10 NBA Conference Finals Matchups Nobody Saw Coming
Not every playoff run goes by the book. Some NBA teams sneak into the conference finals with upset wins, last-minute heroics, or just the right matchups falling into place. Here are 15 of the most unexpected conference finals matchups that caught everyone off guard.
Trail Blazers vs. Suns, 1990 (West)
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The Lakers had Magic, the top seed, and three All-Stars, but Phoenix sent them home by opening the door for a Suns-Blazers matchup nobody saw coming. Portland held steady through a wild West and outlasted Phoenix in six before heading to the Finals despite facing arguably the tougher path.
Spurs vs. Rockets, 1995 (West)
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Houston’s regular season didn’t scream “title contender”—at least not until Clyde Drexler arrived. Once paired with Hakeem Olajuwon, the Rockets tore through the playoffs and toppled the second-seeded Suns and the No. 1 Spurs.
Magic vs. Pacers, 1995 (East)
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Chicago’s return with Michael Jordan had many thinking a Finals run was inevitable, but Orlando ended that dream, then survived a brutal series against the Pacers to reach the Finals. Shaq, Penny, and company held off Reggie Miller’s squad in a close six-game series that kept fans on edge.
Pacers vs. Knicks, 1999 (East)
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Knicks barely made the playoffs, then knocked out the No. 1 Miami Heat in a five-game series. By the time they reached Indiana, they had become a full-blown problem. They edged out the Pacers to become the first 8-seed in NBA history to reach the Finals.
Pistons vs. Nets, 2003 (East)
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New Jersey came in as the second seed and had already reached the Finals the year before, but some doubted whether they could repeat the feat. Detroit, the top seed, was viewed as the new powerhouse. Instead, the Nets shut down that narrative with a stunning sweep and made it back to the Finals.
Spurs vs. Jazz, 2007 (West)
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After the eighth-seeded Warriors stunned the 67-win Mavericks in the first round, the Western bracket opened up in a way few expected. Utah capitalized by knocking off Golden State to reach their first conference finals since the Stockton-Malone era. San Antonio held off Phoenix and then dispatched Utah in five, which set up their eventual sweep of Cleveland in the NBA Finals.
Celtics vs. Cavaliers, 2010 (Semifinals)
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LeBron James and the 61-win Cavaliers were expected to steamroll the East, but Boston’s veteran core flipped the narrative. Rajon Rondo was the catalyst who averaged nearly 21 points and 12 assists as the Celtics took the series in six. That upset derailed a much-hyped Lakers-Cavs rematch and instead pushed Boston past Orlando to the Finals.
Grizzlies vs. Thunder, 2011 (Semifinals)
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Memphis pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year by beating the top-seeded Spurs in six games and marking their first playoff series win in franchise history. That run earned them a shot at Oklahoma City in the semifinals. With Zach Randolph dominating the paint, the series stretched to seven grueling games before the Thunder finally advanced.
Nuggets vs. Clippers, 2020 (West)
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The bubble playoffs created chaos, but Denver’s run stood out. Down 3-1 to the Clippers, the Nuggets came roaring back to win in seven. That comeback set up a wild WCF against the Lakers, which was surprising because Denver had to knock off favorites to get there.
Bucks vs. Hawks, 2021 (East)
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Most fans expected Brooklyn or Philly to walk out of the East. Instead, the Bucks and Hawks each won dramatic Game 7s—Milwaukee surviving overtime thanks to Kevin Durant’s foot being barely on the line, and Atlanta getting a defensive masterclass against the Sixers.
Warriors vs. Mavericks, 2022 (West)
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Golden State making the conference finals wasn’t much of a stretch, but Dallas getting there was a different story. The Mavericks crushed Phoenix in a shocking Game 7 blowout, with Dončić dominating the first half. Despite being heavy underdogs, Dallas stormed to the WCF with swagger and cold shooting.
Celtics vs. Heat, 2023 (East)
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Miami had to claw its way out of the play-in just to earn the 8th seed. Then Jimmy Butler averaged nearly 38 points to take down the top-seeded Bucks. By the time the Heat reached Boston, nobody thought they had enough left, but they won Game 7 on the road.
Timberwolves vs. Mavericks, 2024 (West)
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Luka Dončić has made a habit of ruining playoff brackets, and he did it again in 2024. But the real shock came from Minnesota, which came back from 20 points down in Game 7 to eliminate the defending champion Nuggets.
Knicks vs. Pacers, 2025 (East)
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Both teams had solid seasons, but beating the favorites landed them on this list. New York took down the top-seeded Celtics, and Indiana handled Cleveland in five. It wasn’t the conference finals matchup analysts predicted, but it made for one of the grittiest showdowns in recent memory.
Thunder vs. Timberwolves, 2025 (West)
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Oklahoma City’s rise made sense, as the young core hit its stride. However, Minnesota’s back-to-back upsets turned heads. They steamrolled the Lakers and bounced Golden State, who lost Steph Curry early in the series. Suddenly, the Wolves were back in the WCF again.