All four NBA playoff series now sit at 3-1 after a dramatic day of action. The Knicks edged the Pistons 94-93, the Timberwolves outlasted the Lakers 116-113, the Celtics beat the Magic 107-98, and the Pacers dominated the Bucks 129-103.
The Rarity and Legends of 3-1 Comebacks
Throughout NBA history, only 13 times has come back from a 1-3 series. The Denver Nuggets notably achieved this rare feat twice during the 2020 postseason, rallying past both the Jazz and the Clippers. However, the most iconic comeback remains the Cleveland Cavaliers’ reversal against the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals — the only time a team has ever come back from 1-3 to win a championship.
LeBron James led the historic comeback by becoming the first player in NBA Finals history with back-to-back 40-point games in Games 5 and 6, then recording a rare triple-double in Game 7. Kyrie Irving, after early struggles, bounced back by shooting 52.3% and sinking 9 of 17 threes in the final three games, including the clutch three-pointer over Stephen Curry that sealed Cleveland’s first NBA title.
NBA 3-1 Comebacks in Playoffs
- 2020 Western Conference Semi-Finals: Nuggets vs Clippers
- 2020 First Round: Nuggets vs Jazz
- 2016 NBA Finals: Cavaliers vs Warriors
- 2016 Western Conference Finals: Warriors vs Thunder
- 2015 Western Conference Semi-Finals: Rockets vs Clippers
- 2006 First Round: Suns vs Lakers
- 2003 First Round: Pistons vs Magic
- 1997 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals: Heat vs Knicks
- 1995 Western Conference Semi-Finals: Rockets vs Suns
- 1981 Eastern Conference Finals: Celtics vs 76ers
- 1979 Eastern Conference Finals: Bullets vs Spurs
- 1970 Western Division Semi-Finals: Lakers vs Suns
- 1968 Eastern Division Finals: Celtics vs 76ers
