What Is the Biggest Blown Lead in NBA History?
The biggest blown lead in NBA history happened on December 3, 2018, when the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Milwaukee Bucks after leading by 30 points.
The Boston Celtics
In a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on December 9th, 2020, the Boston Celtics narrowly avoided one of the biggest blown leads in NBA history. The Celtics led by as many as 30 points in the second half, but the Bucks nearly came all the way back, cutting the lead to just two points in the final seconds.
The Celtics were ultimately able to hang on for the win, but it was a close call. If the Bucks had been able to complete their comeback, it would have gone down as one of the biggest blown leads in NBA history.
This wasn’t the first time that the Celtics have blown a big lead. In fact, they have a reputation for blowing big leads. In 2017, they blew a 28-point lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. And in 2010, they blew a 24-point lead against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
While the Celtics may have a reputation for blowing big leads, they’re not alone. In 2016, the Golden State Warriors blew a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals against the Cavaliers. And in 2003,
the Mavericks blew a 2-0 lead against eventual champions Spurs in Western Conference Finals.
The Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers set the record for the biggest blown lead in an NBA game when they blew a 26-point lead against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The Cavaliers were up by 14 points with just over 3 minutes to play, but the Lakers went on a 12-0 run to tie the game. The Cavaliers then went on to lose in overtime.
The Los Angeles Clippers
In the 2014 NBA playoffs, the Los Angeles Clippers held a 3-1 lead in their first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Clippers then proceeded to lose the next three games, becoming the first team in NBA history to blow a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven playoff series.
