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Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat were the latest No. 8 seed team to upset a No. 1 seed in NBA playoffs history. The Heat did it last season against the Milwaukee Bucks, beating them in five hard-fought games. They have a chance to do it again this postseason after earning the eighth seed via the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Butler was out of the Heat's matchup against the Chicago Bulls, but the rest of the squad stepped up. Tyler Herro had a near triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, while Jamie Jaquez Jr. added 21 points, six rebounds and six assists.
So, has a No. 8 seed ever beaten a No. 1 seed in the NBA playoffs? Yes, it has happened six times since the league changed the postseason format to eight teams per conference.
Which No. 8 seeds have defeated the No. 1 seed in NBA playoffs?
The Denver Nuggets were the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in the NBA playoffs. The Dikembe Mutombo-led Nuggets upset the Seattle SuperSonics in 1994. However, it was only a five-game series, as the league had not implemented the seven-game series in the first round at the time.
The second No. 8 seed to do so was the 1999 New York Knicks. They beat the top-seeded Miami Heat in the first round in five games. Allan Houston hit the game-winning shot in Game 5 to eliminate the Knicks.
As for the most popular team to knock off a No. 1 seed, it's the "We Believe" Golden State Warriors in 2007. A group of seeming misfits led by Baron Davis and coached by Don Nelson put on a show to beat the 67-win Dallas Mavericks in the first round.
The last two No. 8 seeds to beat a No. 1 seed are the 2011 Memphis Grizzlies and 2012 Philadelphia 76ers. The Grizzlies, who were at the start of their "Grit-N-Grind" era, outplayed the San Antonio Spurs. The Sixers, on the other hand, capitalized on the absence of Derrick Rose, who suffered a knee injury in Game 1.
Has any No. 8 seed team made it past second round?
While there have been four No. 8 seeds in NBA playoffs history to make it past the first round, only one has moved past the second round. The 1999 New York Knicks shocked a lot of people when they made the NBA Finals.
The Knicks beat the Miami Heat in five games in the first round and swept the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. They then beat the Indiana Pacers in six games in the Eastern Conference finals, but a fairytale triumph was not to be, as they lost 4-1 to the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the NBA Finals.
List of No. 8 seed teams to defeat a top-seeded team in the NBA playoffs
1994 - Nuggets def. SuperSonics 3-2
Denver was the first team to make history led by Dikembe Mutombo against Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp and the Sonics. They didn't make it past the second round, losing to the Utah Jazz in seven games.
1999 - Knicks def. Heat 3-2
It was an even matchup despite the seeding since this happened in a lockout-shortened season. The Knicks made it to the NBA Finals but lost to the San Antonio Spurs in five games.
2007 - Warriors def. Mavericks 4-2
The "We Believe" Warriors were the first No. 8 seed team to upset a No. 1 seed team in a seven-game series. The fairytale ended early after five games into the second round against the Utah Jazz.
2011 - Grizzlies def. Spurs 4-2
The "Grit-N-Grind" Grizzlies showcased their heart in a thrilling upset over the Spurs. Memphis was too scrappy for the "old" San Antonio roster.
2012 - Sixers def. Bulls 4-2
Derrick Rose blew out his knee in Game 1 and the Sixers took advantage. The Bulls were too shocked at what happened to their best player and were out after six games.
2023 - Heat def. Bucks 4-1
The Heat had one of the most memorable runs in NBA playoff history last year. They were the second No. 8 seed to make it to the NBA Finals but lost to the Denver Nuggets in five games.
Guess the Bulls players in this quiz and it's not going to be easy!
