In the history of the NBA, the 6th seed has pulled off some stunning upsets over the 3rd seed. Since the NBA playoff bracket format was changed in 1984 to include 16 teams (previously 12 teams), a 6th seed has defeated a 3rd seed in the playoffs on more than a dozen occasions. If you’re looking for the best NBA bets today, you’re much better off putting money on a 6 seed upsetting a 3 seed over an 7 seed or 8 seed. We’ll provide the full list of 6-3 upsets while taking a closer look at some of the more historic #3 seed upsets in NBA history.

1995: Houston Rockets vs Utah Jazz

playoff series was one such upset. The Rockets finished the season with a 47-35 record and were led by their star center Hakeem Olajuwon and recently acquired Clyde Drexler. The Jazz, on the other hand was 13 games better and boasted a 60-22 record. The Jazz was led by their dynamic duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone. Despite the difference in regular-season records, the Rockets were able to eliminate the Jazz in a hard-fought five-game series. Not only that, the #6 Rockets would become the lowest seeded team to ever win an NBA championship.

2001: Charlotte Hornets vs Miami Heat

One of the most memorable upsets was when the 6th-seeded Hornets swept the Miami Heat in the 2001 NBA playoffs. Led by their electric point guard Baron Davis and official bucket-getter Jamal Mashburn, the Hornets not only upset the Heat, not only swept Miami, but took them down handily in each of the three matches. Mashburn would take much joy in defeating the team that just traded him away. The Hornet would win by 26 points in both Game 1 and Game 2 before closing them out with 94-79 demolition in the Charlotte Coliseum. This would be the only time in NBA history when a six seed would sweep a three seed.

2003: Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers

The Boston Celtics faced the Indiana Pacers in the 2003 NBA playoffs as the lower-seeded team, but quickly stole home court advantage with a Game 1 upset win led by 25-year old Paul Pierce. The Celtics ultimately won the series 4-2, thanks in large part to Pierce’s dominant performances, including a 37-point third quarter in Game 4. Though the Pacers managed to tie up the series in Game 5, the Celtics sealed the deal with a resounding 110-90 win in Game 6. Indiana would get their 6-3 revenge the two playoffs later.

2005: Indiana Pacers vs. Boston Celtics

The 2004-2005 NBA season marked a moment of renewed hope for the Boston Celtics. Doc Rivers was hired as head coach and Gary Payton was acquired in the offseason, while Antoine Walker was brought back in a trade. The team, led by Pierce, Walker, Payton, and Ricky Davis, managed to secure the three-seed in the East.

In the playoffs, the Celtics faced the six-seeded Indiana Pacers, led by Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O’Neal, and a 39-year-old Reggie Miller. Despite a strong effort from Pierce and the team, the Celtics fell to the Pacers in seven games, with Pierce’s ejection in Game 6 and subsequent claim that Tinsley had broken his jaw being notable low-points in the series. The Pacers dominated the Celtics in Game 7, ending Boston’s season.

2006: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets

In the 2006 NBA playoffs, the Los Angeles Clippers, seeded sixth, pulled off an upset against the third-seeded Denver Nuggets. The Clippers were led by Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Cuttino Mobley and Sam Cassell, who each had stellar performances in the series. The Nuggets would lose both Game 1 and 2 in Los Angeles before winning game three in Denver, but that wouldn’t be enough. The Clippers would win the next two to close out the series and at that point, mark it as the most lopsided seven-game series between a #6 seed and #3 seed. The first round victory marked a significant achievement for the Clippers, as it was the franchises’ first playoff series win in over 30 years.

2018: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Portland Trailblazers

In the 2018 NBA Playoffs, the New Orleans Pelicans, as the sixth seed in the Western Conference, made history by sweeping the third-seeded Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. Led by their dynamic duo of Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday, the Pelicans played with a balanced offense and a suffocating defense that completely shut down the Blazers’ stars, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Davis averaged 33 points and 12 rebounds per game in the series, while Holiday’s defense on Lillard was exceptional, holding him to just 18 points per game on 35% shooting. The sweep was the first in Pelicans franchise history and the first time in NBA history that a sixth seed swept a third seed in the first round.

2023: Golden State Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings

In the 2023 playoffs, the sixth-seeded Golden State Warriors faced off against their Northern Californian rivals the Sacramento Kings. The Kings surprised the West with a talented roster and bright future led by D’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk. The Warriors, however, had Steph Curry. And with one of the greatest players to ever walk onto a court dropped 50 points. Thanks to the most points scored in a Game 7, the Warriors prevailed in the series on the Kings’ homecourt.

While it’s rare for a 6th seed to beat a 3rd seed in the NBA playoffs, it’s not impossible. As these memorable series show, anything can happen in the playoffs, and a lower-seeded team can pull off an upset with the right combination of talent, strategy, and luck.