Every NBA Team’s Last Playoff Series Win

At the beginning of each NBA season, 30 teams set out on a journey, all with the same goal in mind, to win the NBA championship. Over the first few weeks, we begin to see teams separate themselves from the pack as the ones who can really contend to achieve that goal. Adversely, we also clearly see the teams that will be picking at the top of the NBA Draft. As the season unfolds and heads to the NBA playoffs, we try our best to predict what will happen in each round, and ultimately, we predict who will be the NBA champion. It never quite works out the way that we expect it to.  

Today, we are going to discuss the last time that every team won an NBA playoff series. Some of these teams will be from the 2023 NBA playoffs, while others have waited over 20 years to feel what victory is like in the NBA playoffs. While only a few of these teams would go on to win the NBA championship, there are still 12 franchises that have never won an NBA championship. With the NBA Finals upon us between the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat, only one team will be able to claim their last playoff series win and win the NBA Finals in 2023.

This is every NBA team’s last playoff series win.

Atlanta Hawks – 2021

Anyone who remembers the 2021 playoffs remembers that it was a special run for the Atlanta Hawks. Trae Young led the Hawks as they threw a wrench in the Eastern Conference hierarchy that season. After defeating the Knicks in the first round, the Hawks engaged in a grueling seven-game series with the 76ers. In Game 7, it would be Young with 21 points and 10 assists, as well as Kevin Huerter with 27 points of his own to help defeat Philadelphia and move on to the Eastern Conference Finals. There, they would lose to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games, and despite two playoff appearances following that season, they have yet to win another playoff series.

Boston Celtics – 2023

We do not have to look very far for the Boston Celtics’ last playoff series win. The Boston Celtics were able to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the playoffs in seven games. Jayson Tatum would score 51 points to set a new NBA record for most points in a Game 7 ever. In the Eastern Conference Finals, they fell short in Game 7 after coming back from a 3-0 deficit. The Celtics are sure to be back in the NBA playoffs in 2023-24, but for now, their journey ended in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Brooklyn Nets – 2021

Things have changed immensely for the Brooklyn Nets since the last time we saw them win a playoff series just two seasons ago. The Nets were led by their superstar trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving, all of whom are playing basketball somewhere else in 2023. The trio was the catalyst for their most recent playoff series win in 2021 over the Celtics in the first round. Durant led the way with 32.6 PPG, while Harden added 27.8 PPG and 10.6 APG. Kyrie Irving joined the mix as well, with 24.8 PPG and 6.4 RPG to defeat the Celtics in five games. In the following round, the Nets would be eliminated by the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks in seven games. If it wasn’t for Durant’s big feet, we might not be talking about the Nets Big 3 as one of the biggest failures in NBA history.

Charlotte Hornets – 2002

As it stands, the Charlotte Hornets are the NBA team with the longest drought since their last playoff series win. The Hornets last tasted playoff glory in 2022 when the team was led by Baron Davis, Jamaal Magloire, and P.J. Brown. The Hornets defeated the Orlando Magic in the first round of the 2022 playoffs, with Davis averaging 25.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 9.3 APG, and 2.8 SPG. Magloire, Brown, David Wesley, and Elden Campbell all averaged double figures in PPG, while Brown added 10.0 RPG, and Campbell was an interior force with 2.3 BPG. In the following round, the Hornets would be eliminated in five games by the Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Nets led by Jason Kidd.

Chicago Bulls – 2015

It is hard to believe that it has been eight years since the last time the Chicago Bulls won a playoff series. Back in 2015, the team was still trying to figure out what to do after their MVP, Derrick Rose, was still attempting to return to full strength after his two knee injuries that changed his career forever. The Bulls were up against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2015 playoffs, who they would end up taking down in six games. Jimmy Butler was their leader at this time, averaging 24.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 2.5 SPG. Rose contributed to the win with 19.0 PPG and 6.5 APG, while Pau Gasol contributed a double-double with 16.3 PPG and 11.8 RPG. Since 2015, the Bulls have been through more downs than ups and are still searching for their first playoff series win since that time.

Cleveland Cavaliers – 2018

For the last two seasons, the Cleveland Cavaliers have disappointed tremendously in the NBA playoffs despite promising regular season stretches. For their last playoff series win, we have to go back to when LeBron James put the team on his back and led them to a fourth straight NBA Finals. James and the Cavaliers would win the Eastern Conference championship in a hard-fought battle with the Boston Celtics. In the seven-game series, it would be LeBron James that carried his team to victory with 33.6 PPG, 9.0 RPG, and 8.4 APG. In Game 7, he delivered 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists to lead Cleveland to an 87-79 win.

Dallas Mavericks – 2022

As the 2023 season came to a close, the Dallas Mavericks were left reeling after missing the playoffs entirely despite the sensational backcourt duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The reason why it was such a disappointment is because of what an even less talented roster accomplished just one season prior. The Mavericks advanced to their first Western Conference Finals since 2011 behind the duo of Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson. To get to that point, the Mavericks dished out one of the biggest Game 7 beatdowns in NBA history in the second round against the Suns. In the 33-point win, Luka Doncic made sure the Mavericks were to advance with 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. Dallas would be eliminated by the Warriors in the Conference Finals in five games as the Warriors would go on to win the NBA championship.

Denver Nuggets – 2023

The Denver Nuggets are another one of the eight teams on this list whose last playoff series win came this season in the NBA playoffs. In their first-round series, the Nuggets took on the Minnesota Timberwolves after Minnesota advanced to the playoffs via the play-in tournament as the eighth seed. The Nuggets, who had earned the number one seed in the West, made easy work of the Timberwolves in five games led by their star duo of two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. The Nuggets then took care of the Phoenix Suns in the second round and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. For the first time in franchise history, the Nuggets are headed to the NBA Finals where they will take on the Miami Heat. Could the Nuggets finally become NBA champions as well?

Detroit Pistons – 2008

It has been far too long since we have seen the Detroit Pistons as a legitimate contender in the NBA playoffs. Their last playoff series win came in 2008 when the team finished with a 59-23 record and were still sporting a lineup that included four key members of their 2004 championship team. The Pistons would advance to the Conference Finals that season after a second-round win over the Orlando Magic. In that series, the Pistons defeated the Magic in five games, led by Richard Hamilton’s 23.6 PPG. Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, and Chauncey Billups all contributed 13.0 PPG or more for the Pistons as they went back to the Conference Finals, where they fell to the Boston Celtics in six games.

Golden State Warriors – 2023

The Golden State Warriors are the third team on our list who collected their most recent playoff series win in 2023. The Warriors took care of business in the first round of this year’s playoffs against a very hungry and talented Sacramento Kings team. The series was only marred slightly by a Draymond Green-Domantas Sabonis incident that saw Green suspended for one game. Fortunately for the Warriors, they were able to overcome that slip with a win in Game 7, led by Stephen Curry’s record-breaking 50-point game in Game 7. Curry closed out the series with 50 points on 20-38 shooting overall and 7-18 from three.

Houston Rockets – 2020

The Houston Rockets have suffered one of the most grueling rebuilds over the last three seasons since their last playoff series win, which featured a roster of James Harden and Russell Westbrook in the Disney Bubble playoffs. In the bubble, the Rockets would only advance to the second round before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the second round. They would take out the Thunder in a riveting seven-game series in the first round led by Harden’s 29.7 PPG and 8.0 APG. Westbrook would be injured for most of the series and play just three games in total. It would be Eric Gordon who stepped up for Houston with 18.1 PPG and 1.3 SPG to help them advance.

Indiana Pacers – 2014

It has been a long nine seasons since the Indiana Pacers won their last playoff series. This series win came back in 2014 when the Pacers made a ferocious run to the Eastern Conference Finals to take on the Miami Heat for the second season in a row. In the second round, Indiana found themselves in a matchup with the Washington Wizards. The Pacers would advance in six games led by Paul George, who averaged 19.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 2.2 SPG in the series. The Pacers were also fortunate to get double-figure scoring from David West, Roy Hibbert, George Hill, and Lance Stephenson to help them advance.

Los Angeles Clippers – 2021

One of the most exciting teams to watch for the entirety of the 2021 season was the Los Angeles Clippers. After a disappointing end to 2020, the Clippers were on a mission to redeem themselves in 2021, led by their duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. For a minute, it looked like they were going to implode yet again as Leonard went down with a knee injury that would end up costing him the entire 2022 season. Instead, Paul George stepped up and led the Clippers to their first Conference Finals appearance in franchise history. In their six-game series win over the Jazz, George averaged 29.0 PPG, 9.5 RPG, and 4.8 APG on 44.0% shooting and 41.7% from three.

Los Angeles Lakers – 2023

The Los Angeles Lakers found themselves all the way in the Western Conference Finals in 2023 after many had written them off early on. In the first round, they made easy and quick work of the Memphis Grizzlies, led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis. In the second round, the Lakers would eliminate Stephen Curry and the Warriors in six games. That is where things would stop for the Lakers as they were swept by the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.

Memphis Grizzlies – 2022

It is quite amazing how teams in the NBA can change so drastically from season to season. Last year, it was clear the Grizzlies were going to be around for a while as a young and hungry team who had a future superstar leading the way. Fast forward to 2023, and things have nearly imploded for Memphis, with Ja Morant finding himself in trouble off the court and Dillon Brooks taking center stage for all the wrong reasons on the court. In 2022, Memphis earned its most recent playoff series win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games. Ja Morant and Desmond Bane were the clear offensive leaders for the Grizzlies, each with over 20.0 PPG in the series and with Morant dishing out 10.5 APG.

Miami Heat – 2023

The only thing that needs to be said about the Miami Heat in 2023 is two words, Jimmy Butler. For Miami, nobody expected them to make this kind of run in the Eastern Conference playoffs after having to fight their way into the playoffs through the play-in tournament. In their first-round series, the Heat would shock the world behind Butler’s miraculous play on the court by eliminating the number-one seed Milwaukee Bucks in five games. The Bucks were expected to compete for the NBA championship but, instead, were left in shambles after Butler was through with them. Jimmy averaged 37.6 PPG for the series, which included one of the highest-scoring playoff games in NBA history, a 56-point performance in Game 4 that pretty much signaled the end for the Bucks. Now, the Miami Heat find themselves in their first NBA Finals since 2020 after defeating the Celtics in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Could this finally be the year that Jimmy Butler can crown himself an NBA champion?

Milwaukee Bucks – 2022

Regardless of what Giannis Antetokounmpo says, the last two seasons have been a failure for the Milwaukee Bucks. After winning a championship in 2021, the Bucks have found themselves sent home early two seasons in a row. Their last playoff series win came in the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs against the Chicago Bulls. It took only five games for Milwaukee to take care of the Bulls behind their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. In the series, Giannis would average 28.6 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 6.2 APG, and 1.4 BPG for the Bucks. Jrue Holiday would add 16.4 PPG and 6.8 APG, while Brook Lopez and Grayson Allen each contributed just over 13.0 PPG.

Minnesota Timberwolves – 2004

It has been nearly two decades since the Minnesota Timberwolves have seen any success in the NBA playoffs. In 2004, the Minnesota Timberwolves were led by MVP Kevin Garnett to a 58-24 record, one of the best records in franchise history. They would go on to defeat the Nuggets in round one and take on the Kings in round two. The teams would engage in battle for a seven-game series that saw the Timberwolves come out on top and advance to their only Conference Finals appearance in team history. Garnett delivered the final blow in Game 7 with a performance of 32 points, 21 rebounds, 4 steals, and 5 blocks.

New Orleans Pelicans – 2018

For the last few seasons, we have watched as the Pelicans have tried to rebuild their franchise after the loss of Anthony Davis to the Lakers and many other unfortunate circumstances. In 2018, the Pelicans picked up the last playoff win in a four-game sweep of Portland in the first round of the playoffs. Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday were the leaders of the sweep, both of whom played their game somewhere else in 2023. Davis averaged 33.0 PPG, 11.8 RPG, and 2.8 BPG in the series, while Holiday had 27.8 PPG, 6.5 APG, and 1.3 SPG. The Pelicans would be sent home in five games by the Warriors in the following round.

New York Knicks – 2023

Can we all agree that basketball is just much more fun when the New York Knicks are playing well? The energy from Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden is electrifying, making for one of the greatest atmospheres in sports. This was on full display in their first-round victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in this year’s playoffs. Jalen Brunson, New York’s newest star, led the onslaught with 24.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 4.8 APG. RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, and Josh Hart all lent a helping hand as the Knicks advanced in five games.

Oklahoma City Thunder – 2016

I am so sorry Thunder fans. I know how gut-wrenching the season of 2016 was for you. After building a 3-1 lead over the Golden State Warriors in the Conference Finals, the Thunder would lose three straight games and ultimately Kevin Durant in free agency just a month later in one of the most traitorous moves ever. In the series they needed to advance to those Conference Finals, the Thunder had to take down the San Antonio Spurs. In that series, the Thunder would take them down in six games, led by Kevin Durant’s 28.5 PPG and 6.7 RPG. Russell Westbrook also played a large role in the win with 25.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 10.5 APG.

Orlando Magic – 2010

It has been 13 seasons since the Orlando Magic won a playoff series, and they are on the verge of putting together a team that is quite possibly even more talented these days. The Magic had just come off an NBA Finals berth in 2009 and were desperate to get back there, led by dominant big man Dwight Howard. In the second round of those playoffs, the Magic would destroy the Atlanta Hawks in a four-game sweep. Howard would average 21.0 PPG, 13.3 RPG, and 2.8 BPG to earn the sweep, while Vince Carter poured in 18.0 PPG and Jameer Nelson gave 17.3 PPG and 6.0 APG. The Magic would go on to fall to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals and have seen no playoff success since.

Philadelphia 76ers – 2023

The following two teams are the final two who have collected their most recent playoff series wins in this year’s NBA playoffs. The Philadelphia 76ers, led by MVP Joel Embiid and a rejuvenated James Harden, have made some noise in this year’s playoffs. In the first round, the 76ers took care of the Brooklyn Nets in four games. Embiid and Harden stole the show as the newly-crowned MVP averaged 20.0 PPG and 11.3 RPG despite an injury that cost him Game 4. Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris also averaged over 20.0 PPG, with Maxey as their leading scorer with 21.8 PPG. Unfortunately for the 76ers, they fell short in the second round once again, leading to the firing of Doc Rivers and the likely departure of James Harden. 

Phoenix Suns – 2023

Heading into this year’s NBA playoffs, the Phoenix Suns were considered to be a title favorite after landing superstar Kevin Durant at the trade deadline. Although they lost to the Nuggets in seven games in the second round, the Suns needed just five games to take down a Clippers team in the first round who lost both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George for the series. Devin Booker has been on fire for the entirety of these NBA playoffs and delivered a first-round performance that saw him average 37.2 PPG. New star Kevin Durant also added 28.4 PPG as the duo combined for over 65.0 PPG of the Suns’ 122.0 PPG as a team.

Portland Trail Blazers – 2019

Another team who has been desperately searching for pieces to add to Damian Lillard over the last few seasons is the Portland Trail Blazers. To get to their most recent playoff series win, we have to go back to 2019 when they advanced to the Western Conference Finals. Their last series would be a seven-game battle with the Denver Nuggets in the 2019 second round. In Game 7, it would be a 37-point game from CJ McCollum that would carry them to the Conference Finals after a brutal performance from Lillard, shooting just 3-17 from the floor. Portland did not stand a chance against the Warriors as they were swept in four games and have not advanced in three playoff appearances since.

Sacramento Kings – 2004

In 2023, the NBA community was ecstatic to see the Kings break their 17-year playoff drought, even though they fell in the first round. Their last playoff series win came nearly two decades ago in a win over the Dallas Mavericks in the first round. Despite a big series from Dirk Nowitzki for Dallas, the Kings had too much firepower from Mike Bibby, Chris Webber, And Peja Stojakovic. Bibby led all scorers with 23.6 PPG, while Webber added 19.4 PPG and 9.2 RPG. The Kings would be eliminated in the following round by the San Antonio Spurs and are still searching for that next series victory.

San Antonio Spurs – 2017

Has it really been six years since the last time the Spurs won a playoff series? It is a rhetorical question as the answer is clearly yes, but it just seems like it has been much shorter than that. The last time the Spurs were threats in the NBA playoffs was in 2017 when they advanced to the Western Conference Finals. In order to get there, the Spurs had to take down interstate rival Houston Rockets in order to do so. The Spurs would handle the Rockets in six games led by a young Kawhi Leonard, who averaged 23.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 5.8 APG, and 1.4 SPG. LaMarcus Aldridge also had a big part in the win with 18.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, and 1.2 BPG. With the rebuilding ever since it is hard to predict the next time that we may see the Spurs as a contender once again.

Toronto Raptors – 2020

This is the final team on our list who captured their last series win during the 2020 bubble playoffs held at Disney in Orlando, Florida. In the first round of those playoffs, the Raptors faced off with the Brooklyn Nets. Led by Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam, the Raptors would sweep the Nets in four games. VanVleet and Siakam would each average over 20.0 PPG in the series, with VanVleet adding 7.8 APG and Siakam adding 7.8 RPG. The Raptors went back to the playoffs in 2022 but fell to the 76ers in five games.

Utah Jazz – 2021

The last playoff series win for the Utah Jazz is coincidentally the last time we would see Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert share the floor as teammates. The Jazz kicked off their 2021 playoff run with a series against a young Memphis Grizzlies team looking to make some noise. Mitchell and Gobert were determined not to let that be true as they led the Jazz to a 4-1 series win. Mitchell led all scorers with 28.5 PPG in the series, while Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert grabbed 13.0 RPG and had 3.2 BPG as well. The Jazz would put up a fight against the Clippers in round two but ultimately fell in six games. Mitchell is now with the Cavaliers, and Gobert is now in Minnesota, leaving the task of a playoff series win to a brand new roster moving forward.

Washington Wizards – 2017

The Washington Wizards are currently a long way away from the team they were when they last won a playoff series in 2017. In 2017, the Wizards went 49-33 on the season with John Wall and Bradley Beal as one of the most prolific duos in the game. In the first round of the 2017 playoffs, the Wizards had to take on the Atlanta Hawks, who packed a punch of their own with a frontcourt of Paul Millsap and Dwight Howard. Now, they were far from one of the greatest frontcourts we have seen, but they still were a formidable opponent for the Wizards. It took only six games for Washington to claim victory as Beal and Wall led the way. Wall averaged 29.5 PPG and 10.3 APG in the series, while Beal gave 25.8 PPG on 46.2% shooting.  

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