Ranking The Biggest Comebacks in NBA History Of All Time

The NBA has been there for a long time, carrying a rich history with teams and legendary players. However, a chapter of that legacy also comprises the comebacks from the teams that fans still cherish in their minds. With the passing of time, the intensity of such comebacks has only increased. Whether it be the Utah Jazz comeback or the legendary Cleveland Cavaliers comeback, each one carries its own story. Today, we are going to narrate the tales of these biggest comebacks in NBA history and the stars behind them.

10 Greatest Comebacks in NBA History

Comebacks in the NBA are not new to the fans. However, whenever they are experienced live, they leave the fans with the memories of the adrenaline rush and anxiety. Whenever they remember those incidents, it races their heart to the fullest. Wins or losses either way, it is something to cherish. That’s why we have brought you the best comebacks in NBA history, which gives you this feeling.

#10 Los Angeles Lakers vs. Seattle SuperSonics – May 4, 1989

Deficit: 29 points

Time Remaining: Early in the second quarter

In the 1989 Western Conference Semifinals, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Seattle SuperSonics. The Lakers found themselves trailing 41–12 early in the second quarter. However, they mounted a remarkable comeback, cutting the deficit to 54–43 by halftime. The SuperSonics led 43-14 early in the second quarter, but the Lakers trimmed the lead to 11 by halftime. Finally, they made their way through the fourth quarter, never looking back.

James Worthy scored 33 points, and Magic Johnson added 17 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in the 97-95 win to sweep Seattle in the Western Conference semifinals.

#9 Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves – December 30, 2008

Deficit: 29 points

Time Remaining: Third quarter

The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 107 to 100 on December 30, 2008, to overcome a 29-point third-quarter deficit. The Wolves had put 70-41 on the scoreboard. However, Jason Terry led all Mavericks scorers with 29 points, while Dirk Nowitzki added 24 points. The Timberwolves outscored the Mavericks 35-20 in the second quarter. Ultimately, the Mavericks clinched the victory with 107–100 on the scoreboard at the Dallas’ American Airlines Center.

#8 Los Angeles Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies – April 29, 2012

Deficit: 27 points

Time Remaining: Second half

The Los Angeles Clippers were facing a 27-point deficit against the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA Playoffs 2021 Game 1. Surprisingly, the star of the Clippers, Chris Paul, was playing with a mild left groin strain, while Caron Butler was retrieved from the court after he fractured his left hand in the third quarter. With such a pushed-back roster, Chris Paul (14 points), Nick Young (19 points), and Reggie Evans (7 points, 13 rebounds) secured the 99-98 on the scoreboard for the Clippers. It was one of the most intense playoff showdowns that showcased the Clippers’ grit for a win.

#7 Golden State Warriors vs. Milwaukee Bucks- November 27, 1975

Deficit: 31 points

Time Remaining: Second Quarter+ Second Half

At the MECCA Arena, the Golden State Warriors had to face the Milwaukee Bucks. The Dubs were the defending champions but could only put up 19 points in the first quarter. At the same time, the Bucks went on a mayhem and gave the Warriors a 31-point trail. However, the Golden State Warriors then proved their classiness, scoring 31 points, 30 points, and 32 points in the second, third, and fourth quarters of the game.

The Bucks could only score 14 points in the final quarter, and that’s why they lost with a 106-105 score in the end. Phil Smith (22 points), Gus Williams (22 points), Rick Barry (18 points), and Jamaal Wilkes (18 points) kept the points board rolling for the Golden State Warriors.

#6 Boston Celtics vs. San Antonio Spurs – April 30, 2021

Deficit: 32 points

Time Remaining: Late second quarter

By the start of the second quarter, the San Antonio Spurs were putting on a show for the home crowd of the Boston Celtics, putting the opponent down by 32 points at TD Garden, Boston. However, the Celts had Jayson Tatum, who proved why he was meant for big titles. He recorded a career-high 60 points in that game while scoring 26 points in the second half. The game was tied at 128 points for both teams.

However, in the overtime, the Spurs lost to the Celtics by a three-point margin. Boston Celtics won the game with a scorecard of 143-140, outperforming the San Antonio Spurs completely. Jaylen Brown added 17 points in that game, while Aaron Nesmith added 16 points. Even Jaylen Brown praised Tatum for his performance, “(Tatum)did exactly what a great player is supposed to do. He was efficient, led us, hit timely shots – big baskets – real big-boy basketball. That’s what we need. We’re going to need that going forward.”

#5 Sacramento Kings vs. Chicago Bulls – December 21, 2009

Deficit: 35 points

Time Remaining: Third quarter

The Sacramento Kings could not free the numbers on the board that they should have at the start of the game. At first, it was 19 points lead after the first quarter, but by the middle of the third quarter, the lead had extended to 35 points. And the Kings had to make a comeback. They turned on their engines with 8 minutes until the end of the third quarter. They scored 52 points for the rest of the game in comparison to the 19 points from the Bulls.

The leaders who scored the best were Tyreke Evans(23 points), Ime Udoka(17 points), and Jason Thompson (14 points). The final scorecard of the game was 102-98, with the Kings winning by a 4-point lead.

#4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. Washington Wizards – January 25, 2022

Deficit: 35 points

Time Remaining: Second Half

Both the Los Angeles Clippers and the Washington Wizards teams were average that season, as the former had a 24-25 record while the latter had a 23-25. But for the night of the battle on the court, after the first half, the Clippers were put down by 35 points by the Mystics with 66-31 on the board. However, the bench players Amir Coffey and Luke Kennard turned the game for LA. The Wizards did put up 27 and 22 points in the third and fourth quarters, respectively. But the Clippers were on a streak.

Also Read: 10 Best NBA Players of All Time: Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and More

Kennard took the game with a four-point play at the end. But Amir(21 points), Luke(16 points), Isaiah Hartenstein(12), and Terance Mann(11) did the magic for the Clippers in a team effort.

#3 Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors – April 15, 2019

Deficit: 31 points

Time Remaining: Third quarter

The Los Angeles Clippers faced a 31-point deficit against the Golden State Warriors In the 2019 NBA Playoffs’ Game 2. The lead is not so big here as in the regular season games, but the stakes were high because it was in the playoffs. Clippers’ Lou Williams led the charge and scored 36 points and 11 assists. He had set up the stage for the largest comeback in NBA playoff history. The Los Angeles Clippers won the match by 135–131.

More than the Clippers, the Golden State Warriors were crippled by the absence of DeMarcus Cousins. The Dubs combined for 64 fouls and 76 free throw attempts after Cousins’ departure from the field due to a quad injury.

#2 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors – 2016 NBA Finals

Deficit: 3–1 series

Time Remaining: Fourth Game of Finals

The largest comeback in an NBA finals series is three, achieved by the Cleveland Cavaliers (USA) at the Oracle Arena, Oakland, California, USA, on 19 June 2016. The Cavaliers came from 1-3 down to beat the Golden State Warriors 4-3 overall. Cavaliers knew that it had something to do with the strategy of their game. So, they made the necessary changes and then used LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to execute the plan. King James was even the Finals MVP and averaged 26.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks in the postseason that year.

On the other end, Kyrie Irving took charge when things went south. Whenever LeBron was tired or in trouble, coach Tyronn Lue went with Kyrie. Ultimately, Kyrie averaged 25.2 points, 4.7 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals in the playoffs.

#1 Utah Jazz vs. Denver Nuggets – November 27, 1996

Deficit: 36 points

Time Remaining: Second Half

Utah Jazz were on a roll that season with 10-2, while Denver Nuggets were falling with 5-12 in the league. However, it was not meant to be a one-sided game for the Jazz from the start. It was not even a slow start, and the Nuggets quickly took advantage of this shortcoming. They mounted a 36-point deficit between the Jazz and the victory before the end of the second quarter.

However, the Utah Jazz witnessed redemption in the third quarter when Jeff Hornacek and Karl Malone single-handedly brought the team back into the game. They held Denver to just 15 and 18 points in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, while outscoring them 71-33 in that period. In total, Jeff and Malone put up 31 points and 29 points on the board, respectively, granting a 107-103 comeback victory to the Jazz. To this day, it is the greatest comeback in NBA history.