How many teams have recovered from a 3-0 series deficit in the NBA Playoffs?
Every game in a best-of-seven series is an island of its own destiny, but momentum is a powerful beast.
The 2025 NBA Playoffs have hit full throttle with the Conference Semifinals delivering all the drama and intensity fans crave.
After losing the first two games of their series against the Indiana Pacers, the Cleveland Cavaliers bounced back with a Game 3 win, narrowing the gap to 2-1 and keeping their hopes alive in the East.
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks have taken control against the Boston Celtics, going up 2-0 and looking to push their advantage even further. With momentum on their side, they’ll aim to make it 3-0 – a lead no NBA team has ever blown.
Out West, things are tighter. The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder are knotted at 1-1 after a pair of fierce battles. On the other side of the bracket, the Minnesota Timberwolves have evened things up against the Golden State Warriors, who are reeling from the loss of Stephen Curry to injury.
Game 3 up next. pic.twitter.com/xwmQ2jwF5U
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 9, 2025
Current Conference Semifinal standings:
Eastern Conference
Cleveland Cavaliers | 1–2 | Indiana Pacers
Boston Celtics | 0–2 | New York Knicks
Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder | 1–1 | Denver Nuggets
Minnesota Timberwolves | 1–1 | Golden State Warriors
As for historic comebacks, no team has ever recovered from a 3-0 series deficit in NBA playoff history. Of the teams that have found themselves down 3-0, only four (3%) managed to force a Game 7 – and all four still lost:
- 1951 NBA Finals | New York Knicks vs. Rochester Royals – Royals won the title
- 1994 Western Conference Semifinals | Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz – Jazz advanced
- 2003 Western Conference First Round | Portland Trail Blazers vs. Dallas Mavericks – Mavericks advanced
- 2023 Eastern Conference Finals | Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat – Heat advanced
CAN PACERS BUILD ON 2-0 LEAD OR WILL CAVS BOUNCE BACK?
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2025
Winning one was a tall task. Getting a second in Cleveland? That didn’t figure to be much easier.
But the Pacers defied the odds twice over, taking both games on the road behind late heroics from Tyrese Haliburton –… pic.twitter.com/tFK5zQeKNB
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