gpikeThe Biggest Upset in NBA History
August 26th 2011 02:35
In NBA history, there haven't been as many upsets as other sports. Though, they still have occurred. Just last season, the Atlanta Hawks knocking off Orlando was an upset, a minor one, but an upset anyways. Golden State an eighth seed defeated top-seeded Dallas in seven games back in 2007, this was an upset. But, the biggest upset in NBA history happened back in 1994, when the Denver Nuggets beat the Seattle Supersonics in five games.
Seattle finished the regular season with a 63-19 record. They had the top-seed in the Western Conference, and Denver had a record of 42-40 and the eighth seed. During the regular season, Denver struggled on the road in winning only 14 out of 41 contests. To beat the Sonics in a five-game series, Denver needed to win just one time on the road. Seattle was 37-4 at home, making the task even more difficult. The Sonics featured Gary Payton, Detlef Schrempf and Shawn Kemp, and Denver countered with Dikembe Mutumbo, Laphonso Ellis and Mahoumed Abdul-Rauf.
Right away in game one of the series, Denver got thrashed by the Sonics, 106-82 at Key Arena. Seattle continued the winning ways in game two, beating Denver by ten. Then things changed once the teams changed landscapes.
Denver shut down Payton in game three, slowing the point guard from Oregon State, to just seven points. Kemp scored just 10 points. Denver led by Reggie Williams, who scored 31 points, jumped on the Sonics from the beginning en route to a 17-point win.
Game four was a little closer throughout, but the Nuggets kept their winning ways by beating Seattle, 94-85. Payton, and Schrempf scored 20 points apiece in the loss. Ellis led the Nuggets with 27 points in the win. As the series shifts back to Seattle, everything changes. Right?
You could tell from the start, this game was going down to the wire. Seattle held a three-point lead at halftime at 44-41. The Nuggets cut into it a little before the fourth quarter. Mutumbo's work down low kept the Nuggets afloat until they pulled even at the end of regulation at 88. Denver kept up the fire in the overtime, as Mutumbo wasn't going to be stopped down low. Blocked shot after blocked shot. 51 in total for the five game series, including eight in game five for Mutumbo. Robert Pack came off the bench to provide another scorer for the Nuggets
totaling 23 points, as they pulled off the upset, 98-94. Payton in game five only scored 14 points. Kemp had a better game then the previous four by scoring 19 points, but in the end Denver's defense down low was the deciding factor.
Denver went onto lose in seven games to Utah and Karl Malone in the second round. Their upset in this five-game series remains the biggest upset in NBA history. It will be hard to match this feat as the playoffs are all in the best of seven format now.
Seattle finished the regular season with a 63-19 record. They had the top-seed in the Western Conference, and Denver had a record of 42-40 and the eighth seed. During the regular season, Denver struggled on the road in winning only 14 out of 41 contests. To beat the Sonics in a five-game series, Denver needed to win just one time on the road. Seattle was 37-4 at home, making the task even more difficult. The Sonics featured Gary Payton, Detlef Schrempf and Shawn Kemp, and Denver countered with Dikembe Mutumbo, Laphonso Ellis and Mahoumed Abdul-Rauf.
Right away in game one of the series, Denver got thrashed by the Sonics, 106-82 at Key Arena. Seattle continued the winning ways in game two, beating Denver by ten. Then things changed once the teams changed landscapes.
Denver shut down Payton in game three, slowing the point guard from Oregon State, to just seven points. Kemp scored just 10 points. Denver led by Reggie Williams, who scored 31 points, jumped on the Sonics from the beginning en route to a 17-point win.
Game four was a little closer throughout, but the Nuggets kept their winning ways by beating Seattle, 94-85. Payton, and Schrempf scored 20 points apiece in the loss. Ellis led the Nuggets with 27 points in the win. As the series shifts back to Seattle, everything changes. Right?
You could tell from the start, this game was going down to the wire. Seattle held a three-point lead at halftime at 44-41. The Nuggets cut into it a little before the fourth quarter. Mutumbo's work down low kept the Nuggets afloat until they pulled even at the end of regulation at 88. Denver kept up the fire in the overtime, as Mutumbo wasn't going to be stopped down low. Blocked shot after blocked shot. 51 in total for the five game series, including eight in game five for Mutumbo. Robert Pack came off the bench to provide another scorer for the Nuggets
Dikembe Mutumbo clutching the game ball after Denver knocked off Seattle in the 1994 Playoffs
Denver went onto lose in seven games to Utah and Karl Malone in the second round. Their upset in this five-game series remains the biggest upset in NBA history. It will be hard to match this feat as the playoffs are all in the best of seven format now.
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