Top 10 biggest upsets in NBA history

#4 New York Knicks VS Miami Heat (1998-1999)

New York Knicks defeat the Miami Heat in a riveting game 5

The 1998-1999 season was shortened due to a contract dispute, and therefore teams only played 50 games in that season, instead of the usual 82. The New York Nicks somehow landed the no.8 spot with a record of 27-23.

As they entered the playoffs, the faced a Miami Heat team that were the favourites to win that season. But the Knicks had other plans as they took the Heat to a decisive game 5. The game was a nail-biter, and it took an Allen Houston shot with just 0.8 seconds remaining on the clock, to win it for the Knicks and cause one of the biggest upsets in the NBA.

Gaining confidence from dispatching the no.1 seed, the Knicks beat the no.4 seeded Atlanta Hawks in four straight games, and then the no.2 seed Indiana Pacers, and therefore became the first eighth-seed team in the NBA to reach the Finals. They finally fell in the finals to Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs in five games.

Maybe a longer regular season would have revealed that the New York Knicks were a better team than their position showed in the Eastern Conference table. Nevertheless, the Knicks exceeded all the expectations and in the end, had one of the most historic seasons.