In the NBA playoffs, the matchup between a #3 seed and a #6 seed is usually a competitive series due to the relatively close seeding. Yes, there’s been times when the lower #6 seed has defeated the #3 seed, but rarely is one team completely swept in the series. This is especially true since the NBA when to a seven-game format in 2003. However, there have been instances where the #3 seed has completely dominated the #6 seed, resulting in a sweep.

In more recent years, there has been a huge increase in the number of fans that have gone online to bet on NBA games and the season as a whole. With the finals being a popular time to bet, most bookies offer a diverse set of markets on the NBA Finals, including individual match wagers, championship out rights, and for player awards like MVP.

The 3 Times a 3-Seed Swept a 6-Seed in NBA Playoffs

You’re reading this because it just happened in the Western Conference in the 2024 NBA Playoffs. When Anthony Edwards adjusted to the Phoenix Suns’ man defense, the budding superstar and freshly-minted Olympian took over. Ant Man would go on to score 31 of his 40 points in the second half to lead the #3 seeded Minnesota Timberwolves to a 122-116 victory over the #6 seeded Suns. With the win, the Timberwolves completed one of the rare #3-#6 sweeps in NBA history.

These types of rare occasions in NBA history can yield big winnings. There has been a huge increase in the number of fans that have gone online to bet on NBA games on sites like TheGameDay.com. Sweeps in such matchups indicate a significant performance disparity despite the seeds’ proximity to one another. Let’s review the last few times a #3 seed has swept a #6 seed in NBA playoff history.

2024 Western Conference First Round

#3 Minnesota Timberwolves (4-0) vs. #6 Phoenix Suns (0-4) Minnesota Timberwolves’ young superstar Anthony Edwards exploded for 31 points in the second half, finishing with 40 points in a crucial Game 4 that ended 122-116 with #3 Minnesota sweeping the #6 Phoenix Suns. Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 points, helping to secure the team’s first playoff series win since 2004.  The Suns, despite having a super team featuring Kevin Durant, could not withstand Minnesota’s offensive onslaught. Devin Booker’s 49 points and Kevin Durant’s 33 points were notable but Bradley Beal – the team’s third star — didn’t live up to the pressure in the series and backfired. The win was also significant because it marked Minnesota’s first playoff series victory in 20 years, despite coach Chris Finch sustaining a knee injury late in the game.

2021 Eastern Conference First Round

#3 Milwaukee Bucks (4-0) vs. #6 Miami Heat (0-4)  In a rematch of the previous year’s conference semifinals, the Milwaukee Bucks cruised to a sweep over the Miami Heat with a strong 120-103 win in Game 4 of their playoff series. Giannis Antetokounmpo put up a triple-double and Brook Lopez added 25 points, fueling a major second-half run that sealed the game. This victory not only wrapped up the series but also marked the first time the Bucks have swept the Heat in the playoffs.  This series was a stark contrast to their 2020 meeting, where the Heat upset the top-seeded Bucks. The sweep set the tone for Milwaukee’s eventual NBA Championship run that year.

2004 Western Conference First Round

#3 San Antonio Spurs (4-0) vs. #6 Memphis Grizzlies (0-4) The San Antonio Spurs showcased their championship pedigree by sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies with a decisive 110-97 win in Game Four.  Tony Parker was exceptional, matching his then-career high with 29 points with 13 assists, leading the Spurs to their 15th consecutive win, including regular season and playoffs. Tim Duncan celebrated his 28th birthday by scoring 26 points, contributing significantly to the Spurs’ first playoff series sweep since their 1999 championship run. Despite a valiant effort and a quick start, the Grizzlies struggled to keep pace, showing the challenging gap between the two teams from an experience standpoint. with Duncan, Parker, Robert Horry, and Manu Ginobili overwhelmed their younger counterparts Pau Gasol and Jason Williams. San Antonio shot an impressive 58.7 percent from the field.

The Wolves over Suns in 2024, the Bucks over Heat in 2021, and Spurs sweeping the Grizzlies in 2004 are the three times that a #3 seed have swept a #6 seed in the NBA Playoffs in the last two decades plus. As mentioned these type of dominant performances are rare because it’s tough to beat any NBA opponent in four straight games especially when there isn’t much of a gap between the team’s regular season win/loss records. Not to mention that the team would have to win two consecutive road wins.