Winning an NBA playoff series is a grind. Winning one after you're down 3-1? That’s basically a miracle.
Honestly, the math is brutal. When a team falls behind 3-1 in a best-of-seven series, the history books say they’re essentially dead in the water. Most teams just pack their bags, start looking at off-season flight deals, and hope the media doesn't roast them too hard for an early exit. But a few—just 13 teams in the history of the league—refused to go away.
They didn't just win a game to save face. They rattled off three straight victories against opponents who only needed one more bucket to end it. It’s the ultimate test of "clutch," and it’s happened way less often than you’d think.
The Mount Everest of Comebacks: Cleveland 2016
We have to start here. If you talk about nba teams came back from 3 1, you’re talking about LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers.
Before this, no team had ever done it in the NBA Finals. Not once.
The Golden State Warriors weren't just some regular playoff team; they were the 73-9 juggernauts. They had the first unanimous MVP in Steph Curry. They looked invincible. When they went up 3-1 after Game 4 in Cleveland, the vibe was that the series was over. People were already debating where that Warriors team ranked among the greatest of all time.
Then Draymond Green got suspended for Game 5.
LeBron and Kyrie both dropped 41 points in Oracle Arena. Then came Game 6, where LeBron went for another 41. By the time Game 7 rolled around, the pressure shifted entirely. You’ve probably seen the highlights a thousand times: "The Block" by LeBron on Andre Iguodala, followed by Kyrie’s cold-blooded three over Steph.
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It broke a 52-year title drought for Cleveland. It's the gold standard for comebacks.
The Bubble Kings: Denver's Double Miracle
If the 2016 Cavs are the most famous, the 2020 Denver Nuggets are the most statistically improbable.
During the "Bubble" playoffs in Orlando, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić decided they liked playing with their backs against the wall. They didn't just come back from 3-1 once. They did it twice. In the same postseason.
First, they were down 3-1 to Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz. Murray and Mitchell were trading 50-point games like they were playing 1-on-1 in a driveway. Denver crawled back and won a Game 7 that literally came down to a missed layup at the buzzer.
Most teams would be exhausted after that. But then they ran into the Kawhi Leonard and Paul George-led Clippers in the second round.
Down 3-1 again.
The Clippers were the favorites to win the whole thing. They had double-digit leads in Games 5, 6, and 7. And they blew every single one of them. Denver became the first and only team to pull off two 3-1 escapes in a single year. It’s the kind of thing that makes you question if momentum is actually real or just something we talk about to fill airtime.
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The Old School Grits: 1968 and 1981 Celtics
The Boston Celtics basically invented the 3-1 comeback. In 1968, Bill Russell’s Celtics were down 3-1 to the Philadelphia 76ers, led by Wilt Chamberlain.
Wilt was the MVP. The Sixers were the defending champs. But Russell was a different kind of animal in elimination games. Boston won two games on the road to finish the job, becoming the first team ever to climb out of that hole.
Then they did it again in 1981.
Same opponent: the 76ers. This time it was Larry Bird vs. Julius Erving. The final three games were decided by a combined five points.
- Game 5: Celtics by 2.
- Game 6: Celtics by 2.
- Game 7: Celtics by 1.
That’s not just skill; that’s living on the edge of a heart attack for a week straight.
Why 3-1 Is the "Danger Zone"
So, why is this lead so legendary? In the NBA, the better team usually wins a seven-game series. Unlike the NFL (single elimination) or MLB (where a hot pitcher can ruin your week), basketball is a game of possessions and averages.
Usually, if a team is up 3-1, it’s because they’re just better.
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But when the comeback starts, the psychology flips. The leading team starts playing "not to lose" instead of playing to win. They start looking at the trophy instead of the box out. Meanwhile, the trailing team plays with "house money." They’ve got nothing left to lose.
The List: Every Team to Ever Pull It Off
If you're looking for the full roll call, here are the squads that defied the odds. It’s a short list for a league that’s been around since the 1940s.
- 1968 Boston Celtics (vs. Philadelphia 76ers)
- 1970 Los Angeles Lakers (vs. Phoenix Suns)
- 1979 Washington Bullets (vs. San Antonio Spurs)
- 1981 Boston Celtics (vs. Philadelphia 76ers)
- 1995 Houston Rockets (vs. Phoenix Suns) - "Clutch City" was born here.
- 1997 Miami Heat (vs. New York Knicks) - This one involved massive suspensions after a brawl.
- 2003 Detroit Pistons (vs. Orlando Magic) - T-Mac famously said it felt good to be in the second round... before the series was over.
- 2006 Phoenix Suns (vs. Los Angeles Lakers) - The series where Kobe took only three shots in the second half of Game 7.
- 2015 Houston Rockets (vs. LA Clippers) - Josh Smith and Corey Brewer went nuclear in Game 6.
- 2016 Golden State Warriors (vs. OKC Thunder) - The "Klay Game" (Game 6) changed NBA history and led to KD joining the Dubs.
- 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers (vs. Golden State Warriors) - The only one in the Finals.
- 2020 Denver Nuggets (vs. Utah Jazz)
- 2020 Denver Nuggets (vs. LA Clippers)
What Most People Get Wrong About These Comebacks
People think it's always about a superstar going supernova. Sure, LeBron and Murray were incredible, but look at the 1997 Heat/Knicks series.
That wasn't just about hoops. A massive fight in Game 5 led to David Stern suspending half the Knicks' roster. Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, and Charlie Ward sat out Game 6. Larry Johnson and John Starks sat out Game 7. The Heat "came back," but they did it against a depleted squad. Context matters.
Similarly, in 1995, Mario Elie hit a corner three for Houston called the "Kiss of Death." The Rockets were the 6th seed. They had no business winning that series, but they had Hakeem Olajuwon and a bunch of role players who weren't afraid of the moment.
How to Spot the Next One
If you're watching a series right now and a team is down 3-1, look for these three signs before you bet the house on a comeback:
- The "Game 5" Blowout: If the trailing team wins Game 5 by 15+, the momentum is officially shifting. The leaders are starting to think, "Uh oh."
- The Injury/Suspension Factor: As we saw in 2016 and 1997, one missing piece can ruin a 3-1 lead.
- The Home/Away Split: Coming back is significantly easier if you have two of the last three games at home.
The reality is that nba teams came back from 3 1 because they found a gear the other team didn't know existed. It's rare for a reason. It requires perfect execution, a bit of luck, and the mental toughness to treat every single possession like it's the last one you'll ever have.
For fans, there is nothing better. For the team that blows the lead, it's a ghost that follows them for the rest of their careers. Just ask the 2016 Warriors or the 2020 Clippers—they’re still answering questions about it.
To get a better sense of how these momentum shifts happen in real-time, you should go back and watch the fourth quarter of 2015 Rockets vs. Clippers Game 6. It’s the ultimate example of how a "sure thing" can evaporate in less than twelve minutes of game time.