Has Any Team Come Back From 3-0 In NBA?
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The answer is yes! There have been a few teams in NBA history who have come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series. It’s a daunting task, but it’s not impossible. Here’s a look at a few teams who have done it.
The teams that have come back from 3-0 in the NBA
In the NBA, a team leading 3-0 in a series is considered to have a commanding lead. In fact, only twice in NBA history has a team come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series. So, which teams have been able to come back from this seemingly insurmountable deficit?
The Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs
In the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals, the Boston Celtics were down 0-3 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. They went on to win the next four games, becoming the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series.
The Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2006 NBA Playoffs
In the 2006 playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers became the first and only team in NBA history to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series. The Lakers were down 0-3 to the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Semifinals but won four straight games to take the series.
The teams that have not come back from 3-0 in the NBA
There have been 134 playoff series in NBA history where one team has taken a 3-0 series lead. Of those 134 series, the team with the 3-0 lead has gone on to win the series 128 times. That means there have been just six instances where a team has come back to win a series after falling behind 3-0.
The Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs
In the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series. The Cavaliers went on to lose the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors in four games.
The Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Finals of the 2015 NBA Playoffs
The 2015 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association’s 2014-15 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors defeating the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals, making them the first team since the 2002 Los Angeles Lakers to win a championship after trailing in the Finals series 3–1.
The Houston Rockets were trailing 3-0 in the Western Conference Finals of the 2015 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors.
