What are the Biggest Comebacks in NBA History?
There have been many incredible comebacks in the NBA's long history, ranging from series deficits to big point swings, but the ones captured below definitely stand out. Each one exemplifies why teams should not give up until the last whistle.
#1. Utah vs. Denver, November 27, 1996
The most remarkable comeback in NBA history happened in 1996 when the Utah Jazz rallied from a 36-point deficit to see off the Denver Nuggets in a thrilling victory. They were behind by that much late in the second quarter before taking control in the second half and winning the game.
Utah outscored their opponents by forty points before the final buzzer after being down 70 to 36 at halftime. They won by four points (107-103), writing history in the process.
#2. Sacramento vs. Chicago, December 21, 2009
The second-largest comeback in NBA history took place in a regular-season game between the Kings and the Bulls in 2009. While not as massive as the Utah vs. Denver game, the Kings fought back from a 79-44 deficit in just two quarters to win 102-98.
They embarked on a 19-5 run with little hope remaining in the third quarter. Then, in the fourth, they went on a 22-7 run to reduce the deficit and finally overcome it.
#3. Boston vs San Antonio, April 30, 2021
Last year saw the NBA's third-largest comeback in its history when Celtics overturned a 32-point deficit. Sport betting fans were treated to a rare spectacle when the Celtics faced the Spurs in Boston at the end of April. This game was even more interesting than the others since it went into overtime, with a final score of 143 to 140.
The Celtics, led by Jayson Tatum's 60-point performance, pulled together an astounding 42-point third quarter after trailing by more than 30 points. This was followed by a solid fourth quarter. They pulled away and tied the game in regular time in a great thriller.
#4. Clippers vs Warriors, April 15, 2019
Big comebacks happen all the time in the NBA, but they're unusual when an eighth seed beats a top seed. That is what transpired in 2019, when the Los Angeles Clippers went into Oracle Arena as underdogs and stunned the widely fancied Warriors with a stunning comeback.
With only 7 minutes to go in the third quarter, the team was already down a game, losing by 31 points. While many teams would have given up at that point, the Clippers rallied with a 25-10 run in the third quarter and a solid fourth quarter to win 135 to 131. Both teams continue to battle it out in regular season, and NBA fans have everything to play for with Betway, the leading betting platform.
#5. Warriors vs. Cavaliers, 2016 NBA Finals
It would be difficult to build an all-time NBA comeback list without adding the 2016 Finals, even if it did not happen in a single game. Over the years, there have been 13 3-1 comebacks in the playoffs, but the Cavaliers' triumph is the only one to occur on basketball's biggest stage.
LeBron and his teammates came back from a 3-1 deficit against what many believe to be one of the best teams ever built to win the championship. They were practically flawless in their final three games, winning all three in nail-biting manner.
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