The NBA has delivered countless unforgettable moments that prove no lead is ever truly safe in basketball.
These legendary comebacks showcase incredible resilience when teams refused to quit despite facing impossible odds. From regular season miracles to playoff heroics, these games redefined what seemed possible.
Historic performances turned certain defeats into stunning victories that still get replayed decades later. Individual brilliance combined with team determination created moments no one expected. These comebacks changed momentum, seasons, and sometimes entire franchises. They remind us why basketball remains unpredictable and thrilling.
Let’s dive into the craziest NBA comebacks that remain legendary today.
Utah Jazz Erase 36 Points Against Denver in 1996
The Jazz pulled off the biggest regular-season comeback in NBA history on November 27, 1996.
Denver led by 36 points in the second quarter when the Nuggets seemed destined for an easy victory. The halftime score stood at 70-36 as fans prepared for a blowout finish. Nobody expected what came next from the Jazz that night.
Karl Malone scored 31 points while Jeff Hornacek added 29 to fuel the incredible rally. Utah held Denver to just 33 points across the final two quarters. The Jazz won 107-103, completing the most improbable turnaround the league has ever witnessed.
Tracy McGrady Scores 13 Points in 33 Seconds in 2004
McGrady delivered one of the most explosive individual performances in NBA history against San Antonio.
The Houston Rockets trailed the Spurs by double digits with under a minute remaining on December 9, 2004. Most fans had already left the arena when McGrady began his legendary scoring burst that would shock the basketball world and defy all logic.
McGrady hit four consecutive three-pointers, including a four-point play on Tim Duncan, to complete the comeback. His final three-pointer with seconds remaining sealed an 81-80 victory. Nobody had ever scored so fast in such a crucial moment.
Reggie Miller’s 8 Points in 9 Seconds Stuns New York
Miller authored one of the most iconic playoff performances against the rival Knicks in Madison Square Garden.
Indiana trailed New York 105-99 with only 18.7 seconds left in Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Knicks fans were already celebrating what seemed like a certain victory as their team controlled the game late in the fourth quarter.
Miller hit two three-pointers in just over three seconds after stealing an inbound pass from Anthony Mason. He then sank two free throws with 7.5 seconds left to secure a 107-105 win. The performance became known as one of basketball’s greatest clutch moments.
Cleveland Cavaliers Overcome 3-1 Deficit in 2016 Finals
The Cavaliers became the first team ever to rally from a 3-1 series hole in the NBA Finals.
Golden State had won a record 73 regular-season games and led the Finals three games to one. Cleveland faced elimination twice on the road at Oracle Arena against the defending champions with seemingly no path forward to victory.
LeBron James averaged 36.3 points over the final three games while Kyrie Irving hit the championship clinching three pointer. The 93-89 Game 7 victory ended Cleveland’s 52-year championship drought. James delivered an iconic chase-down block that remains one of the most replayed moments in Finals history.
Celtics Rally From 32 Down Behind Jayson Tatum’s 60 Points
Boston completed one of the largest comebacks in NBA history on April 30, 2021.
San Antonio led by 32 points in the second quarter as the Celtics looked completely outmatched at home. Fans booed Boston off the court at halftime after the Spurs shot 71.4% in the opening half while building what appeared to be an insurmountable advantage.
Tatum scored 60 points to tie Larry Bird’s franchise record while carrying his team to a 143-140 overtime victory. He added 21 fourth-quarter points, then 10 more in overtime to complete the rally. The performance ranked as one of the most dominant individual efforts in league history.
Clippers Erase 31 Point Deficit Against Warriors in 2019 Playoffs
Los Angeles staged the largest playoff comeback ever in Game 2 of the first round.
Golden State dominated the third-quarter and led by 31 points against the eighth-seeded Clippers on April 15, 2019. The Warriors looked unstoppable with Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant firing from all angles as their dynasty seemed ready to roll through another postseason.
Lou Williams scored 36 points off the bench while Montrezl Harrell added 25 to spark the second-half surge. The Clippers outscored Golden State 85-63 after halftime to win 135-131. The comeback shocked the basketball world and showed that even the greatest teams can collapse.
Kings Overcome 35 Point Deficit in Chicago
Sacramento pulled off the second largest comeback in NBA history against the Bulls.
Chicago led by 35 points in the third quarter on December 21, 2009, as the game seemed completely out of reach. The Bulls dominated every aspect of the contest while the Kings struggled to find any offensive rhythm throughout the first three quarters.
Tyreke Evans led the rally with 23 points as Sacramento outscored Chicago dramatically in the final period. The Kings won 102-98 to tie the second-biggest comeback mark. The victory remains one of the most shocking turnarounds ever witnessed at the United Center.
TL;DR
- The Jazz overcame 36 points against Denver in the largest regular-season comeback ever.
- Tracy McGrady scored 13 points in 33 seconds to shock the Spurs in 2004.
- Reggie Miller hit 8 points in 9 seconds against the Knicks in a legendary playoff moment.
- Cleveland became the first team to overcome a 3-1 Finals deficit in 2016.
- Jayson Tatum scored 60 points to lead Boston back from 32 down against San Antonio.
- The Clippers erased a 31-point playoff deficit against the Warriors in 2019.
- These comebacks prove that no lead is ever safe in basketball.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
