Six Times the 8th Seed Upset the Top Seed in NBA Playoff History After Heat Stun Bucks

• Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat have pulled off the latest upset in NBA playoff history
• As eighth seed, they knocked out title favorites Milwaukee Bucks from the NBA playoffs
• The Heat finished eighth in the regular season, while the Bucks were the top in the East

The Miami Heat pulled off the impossible in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs, becoming just the sixth eighth-seed to eliminate the top seed in the first round.

The Heat, led by Jimmy Butler, refused to lie down in Games 4 and 5, roaring back from double-digit deficits to win.

They won Game 5 128-126 in overtime to send the 2021 NBA champions home.

There have been several instances where the eighth seed has knocked out the top seed.

Ranking the greatest upsets in NBA playoff history

NBA

Erik Spoelstra’s team had to compete in a do-or-die play-in tournament to make the playoffs. The Bucks played without Giannis Antetokounmpo in Games 2 and 3 and most of Game 1.

Sports Brief has looked at every instance in NBA history where the eighth seed has stunned the No. 1 seed in NBA playoff history.

1994: Denver Nuggets 3 - 2 Seattle SuperSonics

Going 0-2 down against a top seed that won 63 games in the NBA regular season usually means one thing; a sweep.

However, the Denver Nuggets had other plans for the top-seeded Seattle SuperSonics in the first round of the Western Conference in 1994. They went 0-2, losing both games by double digits but produced an improbable comeback.

It began in Game 3 when they shot 60% and won comfortably. In Game 4, they shot poorly but still won. Many expected the SuperSonics to take care of business in Game 5, but an epic performance saw the Nuggets win the game 98-94 to eliminate the top seed. Dikembe Mutombo produced an epic defensive performance, finishing with eight points, 15 rebounds, and eight blocks. 

Oklahoma City Thunder oust New Orleans Pelicans, to face Minnesota Timberwolves next for No. 8 seed

NBA

1999: New York Knicks 3 - 2 Miami Heat

The Knicks had an incredible 1998/99 season. They finished as the eighth seed in the shortened season and had to face the top-seeded Miami Heat, who finished with a 33-17 record. They were expected to win the first round comfortably but the Knicks stunned them in Game 1, which they won by 20 points.

The two teams went back and forth until a win-or-go-home Game 5, which went down to the wire. With the Knicks trailing by one in the closing seconds, Allan Houston produced a clutch play to send New York into dreamland. He made a floater which bounced several times before going in to seal the series for the Knicks. They are the only eighth seed in NBA history to reach the NBA Finals.

2007: Golden State Warriors 4 - 2 Dallas Mavericks

Before the dominant Stephen Curry era, the Golden State Warriors were underdogs a few years before all that. They finished eighth in 2007 and had to face top-seed Dallas Mavericks, who had won 67 games in the regular season.

LeBron James breaks down entire Grizzlies line-up ahead of playoff matchup with Lakers

NBA

The ‘We Believe’ Warriors stole Game 1 on the road, then comfortably won their home games. Three of their four wins were by double digits, including Game 6, which they won by 25 points. It is one of the greatest upsets in sports this century, per Sporting News.

2011: Memphis Grizzlies 4 - 2 San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs won 61 games in 2011 and were expected to challenge for the title. However, the eighth-seed Memphis Grizzlies had other plans. They won 46 games in a tough Western Conference. Every game was closely fought and five of the six games were decided by single digits.

The Grizzlies won Games 1 and 3 by three points, in what was their first playoff series win in their history. The 'Grit-n-Grin' Grizzlies were born that season. They went on to lose in seven games to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round.

Dillon Brooks wants to knock LeBron James out of the NBA playoffs

NBA

2012: Philadelphia 76ers 4 - 2 Chicago Bulls

In 2012, the Chicago Bulls looked like title contenders for the first time since Michael Jordan’s retirement. Led by MVP, Derrick Rose, the Bulls were expected to make the Eastern Conference finals at least. However, Rose tore his ACL in the final minutes of Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round, per USA Today.

Although the Bulls won that game, they would be eliminated in six games and have never reached those heights again. Rose’s injury was the beginning of the end of the All-Star, whose injuries in the following seasons would plague him. The Sixers, led by Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams, would exit in the second round after losing to the Boston Celtics in seven games.

2021: Miami Heat 4 - 1 Milwaukee Bucks

The Miami Heat were close to exiting the playoffs after finishing eighth in the regular season. They lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in tournament but won their do-or-die game to qualify.

From Jordan to Magic Johnson: Greatest performances in NBA playoff history

NBA

They faced the Milwaukee Bucks - who had the NBA's best record - in the first round. The 2021 NBA champions were expected to beat the Heat easily. However, Jimmy Butler's heroics, coupled with other factors, saw the heat pull off one of the biggest upsets in recent NBA memory. They won five games against the favorites, per ESPN.

Biggest upsets in playoff history

Sports Brief has also reported on the greatest upsets in NBA playoff history.

The Warriors pulled off the greatest upset in 2017 when they beat the MavsNo. 1 seed Dallas Mavericks as the 8th seed.

The Cavaliers also pulled off a historic comeback to win the 2016 NBA Finals.