The Boston Celtics and the five biggest NBA first round upsets of all time

The Boston Celtics and the 5 biggest NBA first round upsets of all time

Apr 16, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) keeps the ball away from Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) during the fourth quarter of the Chicago Bulls 106-102 win over the Boston Celtics in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

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Feb 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo laughs during the 2014 NBA All-Star Game Legends Brunch at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: (8) Denver Nuggets over (1) Seattle SuperSonics

Won series 3-2

Dikembe Mutombo falls to the floor in joy, crying and holding onto the ball after the Denver Nuggets upset the Seattle SuperSonics. After being down 2-0 to the Sonics, it was an monumental upset that nobody could predict, including the Nuggets’ head coach, Dan Issel.

The 42-win Nuggets were no match for the 63-win Sonics. Seattle featured stars in Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton, while Denver featured a young, scrappy lineup. In the first two games of the series, the Sonics pounded the Nuggets, winning the games by a combined margin of 34 points.

Many thought that the Sonics would roll to a sweep, but Denver battled back in the two home games to even the series. In a deciding Game 5, the Nuggets won in OT, with Mutombo dominating defensively, and others chipping in offensively.

This was the first upset by a No. 8 seed of a No. 1 seed in NBA history.

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