NBA history is filled with amazing moments, including those nobody saw coming. While comeback victories are a common occurrence, some stand out more than others because of how improbable they were due to a massive deficit to overcome or the small amount of time it took to forge a comeback. Other times, there are special circumstances that make that comeback a little more unbelievable and memorable. With that in mind, here are some of the greatest and most improbable comebacks in NBA history.
Lakers Over SuperSonics – 1989 Playoffs
The SuperSonics were down 3-0 in the Western Conference Finals and facing elimination, and that desperation led to a great start in Game 4 against the Lakers. Seattle took a 43-14 lead early in the second quarter and looked poised to extend the series. However, the SuperSonics took too big of a lead too early in the game, giving Magic Johnson and the Lakers more than enough time to come from behind.
The Lakers used a 16-0 run to cut the lead to 11 by halftime. Ultimately, Los Angeles took the lead with 6:14 left in the game. Behind 31 points from James Worthy, the Lakers turned around a 29-point deficit to win 97-95 and finish the series. While it’s since been surpassed, at the time, it was the largest comeback in NBA history, and one that’s still remembered today.
Celtics Over Nets – 2002 Playoffs
This is one of the more meaningful and unlikely comebacks in NBA history because it happened in a critical Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Nets let Game 2 get away, so the series was tied 1-1 when it shifted back to Boston for Game 1. Initially, the Nets responded well to the pressure, leading by as many as 26 points, including a 21-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. However, the final quarter belonged to Paul Pierce, Antoine Walker, and the Celtics, outscoring the Nets 41-16 in the final 12 minutes to erase that daunting deficit and win 94-90. Unfortunately for them, the Nets won the next three games to take the series.
Kings Over Bulls – 2009
While not the all-time record, a 35-point comeback is awfully impressive. In December 2009, the Kings had a disastrous first half. They trailed by 19 points after the first quarter and found themselves behind by 35 points midway through the third quarter. Most teams would have packed it in early, but Tyreke Evans and Ime Udoka had other plans. They sparked a late comeback that saw the Kings score 52 of the game’s final 71 points, turning a 35-point deficit into a 102-98 win.
Clippers Over Warriors – 2019 Playoffs
This was a shocking comeback in more ways than one. For starters, it took place during the first round of the playoffs. Plus, the Warriors were the two-time defending NBA champions at the time during Golden State’s dynasty. Therefore, a 94-63 lead with 7:31 left in the third quarter felt more than safe. But from that point forward, the Clippers would outscore the Warriors 72-37. Lou Williams scored 36 points for the Clippers, while Montrezl Harrell contributed a double-double that made the 31-point comeback possible. Unfortunately, the Game 2 comeback wasn’t enough to help the Clippers win the series.
Pacers Over Knicks – 2025 Playoffs
This is the most recent comeback on our list, and among the best. It certainly doesn’t hurt that it happened in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Of course, one could argue this was more of a collapse by the Knicks than a comeback by the Pacers, who trailed by 14 points with just 2:45 left in the game. In that brief period, Indiana’s Aaron Nesmith made four three-pointers, setting up Tyrese Haliburton to make a game-tying shot at the buzzer. In overtime, the Pacers took care of business to win Game 1 and eventually the series.
Adding to the excitement is the fact that this game took place amidst the growing popularity of sports betting. Imagine placing a live bet on the Pacers to win. The best sports betting apps surely would have had lucrative live odds on the Pacers pulling off such an improbable comeback.
Jazz Over Nuggets – 1996
The largest comeback in NBA history was 36 points. The Utah Jazz pulled it off in late November 1996 over the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets led by as many as 36 points in the second quarter, but against a Utah team that was 10-2 coming into that game, they shouldn’t have taken anything for granted. Karl Malone and Jeff Hornacek combined for 60 points, while the Nuggets scored a mere 33 points in the second half in Utah’s improbable 107-103 win.
