The 2026 NBA playoffs are set. All first-round matchups are locked in after a dramatic Play-In Tournament, and, now, the hunt for the Larry O’Brien Trophy ramps up off Saturday, April 18 with four series-opening games.
The Play-In Tournament delivered plenty of excitemetn before a single first-round playoff game was played. The Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers locked up the No. 7 seeds in the West and East, respectively, earlier in the week before a doubleheader on Friday, April 17 determined the final two playoff berths in each conference.
The Orlando Magic knocked out the Charlotte Hornets early Friday night, building a 31-point halftime lead on their Southeast division rivals before cruising to a 121-90 victory. The Magic land the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference and will face the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the first round.
The Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors seemed headed for a tight battle for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference, but the Suns pulled away down the stretch for a 111-96 win to send Steph Curry and the Warroirs packing. The Suns’ prize for winning? A date with the No. 1 seed, defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
With the bracket now finalized, its’ time to ask: could the Magic and Suns shock the world and knock out the No. 1 seeds? Here is a look at some of the biggest first-round upsets in NBA playoff history, a reminder that anything can happen in the postseason.
USA TODAY LAUNCHES ‘250 FOR 250’: Who is the best athlete in U.S. history?
VOTE IN OUR ‘250 FOR 250’ POLL: Who’s the best American basketball player of all time?
NBA playoff schedule: Full first-round dates, times, how to watch
NBA playoffs best first round upsets
1994: Denver Nuggets (8) def. Seattle SuperSonics (1)
The first time a No. 8 seed eliminated a No. 1 seed in NBA playoff history. The SuperSonics had an impressive 63-19 regular-season record, but the Nuggets overcame a 2-0 series deficit to complete the stunning five-game upset.
1999: New York Knicks (8) def. Miami Heat (1)
The Knicks became the first No. 8 seed to reach the NBA Finals. After upsetting the top-seeded Heat in the first round in Game 5, New York rolled through the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers before falling to the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the Finals.
2007: Golden State Warriors (8) def. Dallas Mavericks (1)
The Warriors faced a Mavericks squad that had won a league-best 67 games during the regular season, which tied for the seventh-best regular-season record of all time. The Warriors sent the Mavericks packing in six games, with three of Golden State’s four wins coming by double digits.
2011: Memphis Grizzlies (8) def. San Antonio Spurs (1)
The Grizzlies claimed their first playoff series win in franchise history by upsetting the 61-win Spurs, with five of the six games decided by single digits. The Grizzlies advanced to the Western Conference semifinals but ultimately lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-3.
2012: Philadelphia 76ers (8) def. Chicago Bulls (1)
Back in 2012, the Bulls secured the top seed after tying for the league’s best record, and it seemed like they were destined for a deep run. However, everything shifted dramatically in the final minute of Game 1 when star guard Derrick Rose tore his ACL, giving the Sixers a huge boost. Philadelphia went on to take the series in six games, but its playoff run came to an end in the second round against the Boston Celtics.
2023: Miami Heat (8) def. Milwaukee Bucks (1)
The Heat, a Play-In Tournament team that entered as the No. 8 seed, dismantled the 58-win Bucks in five games behind one of the greatest individual series performances in playoff history from Jimmy Butler. The Heat also became the first play-in team ever to win a first-round series, and went on to reach the NBA Finals before falling to the Denver Nuggets.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoffs first-round upsets no one saw coming
Read the full article here