Image Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

How Many Times Have Teams Come Back From 1–3 Deficit in NBA Playoffs?

Have teams made a comeback from 1-3 deficit in NBA Playoffs? Let's find out.

Image Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The NBA 2025 Playoffs have reached an interesting stage. In three out of four series, underdogs have taken dominating control, maintaining a 3-1 lead over their stronger and upper-seeded counterparts. The Cleveland Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics, and the Golden State Warriors- all these teams were heavy favorites to emerge victorious in their respective series. All these teams were trailing 1-3 in the playoff series and eventually faced an elimination.

However, as of Monday, May 26, the Timberwolves are trailing 1-3, and are on the verge of getting knocked out of the 2025 Championship contention.

But does that mean their rivals can finally breathe a sigh of relief? The past records don’t say so. It is not over until it is over, and if we look back at the past records, tables have been turned and teams have made a comeback from the 1-3 hole.

Here, we will have a look at such teams which have turned around the results from Game 4 of the series, and went on to win the series even after such a deficit.

List of Teams That Overcame 1–3 Deficit in NBA Playoffs

While no team in the history of the NBA has been able to overcome a 3-0 deficit, there have been a total of 13 instances where successful comebacks have been made after a 3-1 deficit. Let’s have a look-

Year and Series	Participating Teams
1968 Eastern Division Finals	Boston Celtics (W)-Philadelphia 76ers (L)
1970 Western Division Semifinals	Los Angeles Lakers (W)-Phoenix Suns (L)
1979 Eastern Conference Finals	Washington Bullets (W)-San Antonio Spurs (L)
1981 Eastern Conference Finals	Boston Celtics (W)-Philadelphia 76ers (L)
1995 Western Conference Semifinals	Houston Rockets (W)-Phoenix Suns (L)
1997 Eastern Conference Semifinals	Miami Heat (W)-New York Knicks (L)
2003 Eastern Conference First Round	Detroit Pistons (W)-Orlando Magic (L)
2006 Western Conference First Round	Phoenix Suns (W)-Los Angeles Lakers (L)
2015 Western Conference Semifinals	Houston Rockets (W)-Los Angeles Clippers (L)
2016 Western Conference Finals	Golden State Warriors (W)-Oklahoma City Thunder (L)
2016 NBA Finals	Cleveland Cavaliers (W)-Golden State Warriors (L)
2020 Western Conference First Round	Denver Nuggets (W)-Utah Jazz (L)
2020 Western Conference Semifinals	Denver Nuggets (W)-Los Angeles Clippers(L)

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How Many Times Have Teams Overcome 1–3 Deficit in NBA Finals?

There has been one instance where the team trailing the NBA Finals series 1-3 made a comeback and went on to win the championship. During the 2016 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the former went on to record two back-to-back wins to secure an early 2-0 lead.

The 2016 #NBAFinals Game 7 Mini-Movie… as the @Cavs defeat the @Warriors 93-89 for the title! pic.twitter.com/5TtLsjbMzA
— NBA (@NBA) May 28, 2017

The Cavaliers then avoided a 3-0 hole and took down the Dubs in Game 3. However, the Warriors bounced back in Game four and took the series 3-1. Just when it felt like they would win the championship in Game 4, the Cavaliers secured back-to-back three wins and went on to win the NBA title.

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Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.