Throughout the more than 70-year history of the NBA, there have been only 13 instances when a team has made a comeback from a 3-1 deficit in a playoff series. That is only 4.9% of the cases, since 252 times the team that had a 3-1 lead eventually won the series. This article will be a list of all teams to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Playoffs

These teams have shown insane tenacity and held their nerve to emerge victorious in three consecutive must-win games. One team has done it in the Finals series and another team has done it twice in the same year.

Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz (2020) & Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers (2020)

The 2020 Denver Nuggets are the only team that has come back from a 3-1 deficit twice in the same year, and they actually did it in the back-to-back series. It is worth noting, that the Playoffs took place in the bubble in Orlando and no team had a real home-court advantage.

In the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, the Nuggets faced the Utah Jazz.

The Nuggets opened the series well, winning an overtime game. But then the Jazz, led by Donovan Mitchell, who had two back-to-back 50+ points games, won three in a row. The first two of those three games were a blowout Jazz wins with an average margin of 28 points.

Still, the Nuggets managed to come back from a 3-1 deficit with an 80-78 game 7 win. Mike Conley could have won the game for the Jazz but his last-second three-point shot went in and out.

The Los Angeles Clippers were Denver’s second-round opponent. What makes this 3-1 comeback even more spectacular is that the Clippers had a double-digit lead in every of the last three games of the series but somehow they just weren’t able to close it. Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and their teammates just didn’t want to give up and they created history.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors (2016)

This was the first and only time a team came back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals series.

The Golden State was coming from a record 73-9 regular season and were on their way to win back-to-back championships. It seemed like they were going to do easily when they took a 3-1 lead against the Cavs but LeBron was fully dedicated to winning one for Cleveland.

LeBron’s block on Andre Iguodala in Game 7, and Kyrie Irving’s game-winning three-pointer became one of the most epic moments in NBA Playoff history.

Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (2016)

Prior to their devastating loss to the Cavaliers in the Finals series, the Warriors overcame a 3-1 deficit on their own. The Oklahoma City Thunder almost beat the “Dubs” but Steph Curry and Klay Thompson put on a tremendous shooting performance to win the series. Klay made 11 three-pointers in game 6 road victory.

Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Clippers (2015)

In a nail-biting series, the Houston Rockets overcame a 3-1 deficit to beat the LA Clippers in the 2015 Western Conference Semifinals. James Harden and Dwight Howard put on a show with Trevor Ariza playing a crucial role in the last three games of this series.

This series was the beginning of the downfall of the Lob City LA Clippers team while James Harden’s Houston Rockets emerged as serious title contenders. The Rockets eventually fell to the Warriors, who ended up winning the NBA title in 2015.

Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers (2006)

Did you know that Kobe and the Lakers loss a series after a 3-1 lead?

That just tells you how good Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire were in their prime.

In 2006, the Phoenix Suns were a title-contending team with the second seed in the Western Conference. They went up against the LA Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. Kobe helped the Lakers secure a 3-1 lead in the series.

But Steve Nash and co. had other ideas as they went on to blow out the Lakers in the next 3 games to take the series 4-3. The Suns eventually fell to the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round that year.

Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic (2003)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6_8iobj1I0

The 2003 Detroit Pistons were a dominant force in the NBA. They had the top seed in the Eastern Conference and were expected to make it to the Finals. Tracy McGrady and the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic did all they could to stop them. With a 3-1 lead, the Pistons had their backs against the wall.

Chauncey Billups and Ben Wallace stepped up in the remaining three games and stole the series from the Magic. The Pistons eventually fell to the Nets in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks (1997)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTkv87NdR9I

It one of the most controversial playoff series ever.

The New York Knicks were set to take on their rivals the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals. They were up 3-1 in the East Semifinals against the Miami Heat, but a fight in Game 5 cost them the series. The whole series was tensed and when P.J. Brown decided to throw Charlie Ward in the air, the Knicks bench went into the court. Six players included Patrick Ewing and Allan Houston were suspended.

The Miami Heat capitalized on this and eventually took the series in 7 games. However, they went on to lose to the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Houston Rockets vs. Phoenix Suns (1995)

The 1995 Houston Rockets were a force to reckon with, led by Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. They faced the Phoenix Suns who were led by Charles Barkley in the Western Conference Semifinals. After blowing a 3-1 lead, the Suns looked to close out the series at home in Game 7.

This game went down to the final seconds when Mario Elie hit a game-winning three-pointer, now dubbed the ‘Kiss of Death’, and led the Rockets past the Suns. The Rockets ended up winning the 1995 NBA Championship, successfully defending their title. This game solidified the Houston Rockets’ spot on the list of all teams to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Playoffs.

Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers (1981)

In what is considered to be one of the greatest playoff series in the history of the NBA, the Boston Celtics overcame a 3-1 deficit against the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1981 Eastern Conference Finals.

Larry Bird and Nate Archibald brought the Celtics back into the series with successive wins. Game 7 was an electric contest that saw Larry Bird take on the great Julius Irving. The Celtics took the game 91-90 and later went on to win the 1981 NBA title. The Boston Celtics once again solidified their spot on this list of all teams to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Playoffs

Washington Bullets vs. San Antonio Spurs (1979)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtRhqrq6sJc

In the 1979 Eastern Conference Finals, the Washington Bullets staged an upset by coming back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs.

George Gervin’s 42-point effort in Game 7 went in vain as the Bullets led by Elvin Hayes and Bob Dandridge won the game 107-105. The Bullets eventually lost in the NBA Finals to the Seattle Supersonics.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns (1970)

The 1970 LA Lakers were led by two of the greatest players in the history of the NBA, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain. Despite this, they were down 3-1 in the Western Division Semifinals against the Phoenix Suns.

West and Chamberlain took over in Games 5, 6, and 7 and proceeded to rout the Suns and take the series 4-3. The LA Lakers eventually ended up losing the NBA Finals to Willis Reed’s New York Knicks.

Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers (1968)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-wLNSDDHYY

In one of the greatest playoff series in NBA history, Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics to an emphatic win over Wilt Chamberlain’s Philadelphia 76ers. The Celtics were out of sorts in the first few games of the series in the aftermath of the death of Dr. King. They came back in Games 5 and 6 to draw the series level at 3-3.

Game 7 saw John Havlicek take over while Russell struggled and the Celtics won the game with a final score of 100-96. The Celtics became the first team in NBA history to recover from a 3-1 deficit, and they went on to beat the LA Lakers and win the NBA title. This Boston Celtics team had earned their spot on this list of all teams to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Playoffs.