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NBA Playoffs: 10 Biggest Conference/Division Finals Upsets

By Phil Watson

The 1975-76 Phoenix Suns authored the biggest upset in the history of the conference/division finals. (And, yes, that IS Pat Riley wearing No. 12 at the far right of the first row.)
The 1975-76 Phoenix Suns authored the biggest upset in the history of the conference/division finals. (And, yes, that IS Pat Riley wearing No. 12 at the far right of the first row.) /
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8. Baltimore Bullets over New York Knicks, 1971

The Knicks were the defending NBA champions. The Bullets won a very weak Central Division with a 42-40 record.

But Baltimore had surprised the Philadelphia 76ers in the conference semifinals to earn the right to face off with the champs in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Knicks held off the Bullets for a 112-111 win at Madison Square Garden in Game 1. Walt Frazier had 24 points and Dave DeBusschere added 21 for New York. The Bullets got 29 points from Earl Monroe, 23 from Jack Marin and 22 from Kevin Loughery in the loss.

Earl Monroe reached the NBA Finals for the first time by leading the Baltimore Bullets past the New York Knicks in the 1971 Eastern Conference Finals. Two years later, he would win a ring as a Knick. (US PRESSWIRE)
Earl Monroe reached the NBA Finals for the first time by leading the Baltimore Bullets past the New York Knicks in the 1971 Eastern Conference Finals. Two years later, he would win a ring as a Knick. (US PRESSWIRE) /

The Knicks had an easier time of it in Game 2 at the Garden, blowing out Baltimore 107-88, breaking open a close game in the second half after the teams went into intermission tied 48-48. Dick Barnett led New York with 29 points and Frazier tossed in 23. John Tresvant had 20 points for the Bullets.

At the Baltimore Civic Center for Game 3, the Bullets outscored the Knicks 63-37 in the middle two quarters en route to a 114-88 thumping of the defending champions. Monroe poured in 31 points for Baltimore, Marin added 22 and Fred Carter had 20. Frazier paced New York with 17.

It was another blowout in Game 4 at Baltimore, with the Bullets pulling away for a 101-80 victory to even the series. Marin led the way with 27 points, Monroe added 25 and Carter had 23. Frazier’s 16 points led the Knicks.

Home teams improved to 5-0 in the series as the Knicks grinded out an 89-84 win in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden. Frazier scored 28 points for New York, while Marin had 25 and Monroe netted 23 for Baltimore.

The Bullets got the equalizer in Game 6 at Baltimore Civic Center, taking down a 113-96 win behind 27 points by Monroe, 22 for Marin and 20 from Tresvant. DeBusschere had 24 for the Knicks and Frazier added 22.

Back at the Garden for Game 7, Carter knocked down a jumper with a little more than a minute remaining and the Bullets shocked the Knicks, 93-91, to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. Monroe scored 26 points for Baltimore and Marin added 20. Barnett led the Knicks with 26 points and Willis Reed had 24.

Monroe averaged 24.4 points a game in the series while Marin netted 21.9 a night.

The Bullets did not, however, have a happy ending as they were swept by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Milwaukee Bucks in the Finals.