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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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7. New York Knicks over Boston Celtics, 1973

The Knicks were coming off an appearance in the NBA Finals, but it was the resurgent Celtics who took the league by storm in 1972-73, coming within one win of the Los Angeles Lakers’ record of 69, set the season before.

Boston had the league’s MVP in Dave Cowens while New York was showing some signs of age. Power forward Jerry Lucas missed 11 games during the regular season and center Willis Reed sat out 13 and only small forward Bill Bradley managed to play all 82 games.

The opener looked like a mismatch as the Celtics manhandled the Knicks 134-108 at the Boston Garden. Jo Jo White had 30 points for Boston, John Havlicek added 26 and Don Nelson had 21. Walt Frazier paced New York with 24 points.

Walt Frazier helped carry the New York Knicks to their third NBA Finals in four years by upsetting the Boston Celtics in the 1973 Eastern Conference Finals. (US PRESSWIRE)
Walt Frazier helped carry the New York Knicks to their third NBA Finals in four years by upsetting the Boston Celtics in the 1973 Eastern Conference Finals. (US PRESSWIRE) /

But at Madison Square Garden in Game 2, the shoe was on the other foot as the Knicks cruised to a 129-96 win. Frazier led eight Knicks in double figures with 24 points, while Havlicek paced the Celtics with 21.

The worm turned back in Boston for Game 3, as the Knicks held off the Celtics for a 98-91 win and a 2-1 series lead. Frazier led the way for New York with 23 points as the Knicks’ balanced attack was able to best Boston’s three-headed monster of Havlicek (29 points), Cowens (27) and White (24).

It took two overtimes in New York, but the Knicks finally pulled away for a 117-110 win in Game 4 and a 3-1 lead in the series. Frazier went off for 37 points and Dave DeBusschere added 22 for the Knicks. White scored 34 for the Celtics and Cowens added 33, but when both fouled out in overtime, Boston couldn’t keep pace. The Knicks forced overtime by coming back from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 89-89 at the end of regulation.

Paul Silas drained a pair of free throws in the closing seconds of Game 5 at Boston Garden and the Celtics stayed alive with a 98-97 win. Cowens had 32 points for Boston, while Frazier led the Knicks with 19.

Cowens had 26 points and White scored 25 as the Celtics broke open a tight game in the fourth quarter of Game 6 at Madison Square Garden to force a seventh game, 110-100. Frazier had 29 points for the Knicks and Earl Monroe added 22, but New York would have to win a Game 7 at Boston—which no team had ever done—to get to the Finals for the third time in four years.

Frazier scored 25 points and the Knicks pulled off the first-ever Game 7 win by a visiting team at Boston Garden, 94-78. Cowens led the Celtics with 24 points and White had 22 before fouling out.

Frazier had a huge series for New York, scoring 26.1 points per game, and six Knicks averaged double figures in the series, including a reserve forward named Phil Jackson, who had 70 points in the seven games.

The Knicks got a rematch with the Lakers in the NBA Finals, winning their second title in four seasons by taking down Los Angeles in five games. It remains the last time the Knicks have won a title.