Mile-High Magic: When the No. 8 Seed Took Down No. 1 in the NBA Playoffs

Every spring, the NBA playoffs roll in with the same old expectations: top seeds dominate, underdogs go quietly. But in 1994, the Denver Nuggets flipped the script — and changed the postseason forever.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

The No. 1-seeded Utah Jazz, stacked with Hall of Famers Karl Malone and John Stockton, were built for a title run. Meanwhile, the No. 8 Denver Nuggets were a young, scrappy bunch led by high-flying athletes and an infectious energy. On paper? Mismatch. In reality? One of the most thrilling upsets in basketball history.

The Jazz won the first two games in Salt Lake City, and everyone figured the series was over. But Denver had other plans. Game 3? Blowout win in the Mile High City. Game 4? Gritty, grind-it-out survival. Suddenly, we were headed back to Utah for a winner-take-all Game 5.

That night, the Nuggets didn’t just hang around — they fought like a team possessed. Led by Robert Pack’s explosiveness, LaPhonso Ellis’s toughness, and the towering presence of Dikembe Mutombo in the paint, Denver dragged Utah into overtime — and finished them off, 98–91.

Then came the moment burned into every fan’s memory: Mutombo lying on his back, clutching the basketball with both hands, eyes filled with tears, grinning up at the ceiling. Pure joy. Pure belief. An image that became instant legend.

The Nuggets became the first No. 8 seed to ever beat a No. 1 in NBA history. They didn’t win the title, but they won something else — our hearts, our respect, and a permanent place in playoff lore.

And every time the postseason tips off, we remember: anything is possible.

Because once, a team from Denver showed us that seed numbers don’t block shots — passion does.