The unthinkable could happen. Boston is trying to pull off the first reverse sweep in NBA playoff history. Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox could be on the verge of repeating their one-and-only reverse sweep in 2004.
The Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat 110-97 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2023 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden in Boston on Saturday (Feb. 26).
After jumping out to a 15-point lead in the first quarter, Boston maintained a comfortable lead over Miami the rest of the way to close out the game.
Boston went through a scoring drought in Games 2 and 3, averaging just 104.5 points per game. But in Games 4 and 5, they exploded for more than 110 points in back-to-back games (116 and 110), winning by an average of 14.5 points.
Boston is looking for the first reverse sweep in NBA playoff history.
There have been 150 times in NBA history that a team has jumped out to a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven playoff series, and in all 150 of those instances, the team that won the first three games went on to win the series.
In other words, there has never been a four-game reverse sweep in NBA playoff history.
It’s entirely possible that Boston could be the first.
For starters, the Eastern Conference Finals series between Boston and Miami was a series that was clearly in Boston’s favor. Miami was the No. 8 seed with Tyler Hiro and Victor Oladipo sidelined with injuries, while Boston was the “top dog,” having made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals without any major injuries.
Based on objective strength of schedule alone, it wouldn’t be surprising if Boston swept the remaining two games of the series. To make matters worse, Miami is without starting guard Gabe Vincent for Game 5 with an ankle injury and Kevin Love is also playing with an ankle injury. With only a Game 6 at Miami’s home, the Casilla Center, it’s actually more likely that Boston will return to TD Garden and complete the first reverse sweep in history in Game 7.
Boston sports fans already have a history of epic reverse sweeps. It happened in the 2004 Major League Baseball postseason in the American League Championship 먹튀검증.
Facing the New York Yankees, the Red Sox were on the verge of elimination after losing three straight games to start the series, but then rallied to win four straight to turn the series around. It was the first reverse sweep in major league postseason history. Since then, the major leagues have not seen a reverse sweep after a three-game deficit. The 2004 Red Sox are the only other example.
After beating the Yankees to reach the World Series, Boston kept the momentum going and swept St. Louis to win their first championship in 86 years, breaking the Curse of Bambino.
The Celtics completed the first best-of-seven reverse sweep in the major leagues, and now they’re on track to become the first team to complete a best-of-seven reverse sweep in the NBA.
First, Boston must win Game 6 on the road. Game 6 will be played on the 28th.