The 10 greatest upsets in NBA playoff history

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 04: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives on Ben Wallace #6 of the Detroit Pistons during the first half at the Staples Center on January 4, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Harry How/Getty Images) /

4 of 11

Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) /

No. 8: Jimmy Butler wipes out Bucks in gentlemen’s sweep in 2023

Wait, seriously? This comes up there? But Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t play. Either way, you don’t go out in the first round the way that Milwaukee did, especially after the season they had. Injuries or not, this was not the way the Bucks envisioned their postseason going. At the same time, it’s a rare occurrence when the No. 1 seed in a conference falls to the No. 8 seed, especially when the lower seed is fighting for their lives in the play-in tournament.

In the fourth quarter of Game 5, the Heat were trailing by 16 points until Jimmy Butler, one of the game’s best stories, took over the contest and put the team on his back. Milwaukee couldn’t drop the basketball in the hoop while Miami made shot after shot. It’s easy to say Giannis’ absence contributed to the series loss, but Butler, without Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and Kyle Lowry, refused to back down. 35, 25, 30, 56, and 42. That says all you need to know.

Recency may have played a role in this choice, but when you look closely at the circumstances, it’s hard to dismiss this accomplishment by the Heat, especially with the road they took to get to this point. Their run is not over, and what’s to say they can’t knock out the Knicks? That would be so great for television and for history.