Nothing is more exciting than an NBA comeback. Tension is running high. The audience is wild with anticipation. One team wins by a wide margin, but the seemingly impossible becomes possible. The defense stiffens. Shots are made. Sudden shifts hurl the unthinkable within reach. And it becomes much more than words on a score sheet. It’s why fans of the sport adore it. It’s what renders basketball timeless. There’s no off-court controversies, no negative headlines—only unfiltered passion on the court. But which comebacks are the best? Join us to find out.
Let’s See Which Comebacks are the Best?
1. Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors (2019 Playoffs, Game 2)
Down 94–63 in the third quarter. That’s a 31-point deficit. On the road. Against the defending champions. Nobody thought the Clippers had a shot. But Lou Williams exploded for 36 points, Montrezl Harrell added 25, and rookie Landry Shamet hit the go-ahead three with under 20 seconds left. Final score? 135–131 Clippers. The biggest comeback in NBA playoff history. An unthinkable rally against Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant. Goosebumps.
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2. Utah Jazz vs. Denver Nuggets (1996)
November 27, 1996. Denver led by 36 points in the third quarter. Game over? Not with Karl Malone and Jeff Hornacek on the floor. The Jazz started clawing back—bucket by bucket. Malone finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds. Utah ended up winning 107–103 in one of the wildest regular-season comebacks ever. The Nuggets couldn’t buy a basket in the fourth, scoring just 8 points. It was one of the most lopsided turnarounds in league history.
3. Boston Celtics vs. New Jersey Nets (2002 East Finals, Game 3)
The Celtics were losing a pivotal playoff match and found themselves trailing by 26 points in the third quarter. It looked like this would be the final nail in their season’s coffin. Out of nowhere, though, Paul Pierce decided to go off. He scored 19 in the fourth and finished with 28. Boston outscored the Nets 41-16 in the final frame. The game ended 94 to 90. It was the biggest comeback in fourth-quarter NBA playoff history at that time. Boston Garden was trembling. Absolute playoff madness.
4. Sacramento Kings vs. Chicago Bulls (2009)
How do you erase a 35-point deficit? Ask the 2009 Kings. During a game in Chicago, they were losing 79–44 midway through the third. That is, until Kevin Martin and Tyreke Evans heated up. The Kings finished with a 58-19 run. The final score, 102-98, Sacramento. It was the most significant comeback in NBA history at that point. Unreal. Chicago fans are silenced.
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5. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers (2017 Playoffs, Game 3)
LeBron James. That was the headline. The Cavs were down 49 – 74 at halftime on the road. However, LeBron scored 41 points with 13 rebounds and 12 assists. He didn’t sit in the second half. Cleveland outscored Indiana 70-40 in the last two quarters. Final score? 119 – 114. This remains the most substantial halftime deficit overcome in playoff history. It was purely heart and fight. LeBron’s will utterly transform the outcome.
6. Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks (1977)
Down 29 points in the second quarter, the Bucks didn’t panic. Brian Winters hit jumper after jumper. Junior Bridgeman chipped in 21 off the bench. Milwaukee clawed back and eventually won 117–115. Back then, there was no three-point line. Every comeback needed grit, defense, and mid-range excellence. This was a game that showed actual toughness. A forgotten classic. But fans who saw it? They never forgot.
7. Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (2023)
With more than eight minutes remaining in the game, Miami was behind by 24 points. It looked over. But Jimmy Butler kept fighting until the very end. Bam Adebayo grabbed every board. The Heat went on a 31–6 run to close the game, stunning Cleveland 119–115. Butler finished with 33 points, and Tyler Herro contributed another 21. During the game’s last six minutes, Miami’s intense defense caused five turnovers. Every possession felt like life or death. It was unreal energy.
8. New York Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks (2004)
Madison Square Garden. March 14, 2004. The Knicks trailed by 26 in the third quarter. But Stephon Marbury decided it was his night. He scored 38 points, dished nine assists, and led New York to a 103–100 win. The Bucks were stunned. The Garden erupted. That final quarter? Electric. A comeback that brought life back to a team and a city. Vintage New York magic.
9. Chicago Bulls vs. Charlotte Hornets (2021)
The Bulls seemed done for as they entered the fourth quarter, 23 points down. But to everyone’s surprise, Zach LaVine exploded, putting up 25 in the fourth to finish the game with 49. Nikola Vučević added a few numbers, dropping 27 with 11 rebounds. The final score was 121–117 as the Bulls outscored Charlotte 39–12 in the last quarter. LaVine’s shot was unstoppable, and every single attempt danced with fate. That fourth quarter stretch was pure chaos and one of the wildest we have ever witnessed.
10. Toronto Raptors vs. Dallas Mavericks (2019)
Dallas led by 30 with 14 minutes left. Thirty. But Kyle Lowry had other plans. He dropped 32 points and orchestrated a massive comeback, with Chris Boucher and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson making huge plays off the bench. Final score? 110–107 Raptors. A 30-point comeback—the biggest in franchise history. The defending champs showed pure heart. No Kawhi. No problem. Toronto refused to lose.
11. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Seattle SuperSonics (1989)
March 6, 1989. Lakers down 29 in the third. Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Byron Scott put on a masterclass in transition offense. Magic finished with 20 points, 17 assists, 11 rebounds—a triple-double of pure artistry. Final score: 124–115. That Lakers team won 57 games that season, and this comeback was a warning shot to the league. You couldn’t relax—not even for a second—when Magic was on the floor.
This Is Why We Watch Basketball!
It’s no secret we love basketball for the comebacks. It’s all about the fight and the refusal to give up. The big wins? Unforgettable. When a team stages an incredible comeback, it’s priceless. These 11 games will forever be known as miraculous victories. They triumphed over gravity and wrote history while the world witnessed miracles that shook the arenas and broke records. Who do you think is next, or better yet, who will shock the world once more?
