A 3-1 deficit in the NBA Playoffs often spells doom. History leans heavy on the side of the leading team, yet a few squads have defied the odds, rewriting scripts, stunning crowds and forcing Game 7s when all seemed lost.
These rare comebacks aren’t just thrilling, they’ve shaped legacies, altered franchise paths and birthed some of the league’s most unforgettable moments. They stand as proof that, in the postseason, momentum can shift on a dime.
From iconic performances to tactical masterstrokes, turning the tide after falling behind 3-1 is a feat etched in basketball folklore. But how many teams have actually managed to pull it off—and who did it best?
How many NBA teams have come back from 3-1?
In the storied annals of the NBA Playoffs, overcoming a 3–1 series deficit stands as one of the league’s most formidable challenges. Out of 288 instances where a team has trailed 3–1, only 13 have managed to reverse their fortunes and clinch the series—a mere 4.5% success rate.
| Year | Team that Came Back | Opponent | Round | Star Players Involved |
| 1968 | Boston Celtics | Philadelphia 76ers | Eastern Division Finals | Bill Russell, John Havlicek |
| 1970 | Los Angeles Lakers | Phoenix Suns | Western Division Semifinals | Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain |
| 1979 | Washington Bullets | San Antonio Spurs | Eastern Conference Finals | Elvin Hayes, Bob Dandridge |
| 1981 | Boston Celtics | Philadelphia 76ers | Eastern Conference Finals | Larry Bird, Nate Archibald |
| 1995 | Houston Rockets | Phoenix Suns | Western Conference Semifinals | Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler |
| 1997 | Miami Heat | New York Knicks | Eastern Conference Semifinals | Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning |
| 2003 | Detroit Pistons | Orlando Magic | First Round | Chauncey Billups, Ben Wallace |
| 2006 | Phoenix Suns | Los Angeles Lakers | First Round | Steve Nash, Shawn Marion |
| 2015 | Houston Rockets | Los Angeles Clippers | Western Conference Semifinals | James Harden, Dwight Howard |
| 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | NBA Finals | LeBron James, Kyrie Irving |
| 2020 | Denver Nuggets | Utah Jazz | First Round | Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokić |
| 2020 | Denver Nuggets | Los Angeles Clippers | Western Conference Semifinals | Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokić |
| 2023 | Golden State Warriors | Sacramento Kings | First Round | Stephen Curry, Draymond Green |
This rarity underscores the immense difficulty of such a comeback, making each occurrence a significant event in basketball history. The first team to achieve this feat was the Boston Celtics in 1968, who rallied against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Division Finals before securing the championship.
Since then, notable comebacks include the 1995 Houston Rockets, who not only overcame a 3–1 deficit against the Phoenix Suns but also went on to win the NBA title, and the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers, who made history by overturning a 3–1 deficit in the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts to a foul call during the fourth quarter as LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on in Game 6 of the 2016 NBA Finals. (Source: Jason Miller/Getty Images)
More recently, the Denver Nuggets achieved back-to-back 3–1 comebacks in the 2020 playoffs, defeating both the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Clippers. These rare turnarounds are etched into NBA lore, serving as testaments to resilience and determination.
As the 2025 playoffs unfold, teams facing similar deficits look to these historical precedents for inspiration, aware that while the odds are steep, the path to victory, though narrow, remains open.
