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

No. 2: (8) New York Knicks over (1) Miami Heat

Won series 3-2

There’s 4.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter of a deciding Game 5. The New York Knicks are down by one and on the road in Miami. Allan Houston takes the pass and scores a floater, as time expires. Houston runs down the court and celebrates with his teammates as they leave the Miami crowd stunned.

The Knicks had just capped off one of the greatest first-round upsets in NBA history.

In a lockout-shortened season, the Knicks barely got into the playoffs with a 27-23 record, while the Heat were 33-17 and the clear favorite in the series. New York had made questionable moves, picking up Latrell Spewell and Marcus Camby heading into the season. Their chemistry was off and in a shortened-season, those struggles were amplified.

On the other hand, the Miami Heat were humming, led by head coach Pat Riley and Defensive Player of the Year, Alonzo Mourning. It didn’t matter in the postseason, as it came down to a deciding Game 5 at Miami Arena. 

But in their third consecutive meeting in the playoffs, the Knicks would pull off one of the greatest first-round upsets of all time, behind Houston’s game-winner.