Philadelphia 76ers join list of teams that overcame 1-3 series deficits in NBA Playoffs

Alta Sports2 days ago · 326 views

Philadelphia 76ers join list of teams that overcame 1-3 series deficits in NBA Playoffs image

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

By Joel Reyes

The Philadelphia 76ers entered the record books on Sunday (PH time), becoming just the 14th team in NBA history to overcome a 1-3 deficit in a playoff series. They achieved the feat after beating the Boston Celtics 109-100 on the road in Game 7 of their first-round showdown.

Alta Sports looks at the teams that have completed such comebacks in a best-of-seven series following the Sixers’ heart-stopping victory.

Boston def. Philadelphia (1968 Eastern Division Finals)

The Boston Celtics became the first NBA team to successfully complete a 1-3 series comeback, ousting the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games in the 1968 Eastern Division Finals. John Havlicek starred for the Celtics, averaging 25.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 8.6 assists in that series.

LA Lakers def. Phoenix (1970 Western Division Semis)

The Los Angeles Lakers became the second NBA team to successfully come back from 1-3 down in a best-of-seven series, eliminating the Phoenix Suns in seven games in the 1970 Western Division Semifinals. Wilt Chamberlain wreaked havoc in Game 7, scoring 30 points and grabbing 27 rebounds in the Lakers’ 129-94 win.

Washington def. San Antonio (1979 Eastern Conference Finals)

It took nine years before the NBA witnessed another 1-3 playoff comeback, with the Washington Bullets pulling off the feat in the 1979 Eastern Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Game 7 proved to be a classic, as the Bullets escaped with a 107-105 win.

Boston def. Philadelphia (1981 Eastern Conference Finals)

The Celtics dealt the 76ers another playoff heartbreak in the 1981 Eastern Conference Finals, beating them again in seven games after going 1-3 down in the series. Boston won Games 5 and 6 by two points each, before defeating Philadelphia by one point in a Game 7 thriller.

Houston def. Phoenix (1995 Western Conference Semis)

The Houston Rockets kept their title defense alive in stunning fashion, erasing a 1-3 series deficit against the Phoenix Suns in the 1995 Western Conference Semifinals. They won Games 5 and 7 on the road, including a thrilling 115-114 victory in the winner-take-all contest.

Miami def. New York (1997 Eastern Conference Semis)

The Heat came back to defeat the Knicks in seven games after a fight in Game 5 swung the series in Miami’s favor. Several New York players were suspended following that brawl, including Allan Houston, Patrick Ewing, and Charlie Ward for Game 6, and Larry Johnson and John Starks for Game 7.

Detroit def. Orlando (2003 Eastern Conference Round 1)

The Pistons made history, becoming the first team to successfully erase a 1-3 series deficit in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Detroit achieved the feat in 2003, beating Orlando in seven games in Round 1.

Phoenix def. LA Lakers (2006 Western Conference Round 1)

Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Suns bounced back from a gut-wrenching one-point loss to the Lakers in Game 4, winning three straight games to complete the first-round series comeback in the 2006 Western Conference Playoffs. Steve Nash led the way for Phoenix, averaging 22.1 points, 9.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds through seven games.

Houston def. LA Clippers (2015 Western Conference Semis)

Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Hoops fans waited nine years before another NBA team completed another 1-3 series comeback, with the Rockets accomplishing that feat against the Clippers in the 2015 Western Conference Semifinals. Doc Rivers made history for the wrong reasons, becoming the first NBA coach to blow multiple 3-1 leads in the playoffs. He coached Orlando in the loss to Detroit in 2003.

Golden State def. Oklahoma City (2016 Western Conference Finals)

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The Warriors displayed the heart of a champion, coming back from 1-3 down to defeat the Thunder in the 2016 Western Conference Finals. Klay Thompson scored 41 points in Game 6, helping Golden State erase a double-digit deficit and force a Game 7. Steph Curry then took over in that winner-take-all clash, dropping 36 points in the Warriors’ 96-88 win.

Cleveland def. Golden State (2016 NBA Finals)

Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

The Cavaliers gave the Warriors a dose of their own medicine in the 2016 NBA Finals, erasing a 1-3 series deficit to capture the championship. LeBron James won the Finals MVP after averaging 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 8.9 assists. Game 7 was an instant classic, with Cleveland pulling off a dramatic 93-89 win on the road to claim its first-ever NBA title.

Denver def. Utah (2020 Western Conference Round 1)

The Nuggets and the Jazz put on a show in their best-of-seven showdown in the playoff bubble, with Denver completing the 1-3 series comeback in Game 7. Nikola Jokic buried the go-ahead hook shot with 27.8 seconds left in regulation. Mike Conley had an opportunity to send Utah to the next round, but his 3-point attempt at the buzzer agonizingly rimmed out.

Denver def. LA Clippers (2020 Western Conference Semis)

The Nuggets recorded another 1-3 series comeback in the bubble, ousting the Clippers in seven games in the 2020 Western Conference Semifinals. They made history with that series win, becoming the first NBA team to erase a 1-3 deficit back-to-back times in a single playoff run. It was heartbreak for the Clippers, who blew a 3-1 series lead for the second time in franchise history.

Philadelphia def. Boston (2026 Eastern Conference Round 1)

The 76ers completed their first-ever series comeback from 3-1 down in franchise history, defeating the Celtics 109-100 in an epic Game 7 battle. The Sixers did it the hard way, winning Games 5 and 7 on the road to eliminate the second-seeded Celtics.

Joel Embiid stepped up when his team needed him the most, recording 34 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists in the winner-take-all contest. Tyrese Maxey also contributed, amassing 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists in the Game 7 win. The pair made history with those numbers, becoming the first teammates to post 30-10-5 stat lines in a Game 7.

All comments 17

Camading Espiritu Rodolfo Jr.

sorry loss celtics

a day agoReply

Lolobron Luka

Grabe ang mga pasabit ni imbid

2 days agoReply

prince baelor

good for them lets go Edgecombe!!!

2 days agoReply

king james

For me, the most unforgettable moment is undoubtedly when the Cavaliers staged a comeback to defeat the Warriors and win the championship. LeBron is truly amazing; he is the GOAT！！

2 days agoReply