Falling behind 0-2 in an NBA playoff series is a big deficit to overcome, but far from impossible.
In this article, we discuss the history of the 0-2 series deficit in the NBA playoffs, including how many times the trailing team has come back to win the series versus the number of times they came up short.
We will only be touching on 0-2 deficits in seven-game series, rather than five-game series, which were used in NBA playoff first-round games from 1961 to 1967, then again from 1984 to 2002.
Since 2003, all NBA playoff series have been best-of-seven.
How many teams have come back from 0-2 down to win a series?
According to Land of Basketball, 28 teams in NBA playoff history have overcome a 0-2 series deficit to win a best-of-seven series.
14 of those series were decided in six games, and 14 were decided in seven.
Below we have listed every team to achieve this feat, including the opponent, year, round and final series score.
Year | Winning Team | Losing Team | Round | Series Score |
2024 | Indiana Pacers | New York Knicks | East Semis | 4-3 |
2023 | Golden State Warriors | Sacramento Kings | West First Round | 4-3 |
2022 | Dallas Mavericks | Phoenix Suns | West Semis | 4-3 |
2021 | Milwaukee Bucks | Phoenix Suns | NBA Finals | 4-2 |
2021 | Los Angeles Clippers | Utah Jazz | West Semis | 4-2 |
2021 | Milwaukee Bucks | Brooklyn Nets | East Semis | 4-3 |
2021 | Los Angeles Clippers | Dallas Mavericks | West First Round | 4-3 |
2019 | Toronto Raptors | Milwaukee Bucks | East Finals | 4-2 |
2018 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Boston Celtics | East Finals | 4-3 |
2017 | Boston Celtics | Chicago Bulls | East First Round | 4-2 |
2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | NBA Finals | 4-3 |
2016 | Portland Trail Blazers | Los Angeles Clippers | West First Round | 4-2 |
2013 | Memphis Grizzlies | Los Angeles Clippers | West First Round | 4-2 |
2012 | Oklahoma City Thunder | San Antonio Spurs | West Finals | 4-2 |
2008 | San Antonio Spurs | New Orleans Hornets | West Semis | 4-3 |
2007 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Detroit Pistons | East Finals | 4-2 |
2007 | Utah Jazz | Houston Rockets | West First Round | 4-3 |
2006 | Miami Heat | Dallas Mavericks | NBA Finals | 4-2 |
2005 | Washington Wizards | Chicago Bulls | East First Round | 4-2 |
2005 | Dallas Mavericks | Houston Rockets | West First Round | 4-3 |
2004 | Los Angeles Lakers | San Antonio Spurs | West Semis | 4-2 |
1995 | Houston Rockets | Phoenix Suns | West Semis | 4-3 |
1994 | Houston Rockets | Phoenix Suns | West Semis | 4-3 |
1993 | Chicago Bulls | New York Knicks | East Finals | 4-2 |
1977 | Portland Trail Blazers | Philadelphia 76ers | NBA Finals | 4-2 |
1971 | Washington Bullets | New York Knicks | East Finals | 4-2 |
1969 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA Finals | 4-3 |
1969 | Los Angeles Lakers | San Francisco Warriors | West Semis | 4-2 |
On the flip side, 327 of 355 (92.1%) total series to reach a 0-2 score were won by the leading team.
97 of these series ended 4-0, 113 ended 4-1, 73 ended 4-2, and 44 ended 4-3 in favor of the team that led 2-0.
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