And it’s those miracle moments that so often make the NBA world spin.
At least, that is what the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are likely telling themselves. They are now tied for the unwanted feat of winning 60 or more games … and then falling in a 2-0 hole in the second round.
So, both the Cavs and Celtics will be thrilled to know that five teams have actually done the unthinkable — rallying to win the series after falling behind 2-0 in their own gym. Here’s a closer look at those rare, resilience-packed comebacks:
1969: Lakers Stun Warriors After 2-0 Hole
The 1968-69 Lakers had Wilt Chamberlain. They had Jerry West. They had 55 regular-season wins. But after dropping the first two at home to a scrappy San Francisco team led by Rudy LaRusso and Jeff Mullins, LA looked like a goner.
Cue the comeback.
West and Wilt went to work in Game 3, hammering the Warriors 115-98. That momentum snowballed. West poured in 36 in Game 4. Then 29 in Game 5. Then another 29 in a 40-point demolition in Game 6. Wilt grabbed rebounds like he was cleaning up the entire Western seaboard.
The Lakers became the first team in league history to lose the first two at home and still take the series. It would be a quarter-century before anyone else matched it.
1994: Rockets Survive Suns, Rise Behind Hakeem
Michael Jordan was gone, and the window was wide open. Enter Hakeem Olajuwon, who powered the 58-win Rockets into the playoffs like a man on a mission.
That mission got rocky fast.
Houston dropped Games 1 and 2 at home to Charles Barkley’s Suns, who smelled blood. But back in Phoenix, Olajuwon got help — big help — from Vernon Maxwell’s 34 points in Game 3. Hakeem followed that up with 28-12-8-5 in Game 4, showcasing an MVP in full bloom.
The series went back and forth before a decisive Game 7 in Houston. That night belonged to Olajuwon, who dropped 37 points with 17 boards in a 104-94 win.
The Rockets would go on to win their first title, and Hakeem cemented himself as a two-way force that defined the interrupted-Jordan era.
2005: Mavericks Get Revenge on Rockets
This one had drama, stars, and a lopsided finale.
Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming stunned Dallas by stealing the first two at American Airlines Center, including a Game 2 buzzer-beater by T-Mac. But the Mavs regrouped behind Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry. They clawed back to even the series, with Terry erupting for 32 in Game 4 and Dirk finding his groove.
After a narrow Game 5 win, Dallas was blown out in Game 6. Game 7? That was a rout. Dallas rolled 116-76, turning what had been a tense series into a statement.
It was the worst Game 7 loss in NBA history at the time. A franchise moment for Dallas. A missed opportunity for McGrady and Yao.
2017: Celtics Rally Past Bulls After Rondo Injury
Boston was the No. 1 seed. Chicago barely snuck in. Yet, after two games, the Bulls were in complete control — and Rajon Rondo was at the heart of it.
Then came the twist.
Rondo fractured his thumb in Game 2, and the series flipped overnight. Isaiah Thomas, playing through unimaginable grief following his sister’s tragic death, led Boston to four straight wins.
Thomas never backed down. He scored 33 in Game 3, helped orchestrate team-wide efforts, and gave Boston not just points — but purpose. The Celtics’ response was emotional, disciplined, and powerful.
They made history — becoming just the fourth team to rally from 2-0 at home — and the first to do it while carrying such emotional weight.
2021: Clippers Complete Comeback vs. Mavericks
In a bizarre season played in front of sparse pandemic-era crowds, the Clippers fell behind Luka Doncic and the Mavericks early. Doncic was a one-man wrecking crew, scoring 70 points combined in the first two games in LA.
But Kawhi Leonard had other plans.
He dropped 36 in Game 3. Then 45 in a must-win Game 6. Then 28 more in Game 7, where the Clippers finally defended home court. Paul George played his role. So did seven Clippers who scored in double figures in Game 7.
Doncic? He poured in 46, but it wasn’t enough.
The Clippers became the first team ever to win a series where the road team won the first six games. A weird series. A wild comeback. A little history made.
So What’s the Common Thread?
Star power. Momentum swings. Mid-series adjustments. And mental toughness.
It’s one thing to win playoff games. It’s another to do it after your home crowd watches you fall into a hole. But these five teams found a way — and they now share a small, exclusive corner of NBA lore.
Who knows? Maybe this year’s Cavs and Celtics can elbow their way in, too.
