The 2021-22 NBA playoffs are well underway as the battle for the championship intensifies. As the Finals draw nearer, many people may wonder: has any team ever turned around a 0-3 series? Let's take a look here.
With thenotable absence of LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers, the 2021-22 NBA playoffs are getting into its crucial stages as many teams are no longer in contention for the highly desired championship.
It's still too early to tell who are favorites to win the title this year, although some teams seem to have bigger chances than others. While the Miami Heat, the Phoenix Suns, or the Golden State Warriors are among the strongest contenders, reigning champions Milwaukee Bucks are also on pace for a consecutive success.
Many people would have also added the Philadelphia 76ers to this list not long ago, but their recent defeats to the Toronto Raptors put their contender status in doubt. The Sixers started the series on the right foot, but now they are at risk of making history for the wrong reasons.
NBA playoffs: How many timeshas a team blown a 3-0 lead and lost?
Not a single team in NBA history has ever blown a 3-0 lead and lost in a playoff seriesso far, although some teams came close to do so. That's why the 76ers will try to get the job done onThursday's Game 6 against the Raptors, who have won the last two games after getting off to a 0-3 start.
While Toronto could become the first team to turn a 3-0 series around, they would not be the first one to respond with three unanswered wins. Three teams have already forced a Game 7 after losing by three but failed to win the series, check out here who were they.
NBA playoffs: Teams that have forced a Game 7 after losing 0-3
New York Knicks (1950-51)
In the 1951 NBA finals, the New York Knicks became the first team to ever tie a series after losing 0-3. The Rochester Royals got off to a fantastic start, but the Knicks had an impressive reaction to force a Game 7. The Royals, however, avoided the collapse by winning79-75.
Denver Nuggets (1993-94)
It took 43 years for another NBA team to force a seventh game after losing the first three. The Western Conference semifinals didn't begin well for the Denver Nuggets, as the Utah Jazz headed into Game 4 leading 3-0. Denver didn't make it easy for Utah, though, but the Jazz eventually won Game 7 to destroy any comeback hopes.
Portland Trail Blazers (2002-03)
The last time an NBA team got close to turning a 0-3 series around came in the first round of the 2003 playoffs, when the Portland Trail Blazers forced Game 7 against the Dallas Mavericks. Portland, however, would also fall short as Dirk Nowitzki saved the Mavs from an embarrassing defeat.
Martin O'Donnell is a sports writer for Bolavip US covering soccer, NFL, and NBA. Since February 2021, he brings live coverage from Conmebol, Concacaf, and UEFA action during international breaks. Occassionally, he may also write about other sports including MLB, boxing, tennis, or Formula 1. Holder of a bachelor's degree in Communication, Martin has combined his passion for sports and journalism by working as a bilingual digital content writer for different media outlets in English and Spanish.
There have been 110 teams to go down 3-0 in an NBA playoffs series since 1984, and none of them have come back to win the series. Zero. Of those 110 teams to take a 3-0 lead, 70 of them have gone on to sweep the series.
To date, there has never been a successful comeback from a 3–0 series deficit in the NBA. Of the 151 NBA teams that have fallen into a 3–0 deficit, only four of them (~3%) have forced a game seven, with all four losing in game seven.
No team in NBA playoff history has ever come all the way back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series, but three teams have come close. The 1951 New York Knicks, the 1994 Denver Nuggets, and the 2003 Portland Trail Blazers are the only teams in league history to force a Game 7 after trailing 3-0 in a series.
Boston's comeback against the Yankees in 2004 may be the most impressive series reversal on this list as the Red Sox became the first team in MLB history to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a seven-game series.
NBA history has seen 11 teams turn a 3-0 lead into a 4-2 series loss. Those teams, in chronological order, are: The 2022 Toronto Raptors, who lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. The 2015 Milwaukee Bucks, who lost to the Chicago Bulls in the first round.
Yes, in the 2016 NBA Finals. The Warriors got a 3–1 lead, but lost Game 5 in Oakland after Draymond Green had drawn a one-game suspension for repeated flagrant fouls in the playoffs.
Dating back to 1990, just four of 158 teams to start 0-3 make the postseason (2.5%). Just two of those 158 won their division (1.3%) and none won the Super Bowl.
The NBA is the only major North American sport with seven-game playoff series where no team has overcome a 3–0 deficit. The Celtics won two games on the road during the comeback, and also won the NBA Finals. The Lakers later reach the NBA Finals, where they lost to the New York Knicks in seven games.
NBA Fun Fact #124: The Celtics and the Knicks are the only NBA teams who have never moved. Every other team has changed locations at least once besides these two.
In 2016, the Warriors set the record for best regular season record at 73–9 before losing the Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers (against whom they played a record four straight finals) and becoming the first team to lose a series after leading 3–1 in the Finals.
Maybe a few nerves crept in when Leon Best bagged with a quarter-hour left to go, and they would definitely have begun to fray when Joey Barton scored his second penalty eight minutes later… but I wonder if anyone really believed that Newcastle would become the first team to come back from four down in the Premier ...
Since the Division Series was permanently introduced in 1995, seven teams have come back from a 2-0 deficit in the Division Series, one of which went on to win the World Series.
In the history of these leagues, teams that were down 2–0 in a series have come back to win the series 17 times; 10 times in MLB, 6 times in the NBA, and once in the NHL.
Dating back to 1990, just four of 158 teams to start 0-3 make the postseason (2.5%). Just two of those 158 won their division (1.3%) and none won the Super Bowl.
The Mets fell to 0-5 for the first time since the 2005 season. After blowing a 3-0 lead and failing to muster a run when they had a chance to walk it off in the ninth and 10th innings, New York allowed three runs in the top of the 11th and fell, 6-3, to the Detroit Tigers.
The Red Wings and the Bruins share a unique history as the only teams to blow a 3-0 series lead in the postseason, resulting in elimination but came back the following year to capture the Stanley Cup.
While no team has ever won four straight playoff games after losing the first three, teams have managed to win after falling into a 3-1 series deficit 13 times in NBA history.
Introduction: My name is Stevie Stamm, I am a colorful, sparkling, splendid, vast, open, hilarious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
