NBA Playoff Comebacks: A Look at Teams Overcoming 3-1 Deficits

Recovering from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA playoffs is a formidable challenge, yet history shows that it is indeed achievable. To date, no team has successfully turned around a series after trailing 3-0, but several franchises have managed to fight back from a 3-1 disadvantage to not only advance but also secure championship titles.

As of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, a total of 15 teams have successfully completed a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit. The Boston Celtics were the pioneers of this feat in 1968 when they overcame the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Division Finals, ultimately claiming the NBA title that year. Notably, eight teams have accomplished this since the year 2000 alone.

In the current playoff season, two teams etched their names into this exclusive list by overcoming such a deficit. The Philadelphia 76ers, boosted by the return of Joel Embiid from injury, triumphed over the Boston Celtics, while the Detroit Pistons also rebounded from a 3-1 shortfall against the Orlando Magic.

The Denver Nuggets made history in 2020 by becoming the first team to execute two separate comebacks from a 3-1 deficit during a single playoff run. Overall, teams that find themselves trailing 3-1 have faced a daunting record of 15 wins against 288 losses in such situations, a mere .050 winning percentage.

Notably, in the NBA Finals, only one team has ever reversed a 3-1 series deficit: the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. They defeated the Golden State Warriors, who had achieved an unprecedented 73-win season, and ended a 52-year championship drought for Cleveland.