You’re not hallucinating. The eight-seeded Miami Heat stunned the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, gifting their series bettors with a +750 payout. Where does that rank among all-time NBA betting upsets? Let’s dive in.
Biggest NBA Betting Series Upsets Since 1994
| Year | Series | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | First Round | No. 8 Nuggets (vs. Sonics) | +1400 |
| 2007 | First Round | No. 8 Warriors (vs. Mavericks) | +1200 |
| 2012 | First Round | No. 8 76ers (vs. Bulls) | +900 |
| 2020 | Conference Semifinals | No. 3 Nuggets (vs. Clippers) | +850 |
| 2023 | First Round | No. 8 Heat (vs. Bucks) | +750 |
Per the table above, Jimmy Butler & Co. completed the fifth-biggest series upset in the last 28 years. Butler helped deliver it in dramatic fashion, manufacturing his eighth 40-point playoff output in Heat uniform during their overtime victory in Milwaukee on Thursday.
Overall, he averaged a ridiculous 37.4 points (with a 67.1 TS%), 6.0 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in the five-game set.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP, was hobbled throughout the series with a lower back contusion, missing two-plus games in the process. Nevertheless, he finished a -30 in plus-minus over his 23 fourth-quarter minutes.
Keep in mind, the Bucks were priced as the favorites (+275) to win the NBA championship entering the playoffs. The last time a team of that ilk lost in the first round came in 2007, with the Dallas Mavericks falling to the Golden State Warriors. As showcased above, the Warriors were the second-biggest series underdog among these NBA betting upsets. Baron Davis played the role of David versus Goliath, tallying 25 points per game over their six-game rodeo.
Moreover, Milwaukee’s exit marks the sixth consecutive season that the No. 1 overall seed failed to make the NBA finals. It’s also the the fourth year in a row in which they’ve failed to even advance to the conference finals.
Continue the discussion in our free sports betting Discord channel — with nearly 4,300 members talking NBA betting and more.
What’s Next For Heat?
Miami will take on the New York Knicks, which pulled off a series upset of their own (+170) over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jalen Brunson’s crew is a slight favorite to move on to the Eastern Conference finals (-145).
But the status of Knicks forward Julius Randle (sprained right ankle) is unknown. Randle re-injured it during Thursday’s clinching win. He originally missed two weeks because of the ankle wound before returning for Game 1 of the Cavs series.
Below are the latest NBA title odds at a trio of legal sportsbooks. The Heat range between +900 to +1000 to win the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2020. The ensuing series versus LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers was donned the NBA’s “Bubble Finals,” occurring at Disney World in Florida amid the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Celtics | Bet now +140 | Bet now +165 | Bet now +155 |
Suns | Bet now +400 | Bet now +400 | Bet now +400 |
76ers | Bet now +750 | Bet now +600 | Bet now +750 |
Warriors | Bet now +750 | Bet now +650 | Bet now +600 |
Nuggets | Bet now +850 | Bet now +800 | Bet now +800 |
Lakers | Bet now +1200 | Bet now +1100 | Bet now +1100 |
Knicks | Bet now +2000 | Bet now +2000 | Bet now +1800 |
Heat | Bet now +3500 | Bet now +2500 | Bet now +3500 |
Grizzlies | Bet now +6000 | Bet now +6600 | Bet now +6000 |
Kings | Bet now +12000 | Bet now +8000 | Bet now +8000 |
Hawks | Bet now +50000 | Bet now +50000 | Bet now +50000 |
