These Are The Nba Teams That Overcame A 3-1 Series Deficit In The Playoffs

These are the NBA teams that overcame a 3-1 series deficit in the playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Coming back down 3-1 in the NBA playoffs is a rare feat.

It’s already been achieved twice in the first round in 2026.

The No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers did it first, taking down the No. 2 Boston Celtics on the road in Game 7 with Joel Embiid back in the lineup and dictating the action. Boston didn’t have Jayson Tatum in the final game, but it’s a tough loss to take regardless.

The No. 1 Detroit Pistons then pulled it off the very next day, routing the No. 8 Orlando Magic at home as Franz Wagner missed the last two games due to injury. The No. 3 Denver Nuggets and No. 5 Houston Rockets had a chance to push their respective series to a seventh game, but both fell in Game 6.

So, what teams have come back down 3-1 and how many? Here’s what to know:

How many NBA teams overcame a 3-1 series deficit?

In the NBA, only 15 teams have achieved a successful 3-1 comeback dating back to the 1960s.

Has an NBA team overcame a 3-1 deficit in the Finals?

Out of the 15, only one 3-1 comeback was successfully completed in the NBA Finals. That came in 2016 when the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers won at the Golden State Warriors.

List of NBA teams that overcame a 3-1 playoff deficit

These are the 15 teams in the history books for overcoming a 3-1 deficit (bolded teams also won the Finals that year):

• 1968 Eastern Division finals: Boston Celtics defeat Philadelphia 76ers
• 1970 Western Division semifinals: Los Angeles Lakers defeat Phoenix Suns
• 1979 Eastern Conference finals: Washington Bullets defeat San Antonio Spurs
• 1981 Eastern Conference finals: Boston Celtics defeat Philadelphia 76ers
• 1985 Western Conference semifinals: Houston Rockets defeat Phoenix Suns
• 1997 Eastern Conference semifinals: Miami Heat defeat New York Knicks
• 2003 Eastern Conference first round: Detroit Pistons defeat Orlando Magic
• 2006 Western Conference first round: Phoenix Suns defeat Los Angeles Lakers
• 2015 Western Conference semifinals: Houston Rockets defeat Los Angeles Clippers
• 2016 Western Conference finals: Golden State Warriors defeat Oklahoma City Thunder
• 2016 NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers defeat Golden State Warriors
• 2020 Western Conference first round: Denver Nuggets defeat Utah Jazz
• 2020 Western Conference semifinals: Denver Nuggets defeat Los Angeles Clippers
• 2026 Eastern Conference first round: Philadelphia 76ers defeat Boston Celtics
• 2026 Eastern Conference first round: Detroit Pistons defeat Orlando Magic

Has any NBA team come back from a 3-0 series deficit?

The NBA is the only major sport with a best-of-seven playoff series that has not seen a 3-0 deficit be overcome.

Four teams — 1951 New York Knicks, 1994 Denver Nuggets, 2003 Portland Trail Blazers and 2023 Boston Celtics — have forced a Game 7 down 3-0, but all failed to win.