NBA Playoffs: How Many Times Has a No. 8 Seed Upset a No. 1 Seed?

MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 24: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat drives against Khris Middleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Kaseya Center on April 24, 2023 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

NBA Playoffs: How many times has a No. 8 seed upset a No. 1 seed? originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

History has been made at the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

The No. 8 Miami Heat beat the No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks 128-126 in a thrilling Game 5 on Wednesday to move on to the second round.

They became the latest No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 in doing so, and also became the first ever play-in tournament team to win a series.

Despite respective injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Tyler Herro, it was the Heat who overcame the adversity with Jimmy Butler leading the way, including dropping 56 points in Game 4 at home. He then had 42 in the overtime Game 5 win in Milwaukee to make history.

Now the Heat's series win has the basketball spectrum wondering: How many times has a No. 8 seed eliminated a No. 1?

Has a No. 8 seed ever upset a No. 1 seed in the NBA playoffs?

Prior to the Heat's win in 2023, four No. 8 seeds had advanced past No. 1 seeds in Round 1 of the playoffs, beginning with the No. 8 Nuggets’ victory over the No. 1 SuperSonics during the 1994 season.

The No. 8 Knicks also threw an unexpected competition in the works when they defeated the No. 1 Heat in the 1999 playoffs.

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The trend continued with the No. 8 Warriors’ win over the No. 1 Mavericks in 2007 and the No. 8 Grizzlies’ win over the No. 1 Spurs in 2011.

During the 1997-98 season, the Knicks also had an exciting run, but this time, they did not just defeat a No. 1 seed in Round 1. The Knicks flew all the way to the NBA Finals. After defeating No. 1 Miami in Round 1 and No. 4 Atlanta in Round 2, the Knicks moved on to the conference finals, where they defeated the No. 2 Pacers and went on to the Finals against the No. 3 Spurs. Though they lost in five games, this made the Knicks the first No. 8 seed to make the NBA Finals in history.

Miami in 2023 will now play the No. 5-seeded Knicks in the second round to attempt to top that historic achievement.

But not only have No. 8 seeds upset No. 1 seeds. Thus far, five No. 7 seeds have made their mark by upsetting No. 2 seeds as well. The first time was the 1986-87 Seattle SuperSonics’ victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Round 1 and now we see the Pelicans making a similar move with the Suns this season.

RELATED: What’s the lowest seed to ever win the NBA Finals

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