Overcoming such a deficit isn’t impossible. At least, it’s not when we take a look at history. It’s just unlikely. As I wrote earlier, Lakers star LeBron James has trailed 3-1 in a series on five occasions. His record: 1-4.
Of course, that one time resulted in an NBA championship for the Cavaliers (2016). Below is a full list of every team that’s ever done it:
1968 Eastern Division Finals: Boston Celtics over Philadelphia 76ers.
Boston won two games on the road, then kept it rolling by winning the NBA Finals.
1970 Western Division Semifinals: Los Angeles Lakers over Phoenix Suns.
The Lakers roared back but fell to the Knicks in a seven-game Finals.
1979 Eastern Conference Finals: Washington Bullets over San Antonio Spurs.
Washington completed the rally, but Seattle took them out in the NBA Finals in five.
1981 Eastern Conference Finals: Boston Celtics over Philadelphia 76ers.
Boston gutted out wins by two points, two points, and one point, then took the title.
1995 Western Conference Semifinals: Houston Rockets over Phoenix Suns.
Houston also trailed 2-0, still rallied, and ended up sweeping Shaq’s Magic for back-to-back rings. Another case of winning two road games along the way.
1997 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Miami Heat over New York Knicks
A Game 5 brawl led to key Knicks suspensions. Miami pounced and closed it out at home.
2003 Eastern Conference First Round: Detroit Pistons over Orlando Magic.
First time the first round was best-of-seven. Detroit didn’t mind.
2006 Western Conference First Round: Phoenix Suns over Los Angeles Lakers.
The first instance where two franchises — the Lakers (1970) and Suns (2006) — both overcame 3-1 deficits against each other.
2015 Western Conference Semifinals: Houston Rockets over Los Angeles Clippers.
Doc Rivers made history, and not the good kind, becoming the first coach to blow multiple 3-1 leads.
2016 Western Conference Finals: Golden State Warriors over Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Warriors staved off disaster. Meanwhile, Leandro Barbosa became the first player involved in two 3-1 comebacks (also in 2006 with Phoenix).
2016 NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers over Golden State Warriors
The comeback of all comebacks. First team ever to rally from 3-1 down in the Finals. Cleveland stunned a 73-9 Warriors team, winning two on the road along the way. The Warriors, meanwhile, pulled the rare feat of overcoming a 3-1 deficit and blowing one in the same postseason.
2020 Western Conference First Round: Denver Nuggets over Utah Jazz.
Nikola Jokic delivered the go-ahead bucket late in Game 7. Mike Conley Jr.’s three-pointer to win it? Rattled out.
2020 Western Conference Semifinals: Denver Nuggets over Los Angeles Clippers.
Denver did it again — becoming the first team to erase 3-1 deficits in back-to-back series. For the Clippers, it was another 3-1 disaster, and another painful line on Doc Rivers’ résumé.
