The2021 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's2020–21 season. With theCOVID-19 pandemic impacting the NBA for the second consecutive year, the regular season was reduced to 72 games for each team and the start date of the playoffs was moved from its usual time in mid-April to May 22, 2021. It ended with the2021 NBA Finals in July.

The2021 NBA Finals matchup featured theMilwaukee Bucks and thePhoenix Suns. The Bucks won the NBA Finals in six games after being down 0–2, their first championship since1971.

Both thedefending championLos Angeles Lakers and the 2020 NBA Finals runner-upMiami Heat lost in the first round to the eventual finalists: thePhoenix Suns and theMilwaukee Bucks, respectively. The Suns advanced to their first NBA Finals since1993 after winning the Western Conference finals against theLos Angeles Clippers in six games; the Bucks also won the Eastern Conference finals in six games, against theAtlanta Hawks to reach their first NBA Finals since1974.^[1]

It was the first year the NBA used a 20-team playoff, with a two-stage system in both conferences, with 16 of the 20 teams advancing to the second stage. The first stage, the NBA play-in games, was a four-teamplayoff in each conference for the No. 7 to No. 10 seeds in each conference. In this format, the No. 7 and No. 8 teams need to win one game to advance to the second stage, with a double chance, while the No. 9 and No. 10 teams need to win two games to advance, eliminated by just one loss.

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• ThePortland Trail Blazers entered their eighth consecutive postseason, which was the longest active streak in the NBA until their failure to qualify the following year.
• TheBoston Celtics entered their seventh consecutive postseason.
• TheUtah Jazz andMilwaukee Bucks entered their fifth consecutive postseason.
  • Milwaukee also advanced to their firstNBA Finals since1974 and this was the Bucks' first Eastern Conference championship in franchise history as the team was in the Western Conference until1980.
• ThePhiladelphia 76ers entered their fourth consecutive postseason.
• TheBrooklyn Nets,Los Angeles Clippers andDenver Nuggets entered their third consecutive postseason.
• TheMiami Heat,Los Angeles Lakers andDallas Mavericks entered their second consecutive postseason.
• TheWashington Wizards made their first postseason appearance since2018.
• TheAtlanta Hawks (which entered their first Conference finals appearance since2015) andMemphis Grizzlies made their first postseason appearance since2017.
• TheNew York Knicks made their first postseason appearance since2013.
• ThePhoenix Suns made their first postseason appearance since2010.
  • Phoenix also won the Western Conference and advanced to their first NBA Finals since1993.
• TheHouston Rockets missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years.
• TheToronto Raptors missed the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
• TheOklahoma City Thunder andIndiana Pacers missed the playoffs for the first time in six years.
• TheOrlando Magic missed the playoffs for the first time in three years.
• TheSan Antonio Spurs returned to the postseason after missing the playoffs the previous year, but were eliminated after losing to Memphis in the first stage of thePage–McIntyre system system tournament.
• TheGolden State Warriors returned to the postseason after missing the playoffs the previous year, being the first team to be eliminated from the Page–McIntyre system tournament with the double chance. They were the No. 8 seed, losing to the No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers in the first game of the first stage, then losing to No. 9 Memphis in the second game of the first stage.

• TheMemphis Grizzlies became the first No. 9 seed to advance to the playoffs, defeating theGolden State Warriors in the second game of the first stage play–in.
• TheMilwaukee Bucks swept theMiami Heat in the first round, marking the 45th straight year a sweep occurred in the NBA playoffs. The last year a sweep did not occur in the playoffs was1976.
• With Miami not winning a road game, their streak of winning a road game in a playoff series ends at 23, a streak that started in2011. This record would be surpassed by the Warriors in the followingyear.
• TheMavericks–Clippers series was the first of the 2021 playoffs to have a Game 7, making it the 22nd consecutive NBA postseason to feature a Game 7. The last time a Game 7 did not take place in the playoffs was1999.
• Not counting the2020 NBA playoffs which was held at a neutral site, the Mavericks–Clippers series was the first in NBA history where the road team won the first six games of a best–of–7 and the first since1995 to have the road team win the first five games of a best–of–7.
• Both 2020 NBA finalists (Los Angeles Lakers andMiami Heat) were eliminated in the first round. This was the third time overall and the first since2007 that this had happened, in which the Miami Heat were also one of the finalists who were eliminated.
• TheLos Angeles Lakers first round loss to thePhoenix Suns marked the first time that the defending NBA champions was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs since theSan Antonio Spurs in the2015 playoffs.
• With theBoston Celtics,Dallas Mavericks,Los Angeles Lakers, andMiami Heat eliminated in the first round (along with theCleveland Cavaliers,Detroit Pistons,Golden State Warriors,San Antonio Spurs, andToronto Raptors failing to qualify for the playoffs), by the second round the 2021 playoffs ensured one team of its first championship in the 21st century.
• This Finals was the first since1999 to not feature theGolden State Warriors,Los Angeles Lakers,Miami Heat, orSan Antonio Spurs.
• This Finals was the first since2014 to not includeAndre Iguodala, who had played in the past six finals with theGolden State Warriors andMiami Heat.
• For the first time in his 18-year career, LeBron James lost a first-round playoffs series when theLos Angeles Lakers were eliminated by thePhoenix Suns in Game 6.^[2] This would happen again 3 years later.
• Damian Lillard set an NBA record of 12 three-point field goals made in a single playoff game, which was previously held byKlay Thompson in 2016.^[3]
• LeBron James became the only player in NBA history to be in the playoff top 10 for all five major statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals).
• Chris Paul became the first player to reach 15 assists with 0 turnovers three separate times in the NBA playoffs.
• Nikola Jokić joinedWilt Chamberlain andKareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players with 30 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists in an NBA playoff game.
• Kevin Durant became the first player in NBA history with 45 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists in a single playoff game. He also set an NBA record for most points in a Game 7 with 48 against the Milwaukee Bucks.^[4]
• TheLos Angeles Clippers became the first team in NBA history to overcome an 0–2 deficit twice in the same postseason. They also made it to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history.^[5]
• With the Clippers advancing to the Western Conference finals to face the Suns, this ensured that a Pacific Division team played in the NBA Finals for the seventh consecutive postseason.
• TheMilwaukee Bucks won a Game 7 on the road for the first time in franchise history.
• Neither thefirst–seeded team nor thesecond-seeded team made theEastern Conference finals for the second straight year.
• TheAtlanta Hawks became the fourth team in the last 40 years to reach the conference finals with a midseason coaching replacement.
• Neither first–seeded team made the conference finals for the first time since1994.
• Devin Booker joinedCharles Barkley and LeBron James as the only players with 40–point triple–double in a conference finals game. He also joinedOscar Robertson andLuka Dončić as the only players with a 40–point triple–double before turning 25.
• Deandre Ayton became the first player in the shot–clock era with a 70+ FG% in any 12–game postseason span (min. 100 att), and the first since1954–55 NBA season.
• Deandre Ayton became the first player in NBA history to average 15 points and 10 rebounds while shooting at least 65% from the field in a single postseason.
• Jae Crowder now owns the longest active finals streak when thePhoenix Suns made the NBA Finals, having also made it last year with Miami.
• Chris Paul became the oldest player in NBA history with 40+ points in a closeout game. He is also the second oldest player to drop 40 points in any playoff game.
• WithRajon Rondo losing in the Western Conference finals to the Suns,Shaquille O'Neal's 37–year streak of having a former teammate in the NBA Finals came to an end.
• ThePhoenix Suns became the first team in NBA history to move on to the NBA Finals after missing the postseason in the prior ten seasons. They also held the worst record (.302 winning pct) in five seasons prior to an appearance in the final postseason round in the history of the NBA, NFL, NHL, or MLB.
• Both NBA finalists in the 2020–2021 season have not been in the finals for over two decades (the Suns in1993, the Bucks in1974).
• Trae Young became the second player in NBA history to average 28+ PPG and 9+ APG in a single playoff run (minimum 15 games, LeBron James in2018).
• Trae Young tied LeBron James andDirk Nowitzki by scoring the 4th most points in a Conference finals game with 48 against the Milwaukee Bucks.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 5th player in NBA history with 9+ 30/10 games in a single postseason since 1963.
• By winning the 2021 Eastern Conference finals, theMilwaukee Bucks are the only NBA franchise to win both the Eastern & Western Conference Titles. However, theWarriors franchise achieved the same deeds when the East and the West were called "Divisions", before they were realigned as "Conferences" in the1970-71 expansion. Before 1970–71, the teams emerged from the East and West playoff brackets were called Eastern Division Champions and Western Division Champions, respectively. ThePhiladelphia Warriors won the Eastern Division in1956, while the San Francisco Warriors won the Western Division in1964 and1967. The Golden State Warriors also won 7 conference titles after 1970–71.
• Chris Paul joinsMichael Jordan as the only players with 30+ points and 9+ assists in an NBA Finals debut. Jordan accomplished this feat in1991. He also joinedKareem Abdul-Jabbar and Tim Duncan as players with 30+ points in an NBA Finals game age 36 or older.^[6]
• Deandre Ayton became the fourth player in the shot-clock era (since 1955) with at least 20 points, 15 rebounds, and shooting 80+ FG% in an NBA Finals game (Bill Russell,Kareem-Abdul Jabbar,Wilt Chamberlain). Ayton joins Abdul-Jabbar as the only players to do so in their Finals debuts.
• Chris Paul scored or assisted on 54 points in Game 1, the 3rd most in an NBA Finals debut all time (Allen Iverson with 61 in 2001, Michael Jordan with 60 in 1991).
• ThePhoenix Suns became the third team to make 20+ three-point shots in a Finals game, joining theCleveland Cavaliers, and theGolden State Warriors.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo joined Shaquille O'Neal as the only players with 40+ points and 10+ rebounds in back–to–back Finals games. He also scored 103 points through the first three Finals game of his career, ranking fourth behindRick Barry (122), Allen Iverson (106), andWillis Reed (104).
• Devin Booker set a new record for most points for a player in his first NBA playoffs appearance, accumulating 601 points, overtaking Ricky Barry (521) andJulius Erving (518).
• The Suns became the first team in NBA history to lose a Finals game despite shooting better than 50% and keeping their opponent below at least 42%.
• Khris Middleton and Devin Booker became the 4th pair of opponents to put up at least 40 points in the same game.
• Devin Booker became the seventh player in NBA history to put up back–to–back 40 point games in the Finals. Booker is also the first Suns player to achieve this and is also the first overall to lose both of these games.
• Devin Booker's 82 points in Games 4 and 5 of the NBA Finals reflects the highest total of any player who lost consecutive Finals Games (John Havlicek and LeBron James each had 80 in consecutive games).
• Devin Booker joined Rick Barry as the only players to record at least ten 30 point games in their first postseason all time.
• The Suns became the first team in NBA history to lose a playoff game shooting at least 55% from the field and at least 60% from three.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton became the 2nd pair of teammates to record at least 500 points and 100 assists in a single postseason.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and Khris Middleton became the 5th trio of teammates in NBA Finals history to record at least 25 points while shooting at least 50% from the field in the same game.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 5th player in NBA Finals history to record at least 30 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, and 0 turnovers.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 2nd player in NBA Finals history to record at least 3 games recording 40 points and 10 rebounds.
• With Giannis andThanasis Antetokounmpo winning a championship this year, they joinKostas Antetokounmpo (2020 with Los Angeles Lakers) as the only sibling trio in NBA history to win a championship.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 7th player in NBA Finals history to record a 50-point game. He also tiedBob Pettit for the most points scored in a Finals closeout game.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 5th player in NBA Finals history to record at least 30 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, and 0 turnovers.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 1st player in NBA Finals history to record 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks in a game, then became the first to record 50 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks in a game.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded the second-most games in a single postseason scoring at least 30 points and 10 rebounds.
• Chris Paul became the 1st player in NBA history to blow four separate 2–0 series leads in a best–of–7 series.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 3rd player in NBA history to win multiple regular–season MVPs, Defensive Player of the Year Award, and Finals MVP (Hakeem Olajuwon andMichael Jordan)
• Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 2nd player in NBA history to win multiple regular–season MVPs and Finals MVP while playing at the power forward position (Tim Duncan).
• Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 1st player in NBA Finals history to average 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists while shooting at least 60% FG. In addition, he is the 1st player in NBA Finals history to average 30 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal while shooting at least 50% on field goals.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 9th player in NBA history to win multiple MVPs and a Finals MVP. He joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Tim Duncan as the only ones to do so at 26 years old or younger.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first player in NBA history with 5 All-Star selections, 5 All-NBA selections, multiple MVPs, 1 Finals MVP, and 1 DPOY before turning 27 years old.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo tied Kevin Durant by averaging the 5th most PPG in an NBA Finals win with 35.2 (Durant averaged 35.2 PPG in2017).
• Giannis Antetokounmpo became the 1st player in NBA history to win Most Improved Player, MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo became the fourth international player and third European player to win the Finals MVP, joining Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria) in1994 and1995,Tony Parker (France) in2007, andDirk Nowitzki (Germany) in2011.
• The Milwaukee Bucks became the fifth team in NBA Finals history to overcome an 0–2 deficit and win the title. They also became the third team to win 4 consecutive games after being down 0–2. The last team to accomplish this feat is the2006 Miami Heat.
• The Milwaukee Bucks became the second team in NBA playoff history to overcome an 0–2 deficit twice in the same postseason (2021 Los Angeles Clippers).
• The Milwaukee Bucks became the first team below the 2nd seed to win a championship since theDallas Mavericks in 2011.

The NBA Board of Governors approved a format for the2020–21 season to have aplay-in tournament involving the teams that ranked 7th through 10th in each conference. The 7th place team and 8th place team participate in the double-chance game, with the winner advancing to the playoffs as the 7-seed. The loser then plays the winner of the elimination game between the 9th place and 10th place teams to determine the playoff's 8-seed. The NBA's regular playoff format would then proceed as normal.^[7]

Under the NBA's regular playoff format, the eight teams with the most wins in each conference qualified for the playoffs. Theseedings were based on each team's record. Each conference's bracket was fixed; there was no reseeding. All rounds were best-of-seven series; the series ended when one team won four games, and that team advanced to the next round. All rounds, including the NBA Finals, were in a 2–2–1–1–1 format. In the conference playoffs, home court advantage went to the higher-seeded team (number one being the highest). Seeding was based on each team's regular season record within a conference; if two teams had the same record, standard tiebreaker rules were used. Conference seedings were ignored for the NBA Finals: Home court advantage went to the team with the better regular season record, and, if needed, ties were broken based on head-to-head record, followed by intra-conference record.

On April 25, 2021, theUtah Jazz became the first team to clinch a playoff spot.^[8] While noted in the below tables, division titles have no bearing on seeding.^[9]

Indiana (34–38) andCharlotte (33–39) also secured play-in berths but did not advance to the playoffs.^[21]

Golden State (39–33) andSan Antonio (33–39) also secured play-in berths but did not advance to the playoffs.^[21]

Bold Game winner
Italic Team with home-court advantage

Bold Game winner
Italic Team with home-court advantage

Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Teams with home court advantage, the higher seeded team, are shown in italics.

Note: Times areEDT (UTC−4) as listed by the NBA. If the venue is located in a different time zone, the local time is also given.

This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning three of the first five meetings.^[34]

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, but the first since the New Jersey Netsrelocated to Brooklyn and became the Brooklyn Nets in 2012, with the Nets winning the first two meetings.^[35]

The Bucks struggled offensively against Miami, shooting only 16% (5–31) on three-point shots. The game went into overtime thanks to a game-tying, buzzer-beating layup by Jimmy Butler, but Milwaukee was able to pull away and win on a Khris Middleton jump shot, made with only 0.5 seconds left.

The Bucks erupted for 46 points in the first quarter, setting a new franchise playoff record, en route to a dominating 132–98 victory. The Bucks would make 22 three-pointers, after making only 5 in game 1.

The Bucks would cruise to another convincing victory in game 3, to take a commanding 3–0 series lead on Miami. In games 2 & 3, the Heat led for only 17 seconds, out of 96 minutes of game time.

Though Miami built a 7-point lead at halftime, the Bucks went on a 24–6 run in the third quarter to take a lead they would not relinquish, leading to a four-game sweep of the Heat.

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Heat winning the first two meetings.^[36]

In Game 1,Trae Young hits the game-winning floater with 0.9 seconds left.

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first two meetings.^[37]

This was the first playoff meeting between the Jazz and the Grizzlies.^[38]

This was the 13th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning eight of the first 12 meetings.^[39]

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with Portland winning two of the first three meetings.^[40]

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Clippers winning the first meeting.^[41]

Note: Times areEDT (UTC−4) as listed by the NBA. If the venue is located in a different time zone, the local time is also given.

This was the first time both Conference semifinals went seven games since2001.

The Atlanta Hawks dominated during the early part of the game, leading by as much as 26 points. However, the 76ers performed a major rally, eventually cutting the deficit to just 3 points with a minute left in regulation. 20 seconds later,Bogdan Bogdanovic hit a clutch 3, but the 76ers would make it a 3-point game again with 28.7 seconds left. Joel Embiid then committed a clear path foul, giving Atlanta 2 free throws and possession of the ball. The Hawks sealed the game with Trae Young's alley-oop assist to John Collins.Trae Young secured a double-double with 35 points and 10 assists for The Hawks. Joel Embiid scored 39 points for the 76ers.

After the 76ers started the game up 20–4 with 6 minutes left in the 1st quarter, the Hawks rallied and the game remained close until the start of the 4th quarter, in which the 76ers blew the game open with a 14–0 run, resulting in the series being tied at a game apiece.Joel Embiid secured a double-double with 40 points and 13 rebounds, while Danny Green had 8 assists. Trae Young also scored a double-double with 21 points and 11 assists while John Collins grabbed 10 rebounds.

The 76ers cruised their way to victory throughout the entire game thanks in part to Joel Embiid's 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists.Trae Young scored 28 points and 8 assists in the losing effort for the Hawks.

Despite being down by 18, the Atlanta Hawks staged a comeback, eventually taking their first lead since the 1st quarter at the start of the 4th quarter. The 76ers were up by 4 with 2:20 left in the 4th quarter, but the Hawks responded with a 7–0 run, leading by 3 with 49.6 seconds left. After Embiid got fouled and made both free throws to make it 101–100, and a turnover by John Collins, the 76ers had a chance at leading the series 3 games to 1. Embiid's go-ahead shot fell short and the ball went out of bounds, last touched by Ben Simmons, giving Atlanta the ball with 8.2 seconds left.After Trae Young made both of his free throws to make it a 3-point game, the 76ers had 6.6 seconds left to tie it, but Seth Curry's game-tying 3-pointer was no good, giving Atlanta the comeback victory.

In the pivotal Game 5, the 76ers appeared to be on their way to victory, leading by as much as 26 points and with a 99.7% win probability according to ESPN.^[42] However, the Hawks, who came back from down 18 in the previous game, performed one of the most memorable comebacks in NBA Playoffs history. The Sixers were still up 104–94 with 4 minutes left in the game, only for the Hawks to respond with a 13–0 run to take a 3-point lead with 50 seconds left, their first lead of the entire game.

With 12 seconds left, a blocking foul byDanilo Gallinari sent Joel Embiid to the line with the Hawks leading by 3. He missed both free throws and Atlanta then had possession of the ball. Trae Young sealed it with 2 clutch free throws, and Seth Curry then made a meaningless basket to make the final score 109–106 in favor the Hawks, who were now one game away from their first conference finals berth since2015. Once the final buzzer sounded, the 76ers' faithful booed their entire team off the floor due to the collapse.

Trae Young led the Hawks' comeback victory with 39 points and 7 assists.

The Hawks became the 6th team in NBA Playoffs history to win a playoff game after trailing by 18+ points entering the 4th quarter in the shot clock era.

With the Hawks looking to advance to the Eastern Conference finals on their home floor, they led by as much as 12 points during the 2nd quarter. But the 76ers, who were trying to stave off elimination after back-to-back collapses, managed to take control of the game.However, the game once again would go down to the wire, as the Sixers were up 94–87 with 3 minutes left. The Hawks responded with 2 three-pointers from Gallinari and Young, who cut the deficit to one with 1:59 left in the 4th quarter. The lights at State Farm Arena went out, causing a one-minute delay. Once the lights came back on, Philadelphia immediately responded by preserving the lead as Tobias Harris would make 2 game-sealing free throws to send the series back to Philadelphia for Game 7 on Sunday night.

In front of a loudWells Fargo Center, Game 7 was a deadlocked affair, with neither team able to gain a double-digit lead. The game and the serie once again came down to the wire. With 1:12 left in the 4th quarter, the Hawks were leading, 93–92, and had the ball.Kevin Huerter attempted a 3-point shot that missed, but was fouled byMatisse Thybulle, sending him to the line where he made 3 free throws. On the next possession,Danilo Gallinari stripped Joel Embiid of the ball and then dunked to make it 98–92 in favor of the Hawks, who from that point on had complete control of the game. The Atlanta Hawks upset the top-seeded 76ers to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 6 years.

Kevin Huerter was the Hawks' top scorer with 27 points, John Collins grabbed 16 rebounds and Trae Young had 10 assists.

For the Sixers, Joel Embiid scored 31 points, while Tobias Harris grabbed 14 rebounds.

Ben Simmons' Game 7 performance was criticized as he scored only 5 points with 13 assists. With 3:30 left in the 4th quarter and the Sixers down 2, Simmons passed up a wide open dunk and instead passed to Matisse Thybulle, who got fouled and split the free throws. Sixers' coach Doc Rivers was asked in his post-game conference if Simmons could be the point guard of a championship team, with Rivers responding "I don't know the answer to that right now". Joel Embiid cited the decision as the turning point of the game.

Eventually it would be Ben Simmons, Andre Drummond & Seth Curry's last playoff game as a 76er, as all of them were traded to theBrooklyn Nets on February 10, 2022.

It was Atlanta's first win over Philadelphia in any sport playoff series since 1978.

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning both previous meetings.^[43]

Game 7 would go on to be an instant classic with both teams locked in for the entire game. In the final seconds of regulation, Kevin Durant appeared to have given the Nets a 1-point lead on a fadeaway three-point shot with 1 second left. Replay showed, however, that his foot was on the line. With the score tied at 109, Milwaukee had a chance to win the series, but Giannis Antetokounmpo's turnaround jump shot missed, sending the game into overtime. The Nets held a two-point lead until the final 90 seconds of overtime where the Bucks would score on back-to-back possessions to get on the board and take a 113–111 lead with 40 seconds remaining. The Nets had possession in the last 15 seconds of the game, with Durant shooting a similar turnaround game-tying, almost-three-point jump shot; however, it was an airball. The Bucks subsequently sealed the game on two free throws by Brook Lopez (a former Net), sending them to the Eastern Conference finals for the second time in three years. This marked the first game seven to go into overtime since2006 involving theDallas Mavericks and theSan Antonio Spurs, which the Mavericks won and prevented the team from blowing a 3–1 lead to the Spurs. It was also the Bucks' first victory on the road in a postseason game seven, having gone 0–7 in previous playoff road game seven's. It also became the seventh team in NBA playoff history and the first since the2017–18 Cleveland Cavaliers that a road team won game seven in the postseason also joined by other teams the1968–69 Boston Celtics (who upset theLos Angeles Lakers in the1969 series.),1970–71 Baltimore Bullets (who were swept by eventual champions Bucks in the1971 series.), the2006–07 Utah Jazz,2007–08 San Antonio Spurs, the2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers and the2017–18 Cleveland Cavaliers, and followed by2021–22 Dallas Mavericks, and also the third team in NBA playoff history to win game seven on the road in overtime joined the2001–02 Los Angeles Lakers, and the 2005–06 Mavericks' team.

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, but the first since the New Jersey Netsrelocated to Brooklyn and became the Brooklyn Nets in 2012, with the Bucks winning two of the first three meetings.^[44]