The Boston Celtics have dominated the Dallas Mavericks in the opening three games of the NBA Finals and hold a 3-0 series lead. Meanwhile, the Stanley Cup Final hasn’t been much different as the Florida Panthers have a 3-0 series lead against the Edmonton Oilers.
If the Celtics and Panthers are both able to come away with wins in their respective Game 4s, it would mark the first time since 1995 that both the NBA and NHL seasons ended with a sweep in the championship round. In 1995, the Houston Rockets swept the Orlando Magic to win the NBA title, while the New Jersey Devils ousted the Detroit Red Wings in four games.
The 1995 NBA Finals were more closely contested than the series sweep may indicate. While the Rockets did win Games 2 and 4 by double-digits, the Magic put up quite a fight.
Orlando took Houston to overtime in Game 1 before losing 120-118. Rockets star big man Hakeem Olajuwon earned NBA Finals MVP honors after averaging 33.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks throughout the 1995 postseason.
Meanwhile, the 1995 Stanley Cup Final wasn’t super close throughout the series. After the Devils tallied a 2-1 win in Game 1, New Jersey won each of the final three games by at least two goals. Devils forward Claude Lemieux won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the league’s playoff MVP after he scored a playoff-high 13 goals and tallied three assists.
If the Panthers finish off the Oilers in four games, this would be the first time that the NHL has seen a Stanley Cup Final sweep since 1998 when the Red Wings swept the Washington Capitals. In terms of the NBA Finals, it would be the first sweep since the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games in 2018.
The NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final are two of the most anticipated events in the world of sports. Fans eagerly await to see which team will come out on top and be crowned champions. While sweeps in these finals are rare, there is always a possibility that it could happen.
The last time both the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final were swept was in 1995. The Houston Rockets swept the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals, while the New Jersey Devils swept the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Final. Since then, there have been close calls, but no team has been able to sweep their opponent in both finals in the same year.
This year, however, there is a chance that we could see history repeat itself. In the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors are looking like a dominant force once again. Led by superstars Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, the Warriors have been steamrolling through the competition. If they continue to play at this level, they could potentially sweep their way to another championship.
On the ice, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been the team to beat in the NHL this season. With a high-powered offense and solid goaltending, the Lightning have been able to outmatch their opponents. If they can maintain their momentum and make it to the Stanley Cup Final, they could have a shot at sweeping their way to a championship.
While sweeps in both finals are rare, it is not impossible. Both the Warriors and Lightning have the talent and depth to make it happen. It would be a historic moment in sports if either team were able to pull off the feat. Fans will have to wait and see if this is the year that we see a double sweep in the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1995.
