The NBA playoffs are where legacies are made — and occasionally, where heavily favored teams see theirs collapse. Here are the biggest upsets in NBA postseason history.
2007: We Believe Warriors over #1 Mavericks
The most iconic upset of the modern era. The eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors knocked off the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round, becoming just the third 8-seed to beat a 1-seed in NBA history.
The Mavericks had won 67 games and Dirk Nowitzki was the reigning MVP. But Don Nelson, who had previously coached the Mavericks, knew every weakness. Baron Davis played the series of his life, and the Warriors' small-ball lineup ran circles around Dallas.
The "We Believe" Warriors became a cultural phenomenon. Golden State fans were so starved for success that their energy in Oracle Arena literally shook the building.
2011: Mavericks over the Miami Heat
When LeBron James teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, they were supposed to win "not five, not six, not seven" championships. In their first Finals, they were heavy favorites against Dirk Nowitzki's Mavericks.
Dallas won in six games. Dirk played through a 101-degree fever in Game 4 and hit clutch shot after clutch shot. LeBron famously disappeared in the fourth quarter of multiple games, averaging just 17.8 points for the series.
It remains one of the most stunning Finals results ever — a 33-year-old Dirk Nowitzki outdueling three future Hall of Famers in their prime.
1995: Rockets Repeat as 6th Seed
The 1994-95 Houston Rockets won the championship as a 6th seed — the lowest-seeded team to ever win a title. They swept the 60-win Orlando Magic in the Finals, with Hakeem Olajuwon dominating Shaquille O'Neal.
Houston's playoff run included series wins against the 3rd-seeded Jazz, the 1st-seeded Spurs, and the 1st-seeded Magic. They went 9-1 in their last ten playoff games, playing their best basketball when it mattered most.
1994: Nuggets over Sonics (First 8-over-1)
The Denver Nuggets became the first 8-seed to beat a 1-seed in NBA history, knocking off the 63-win Seattle SuperSonics. Dikembe Mutombo's shot-blocking and the Nuggets' defensive intensity turned the series into a grind.
Mutombo's iconic image — lying on the court clutching the basketball after the Game 5 clincher — remains one of the most famous photos in NBA history.
2004: Pistons over Lakers
The 2004 Finals pitted the Shaq-Kobe Lakers against the workmanlike Detroit Pistons. Los Angeles was the overwhelming favorite — they had four future Hall of Famers (Shaq, Kobe, Karl Malone, Gary Payton).
Detroit won in five games, holding the Lakers under 90 points three times. Ben Wallace's defense on Shaq, Chauncey Billups' Finals MVP performance, and Rip Hamilton's relentless movement exposed a Lakers team that relied too heavily on individual talent.
2023: 8th-Seed Heat to the Finals
The 2022-23 Miami Heat entered the playoffs as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, having just barely qualified through the play-in tournament. They proceeded to knock off the 1st-seeded Bucks, the 5th-seeded Knicks, and the 2nd-seeded Celtics to reach the Finals.
Jimmy Butler's playoff performances were legendary, including a 56-point game against the Bucks. Though Miami lost to Denver in the Finals, their run as an 8-seed to the championship series was historically unprecedented.
1969: Celtics over Lakers
The 1968-69 Celtics finished fourth in the East with a 48-34 record. They weren't supposed to beat anyone in the playoffs, let alone win the championship. But Bill Russell, in his final season as player-coach, led Boston past the 55-win Lakers in a seven-game Finals.
It was Russell's 11th championship and the ultimate testament to his winning mentality.
What Makes an Upset?
Great upsets share common elements:
- A star who elevates — Dirk in 2011, Butler in 2023, Baron Davis in 2007
- Superior coaching — Don Nelson in 2007, Larry Brown in 2004
- Team defense — Almost every upset involves the underdog playing suffocating defense
- A heavily favored team with internal issues — The 2007 Mavs were complacent, the 2004 Lakers had chemistry problems
Playoff upsets create the surprising facts that power trivia games. Test your knowledge of postseason history in Higher or Lower and 2 Truths 1 Lie.