The Biggest NBA Point-Spread Upsets Since 1995: Pistons Win Over Bucks Comes Close to Record

The Milwaukee Bucks have found themselves on the wrong side of history. Twice.

After the Detroit Pistons beat the Milwaukee Bucks outright on Monday, Jan. 3, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. are now on the losing end of the two biggest outright upsets in NBA history.

Led by Saqqid Bey's 34 points, including 8 3-pointers, Detroit beat Milwaukee 115-106 as 17-point underdogs.

Only once since 1995 has a bigger underdog won in the NBA. That came in 2020 when the Nets shocked the Bucks 119-116 as 18.5-point underdogs.

Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot — seriously — led the Nets in scoring with 26 points that night.

Using data from our Bet Labs database and Killer Sports, we've compiled the 25 biggest point spread upsets in the NBA since at least 1995, our first year of having reliable data.

The Pistons were +1100 on the moneyline, making it the biggest upset of the 2022 season.

Two other teams have won outright as 17-point favorites, according to our data. The Denver Nuggets beat the Washington Wizards in 1997 and the Los Angeles Lakers topped the Golden State Warriors in 2015.

Denver has actually won four of the 25 biggest upsets.

Don't worry, Milwaukee. Although the Bucks have the two biggest losses, they don't appear the most times on the list. That belongs to the Portland Trailblazers, who have four losses on the list.

Biggest NBA Upsets Since 1995