The 5 Most Competitive Sweeps in NBA Playoff History

5. Houston Rockets over Orlando Magic, 1995

Avg. Margin of Victory (MOV): 7.0; Net Rating: 7.2

Following a 110-110 tie in regulation, Hakeem Olajuwon et al needed five extra minutes to put away Game 1 of the 1995 Finals. The Houston Rockets edged out Shaquille O'Neal and his Orlando Magic by a mere two points, thanks to 31 points from The Dream.

Heading into the fourth quarter of Game 2 and holding a 90-71 lead, the Rockets appeared poised to run away with their second win of the series. However, the Magic ripped off a 35-27 fourth to bring themselves within 11. O'Neal finished the contest with 33 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists, but Olajuwon's 34 and 11 were too much to overcome for the Magic, despite their best efforts.

The series shifted location in Game 3, but the back-and-forth play continued, as the teams took turns winning quarters, neither doing so by any more than 3. Ultimately, though, the Rockets won the fourth quarter and took a commanding 3-0 lead, going into Game 4.

No team had (or still has) come back from a 3-0 deficit to win the Finals, so things were all but decided. In spite of 25 each from Shaq and Anfernee Hardaway, the Rockets won by 12, marking the largest margin of victory for the series.

Both big men would've been worthy of Finals MVP, but it was Olajuwon who triumphed. Over the four games, he was a monster, with averages of 32.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.0 blocks and 2.0 steals in 44.8 minutes a night.