10 most memorable NBA playoffs series of all time
The 2023 NBA playoffs are inching closer as teams start to prepare for their potential championship run. The postseason is where legends are made and lifetime moments are created.
Every playoffs is different, but there will surely be one great series per year, two if fans are feeling lucky. There have been many memorable matchups in NBA history brought about by several factors like iconic moments, storylines, game-winners, buzzer-beaters and superstar players.
Most memorable NBA playoffs series of all time
Let's take a look at some of the most memorable matchups in NBA playoffs history. It should be noted that this list has no NBA Finals series included. and these are not in any particular order.
#1 Bulls vs Pacers - 1998 Eastern Conference Finals
"The Last Dance" documentary highlighter the Chicago Bulls' matchup against the Indiana Pacers in the 1998 Eastern Conference finals. The Bulls were taken to the limit by a Pacers team led by Reggie Miller.
It looked easy for Michael Jordan and company at first, but the Pacers forced a Game 7. Indiana had the lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Bulls fought back to earn their ticket back to the NBA Finals.
#2 Celtics vs Sixers - 1981 Eastern Conference Finals
Probably the greatest NBA playoffs series of all time, Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics took on Julius Erving and the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1981 Eastern Conference finals. Bird was a budding superstar, while Erving was at the height of his powers.
The Sixers took a 3-1 lead, but the Celtics made a furious rally to win the final three games of the series. Philly also built huge leads in Game 5, 6 and 7 before Boston came back in all three games to win by a combined margin of just five points.
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#3 Lakers vs Blazers - 2000 Western Conference Finals
The LA Lakers were down huge in Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference finals against the Portland Trail Blazers. Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal led a furious rally to overcome the deficit to make their first NBA Finals appearance as a duo.
One of the most memorable plays of the series, and quite possibly in NBA playoffs history, happened in the final minute of the game. Bryant threw an alley-oop to O'Neal, who slammed it down on Portland. The Lakers knew at that moment that they were at the start of something special.
#4 Knicks vs Pacers - 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals
Reggie Miller has always been known as the "Knicks killer" for his heroics against New York in the NBA playoffs. Miller's greatest performance happened in the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals. He scored eight points in 8.9 seconds in Game 1 to give the Indiana Pacers the win.
The Pacers also took a 2-1 lead after Rik Smits hit the game-winning shot in Game 3. The Knicks went down 3-1 before Patrick Ewing powered the team and force a Game 7. However, Ewing went from hero to zero after missing the game-tying shot at the end of Game 7.
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#5 Heat vs Celtics - 2012 Eastern Conference Finals
LeBron James was already the best player in the league in 2012 but was plagued with questions about his winning mentality in the NBA playoffs. James finally proved in the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics that there was no stopping him.
With the Heat down 3-2 entering Game 6, "The King" dropped 45 points to force a Game 7 in one of the greatest performances in NBA history. James finally exorcised the Celtics demon and went on to win his first NBA championship that year.
#6 Mavericks vs Spurs - 2006 Western Conference Semifinals
The Dallas Mavericks nearly blew a 3-1 series lead against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2006 Western Conference semifinals. It was one of the most memorable series in NBA playoffs history, with the Spurs forcing a Game 7 after hard-fought wins in Games 5 and 6.
Dallas blew a big lead in Game 7 in San Antonio, but Dirk Nowitzki put the game away in overtime. The Mavericks, in the process, became just the second team in NBA history to win Game 7 on the road in overtime.
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#7 Raptors vs Sixers - 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals
Kawhi Leonard had an amazing run in the 2019 NBA playoffs that led to the Toronto Raptors' first championship. Leonard also hit one of the greatest shots in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Toronto appeared to have the upperhand in the series after they had blown the Sixers in Game 5. Philly came back to force Game 7, but Leonard hit an insane, albeit lucky, shot at the buzzer to eliminate the Sixers.
#8 Celtics vs Pistons - 1987 Eastern Conference Finals
Isiah Thomas thought the Detroit Pistons took a 3-2 lead in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals when Larry Bird stole the ball from him. It was one of the greatest plays in NBA playoffs history, as well as one of the greatest game calls ever.
Bird passed the ball to Dennis Johnson, who hit the game-winning layup. The Pistons recovered in Game 6, but the Celtics were just too much in Game 7. It was a back-and-forth game that could have been avoided had Thomas hadn't turned the ball over in Game 5.
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#9 Warriors vs Thunder - 2016 Western Conference Finals
The OKC Thunder were on the verge of eliminating the greatest regular season team in NBA history in the 2016 Western Conference finals. The 73-9 Golden State Warriors were reeling and down 3-1 heading into Game 5.
After a hard-fought win in Game 5, the Thunder took control of Game 6 before Klay Thompson forced a deciding Game 7 in one of the greatest shooting displays in NBA playoffs history. The deflated Thunder ended up losing Game 7, with Kevin Durant taking his talents to the Bay Area in the offseason.
#10 Lakers vs Kings - 2002 Western Conference Finals
The Sacramento Kings were ready to dethrone the LA Lakers in 2002. The Kings and Lakers had one of the most memorable NBA playoffs series that year in the Western Conference semifinals.
Sacramento was seconds away from getting a 3-1 lead in Game 4 when Vlade Divac tipped the ball to Robert Horry, who hit the game-winning 3-point shot at the buzzer to tie the series.
The Kings bounced back in Game 5, while the Lakers forced a deciding game at the Arco Arena with their Game 6 win. The Lakers outlasted the Kings in overtime to earn their third straight trip to the NBA Finals.
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