The Phoenix Suns lost Game 5 to the Denver Nuggets and now face elimination in Game 6 on Thursday night.
Every single NBA playoff team has faced at least one elimination game in the past three seasons, but only the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks got themselves in that position during a championship run. The Bucks, that year, had to win Game 6 and Game 7 of the second round against Kevin Durant’s Nets to stay alive before winning the Conference Finals and Finals in six games apiece.
Neither the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers nor the 2022 Golden State Warriors had to deal with a win-or-go-home game in their title runs.