 2, the Heat bounced back with a 121-99 win in Game 3. They were, once again, led by Jimmy Butler with 30 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Duncan Robinson, Kyle Lowry, and Caleb Martin combined for 47 points off the bench, while Bam Adebayo had a double-double.
The Heat took a 3-1 series lead after a tight 119-114 victory in Game 4. Jimmy Butler had a masterful performance with 56 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block in 41 minutes of play. He nearly outscored the rest of his team, who finished with 63 points, and put the team on his back – as he always does.
Miami closed the series out in Game 5, securing a tight 128-126 road win. The game was tied 118-118 at the end of regulation, but the Heat outscored the Bucks 10-8 in the overtime period. Jimmy Butler finished the game with 42 points, Gabe Vincent added 22 points, and Bam Adebayo chipped in with 20 points.
Jimmy Butler was electric all series long. He played in all five games and averaged 37.2 minutes per game – recording 37.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. They were able to overcome injuries to Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo early in the series to advance to the next round.
5. Philadelphia 76ers Defeat the Chicago Bulls 4-2 in 2012
The Philadelphia 76ers finished the 2011-12 regular season as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 35-31 record. They were matched up against the Chicago Bulls, who were the No. 1 seed in the East with a 50-16 record. The Bulls were heavily favored, but the 76ers beat them 4-2 in the first round.
Despite losing Derrick Rose in Game 1, the Bulls walked away with a 103-91 win. Unfortunately, they lost the next three games – starting with a 109-92 win by the 76ers in Game 2. Jrue Holiday led the way for Philly with 26 points and 6 assists, while Lou Williams added 20 points and 6 assists off the bench.
Game 3 was a tight one, but the 76ers pulled away with a 79-74 win after outscoring the Bulls by 14 points in the fourth quarter. Spencer Hawes led the way for Philly with 21 points and 9 rebounds, while Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner combined for 33 points – Lou Williams had 14 points off the bench.
The 76ers took a 3-1 series lead with an 89-82 victory in Game 4 after outscoring the Bulls 25-19 in the fourth quarter. Spencer Hawes led the way, once again, with 22 points and 3 blocks, while Jrue Holiday stayed productive with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists – Andre Iguodala had a double-double.
After suffering a 69-77 loss in Game 5, the 76ers closed the series out with a narrow 79-78 victory in Game 6. Both teams were knotted up at 63-63 heading into the fourth quarter and it remained close throughout the final quarter, but Andre Iguodala hit two free throws with 2 seconds left to win the game.
Jrue Holiday stayed consistent throughout the series and averaged 18.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 38.7 minutes per game (6 games). Lou Williams averaged 12.8 points off the bench, while Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, and Andre Iguodala averaged at least 11.5 points per game.
4. Memphis Grizzlies Defeat the San Antonio Spurs 4-2 in 2011
The Memphis Grizzlies finished the 2010-11 regular season as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference with a 46-36 record. They were matched up against the San Antonio Spurs, who were the No. 1 seed in the West with a 61-21 record. The Grizzlies somehow prevailed, beating the Spurs 4-2 in the first round.
The Grizzlies took an early series lead with a 101-98 win in Game 1. They were led by Zach Randolph (25 points, 14 rebounds, 2 blocks) and Marc Gasol (24 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks). Shane Battier and O.J. Mayo combined for 23 points off the bench, while Mike Conley chipped in with another 15 points.
After suffering an 87-93 loss in Game 2, the Grizzlies bounced back with a tight 91-88 win in Game 3. They were, once again, led by Zach Randolph with 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals. Marc Gasol and Mike Conley combined for 31 points, while Shane Battier and O.J. Mayo combined for 19 points.
The Grizzlies took a commanding 3-1 series lead with a 104-86 win in Game 4. Memphis didn’t have anyone score above 20 points, but Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, and Tony Allen combined for 38 points – while O.J. Mayo and Darrell Arthur combined for 25 points off the bench. It was a total team effort.
The Spurs battled back with a win in Game 5, but the Grizzlies closed out the series with a 99-91 victory in Game 6. Zach Randolph had his best game of the series and led the Grizzlies with 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 steal – Tony Allen and Marc Gasol combined for 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
Zach Randolph put the team on his back throughout the six-game series and ended with 21.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 37.3 minutes per game. Mike Conley and Marc Gasol averaged 14.3 and 14.2 points per game, respectively, and O.J. Mayo averaged 9.0 points off the bench.
3. Golden State Warriors Defeat the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in 2007
The Golden State Warriors finished the 2006-07 season as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference with a 42-40 record. They were matched up against the Dallas Mavericks, who were the No. 1 seed in the West with a 67-15 record. The Warriors defied all odds, beating the Mavs 4-2 in the first round series.
The Warriors took an early series lead with a 97-85 win in Game 1. They were led by Baron Davis with 33 points, 14 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block in 45 minutes. Stephen Jackson chipped in with 23 points, 2 steals, and 1 block, while Matt Barnes added another 10 points and 2 steals off the bench.
The Mavericks tied the series up with a 112-99 win in Game 2, but the Warriors bounced back with a 109-91 win in Game 3. Jason Richardson led the team with 30 points and 8 rebounds, while Baron Davis added 24 points and 2 steals – Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis combined for another 30 points.
The Warriors took a 3-1 series lead with a tight 103-99 victory in Game 4. Both teams were tied 77-77 after the third quarter, but the Warriors outscored the Mavs by four points in the fourth quarter. Baron Davis had 33 points, while Jason Richardson and Stephen Jackson combined for another 41 points.
The Mavericks avoided being sent home with a 118-112 win in Game 6, but the Warriors closed the series out with a commanding 111-86 victory in Game 6. All five of the Warriors’ starters scored in double-digits, including Stephen Jackson (33), Baron Davis (20), Matt Barnes (16), and Jason Richardson (15).
Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson were too much for the Mavericks to handle – Davis had 25.0 points per game in the series, while Jackson had 22.8 points per game. Jason Richardson nearly averaged 20 points with 19.5 points per game, while Matt Barnes averaged 10.2 points per game off the bench.
2. New York Knicks Defeat the Miami Heat 3-2 in 1999
The New York Knicks finished the 1998-99 regular season as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 27-23 record. They were matched up against the Miami Heat, who were the No. 1 seed in the East with a 33-17 record. The Knicks overcame the underdog noise, beating the Heat 3-2 in the first round.
The Knicks took an early series lead with a blowout 95-75 win in Game 1. Patrick Ewing only scored 9 points (15 rebounds) in the win, but other Knicks’ players stepped up to the plate – including Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell, both of whom scored 22 points (Sprewell did so off the bench).
New York allowed Miami to even up the series in Game 2, but bounced back with a blowout 97-73 win in Game 3 – leaving them one game shy of moving on. Patrick Ewing and Allan Houston combined for 33 points in the win, while Latrell Sprewell led the team with 20 points off the bench – again coming up big.
The Heat stayed alive with an 87-72 win in Game 4, but the Knicks closed the series out with a tight 78-77 win in Game 5 – thanks to a 10-foot, game-winning jump shot by Allan Houston with one second left. Patrick Ewing led the team with 22 points, while Latrell Sprewell chipped in with 14 points off the bench.
The Knicks were led by a three-headed monster in Latrell Sprewell (16.2 points per game), Allan Houston (15.2 points per game), and Patrick Ewing (14.6 points per game) – Ewing averaged a double-double. Larry Johnson added 12.0 points per game in the series, helping the team advance to the next round.
New York went on to beat the Atlanta Hawks 4-0 in the semifinals and the Indiana Pacers 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals. They became the first and only No. 8 seed to reach the NBA Finals, but struggled to keep their Cinderella story alive – ultimately losing to the San Antonio Spurs in five games.
1. Denver Nuggets Defeat the Seattle Supersonics 3-2 in 1994
The Denver Nuggets finished the 1993-94 regular season as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference with a 42-40 record. They were matched up against the Seattle Supersonics, who were the No. 1 seed in the West with a 63-19 record. No one expected Denver to win, but their 3-2 series win says otherwise.
It didn’t start off well for the Nuggets, though. They ended up losing 106-82 in Game 1 (a 24-point loss) and losing again 97-87 in Game 2 (a 10-point loss). The Nuggets were down 2-0 and had their backs up against the wall – one more loss and they were going home. That’s when they kicked it into high gear.
The Nuggets got their first win of the series in Game 3, beating the Supersonics 110-93. They were led by Reggie Williams with 31 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Dikembe Mutombo added 19 points and 13 rebounds of his own. Rodney Rogers and Robert Pack combined for 26 points off the bench.
Denver, once again, stayed alive with a 94-85 in Game 4 – tying the series up at 2-2. They were led by LaPhonso Ellis, who had 27 points and 17 rebounds in 43 minutes. Dikembe Mutombo had 10 points and 16 rebounds, while Robert Pack and Rodney Rogers added another 21 points off the bench.
The Nuggets won their third game in a row to close out the series with a tight 98-94 overtime victory in Game 5. They were led by Robert Pack, who scored 23 points off the bench – Bison Dele had 17 points and 19 rebounds off the bench. LaPhonso Ellis turned in an impressive performance with 19 points.
The Denver Nuggets got it done through a total team effort – they had four players average at least 11.0 points per game and eight players average at least 8.8 points per game. Dikembe Mutombo did what he does best, averaging an impressive 12-point double-double and blocking 6.2 shots per game on defense.
The 2023 NBA Playoffs Are the Year of the Underdog
The Miami Heat weren’t the only team in the Eastern Conference to pull an upset in the NBA playoffs – the No. 5 seed New York Knicks ended up defeating the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers in five games. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers stayed true to their seed and avoided upsets of their own.
The Western Conference also saw two upsets in the first round – the No. 6 seed Golden State Warriors defeated the No. 3 seed Sacramento Kings in seven games, while the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies in six games. The Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns handled business.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: NBA Sets Several Attendance Records During the 2022-23 Regular Season — Which NBA Teams Had the Highest Average Attendance This Year?
Looking at the NBA playoffs bracket, we’re guaranteed to see at least a No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference Finals (potentially a No. 8 seed) and at least a No. 6 seed in the Western Conference Finals (potentially a No. 7 seed). If that doesn’t get you excited for what’s to come, I don’t know what will.
Contents
What to Read Next...
At The Buzzer, or ATB is the place for those who love sports, life, family, community, and so much more. We are far from the run-of-the-mill 24/7 sports news websites. We not only bring you what’s happening in the world of sports in terms of trades and breaking news, but we also bring you the news that goes on behind the scenes, like big life moments, and so much more. So take a minute and read one of our articles, we promise you won't regret it.