This is a list of the largest deficits overcome to win NBA games, from the regular season or postseason. Wins after trailing by 25 points or more have been rare in NBA history, with only a few dozen out of tens of thousands of regular season games, and thousands of playoff games. A team may have a second-half comeback after having fallen well behind in the first half, or a fourth-quarter comeback after having fallen well behind with only one quarter of play remaining.
The greatest comeback in National Basketball Association play occurred on November 27, 1996, when the Utah Jazz, down by 36 points to the Denver Nuggets late in the second quarter (it was 70–36 at the half and 70–34 just before), overcame this deficit to win 107–103.Dustin Long, Greatest Comebacks in Sports (2014), p. 36.
The largest comeback in a playoff game occurred in 2019 when the Los Angeles Clippers overcame the Golden State Warriors 135–131 after trailing by 31 points. The largest comeback in the NBA Finals was Game 4 of the 2026 Finals, when the New York Knicks came back from a 29-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs by a score of 107-106.
The following comebacks are sorted based on a points deficit basis:
Regular season +Largest deficits overcome to win NBA gamesLargest deficitSeasonDateWinning teamLosing teamScoresNotesRef36 points 1996–97 November 27, 1996 Utah Jazz Denver Nuggets Nuggets led70–34Jazz won107–103 Current NBA record. The Jazz, playing before a hometown crowd at the Delta Center, trailed 70 to 36 at halftime. Led by the scoring efforts of Karl Malone with 31 points and Jeff Hornacek contributing 29 points, the Jazz came back to win 107 to 103. 35 points 2021–22 January 25, 2022 Los Angeles Clippers Washington Wizards Wizards led66–31Clippers won116–115 Nearing halftime, the Wizards had a commanding lead over the Clippers, as they led by as much as 35 in the quarter. The Wizards gave up 80 points to the Clippers in the second half, including a 4-point play with 1.9 seconds to go by Luke Kennard. Kennard scored the final 7 points for the Clippers in 9 seconds. 2009–10 December 21, 2009 Sacramento Kings Chicago Bulls Bulls led79–44Kings won102–98 Trailing for three quarters, with the largest deficit at 35 points(44-79) with 8:49 remaining in the third quarter, the Kings rallied behind the scoring of Tyreke Evans' 23 points. Sacramento overcame the Bulls in the fourth quarter despite a 26-point performance by Chicago's Luol Deng. 32 points 2020–21 April 30, 2021 Boston Celtics San Antonio Spurs Spurs led84–52Celtics won143–140 (OT) The Boston Celtics trailed by as many as 32 points late in the second quarter, including an 84–53 deficit in the third quarter. The Celtics outscored the Spurs 42–26 in the third quarter to cut the lead to 13. Led by Jayson Tatum's 60 points, the Celtics managed to force overtime and win narrowly 143–140.30 points 2023–24 March 25, 2024 Atlanta Hawks Boston Celtics Celtics led68–38Hawks won120–118 After Al Horford made a three pointer with 4:23 remaining in the 2nd quarter, the Hawks trailed 68-38. Atlanta rallied back to take the lead on a Wesley Matthews three with 9:58 remaining in the final quarter. The game went back and forth for the rest of it, until De'Andre Hunter made a dagger three to extend the Hawks' lead to four with 9.2 seconds remaining, and Atlanta won 120-118.2019–20 December 22, 2019 Toronto Raptors Dallas Mavericks Mavericks led85–55Raptors won110–107 The Raptors were down 85–55 with 2:55 to go in the 3rd quarter. The Raptors then scored 47 points in the 4th quarter to win 110–107, led by Kyle Lowry who scored 20 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter. 2002–03 December 6, 2002 Los Angeles Lakers Dallas Mavericks Mavericks led95–65Lakers won105–103 The Los Angeles Lakers were down 30 in the 3rd quarter and trailing by 27 entering the 4th. On the back of 21 points from Kobe Bryant, the Lakers came back to win 105–103. 29 points 2022–23 March 17, 2023 Memphis Grizzlies San Antonio Spurs Spurs led51–22Grizzlies won126–120 (OT) The Memphis Grizzlies not only had the biggest comeback of the season, but also broke the record for the biggest comeback in franchise history. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the comeback with 28 points, while Devin Vassell scored 25 points in a losing effort. The Grizzlies won 126–120 in overtime. 2008–09 December 30, 2008 Dallas Mavericks Minnesota Timberwolves Timberwolves led86–57Mavericks won107–100 The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 107 to 100 on December 30, 2008 to overcome a 29-point third quarter deficit. Jason Terry led all Mavericks scorers with 29 points while Dirk Nowitzki added 24 points. The game was played at Dallas' American Airlines Center. 1977–78 November 25, 1977 Milwaukee Bucks Atlanta Hawks Hawks led96–67Bucks won117–115 At the time the largest comeback in NBA history, what is now the fifth largest NBA comeback occurred at Atlanta's Omni Coliseum on November 25, 1977. The Milwaukee Bucks, down 29 points to the Atlanta Hawks, came back to win 117–115. This game had the largest fourth quarter comeback in NBA history. Milwaukee's Junior Bridgerman led the comeback effort with 24 points and held off Atlanta's high scorer John Drew with 30 points on the night.28 points2022–23March 3, 2023Brooklyn NetsBoston CelticsCeltics led51–23Nets won115–105The Brooklyn Nets came back from a 23–51 second-quarter deficit with 7:32 remaining to defeat the Boston Celtics in TD Garden. The Nets tied the game at 70 at 6:45 in the third quarter and outscored the Celtics 92 to 54 to win 115–105. Mikal Bridges scored a game-high 38 points for Brooklyn. This was the biggest comeback in the 2022-23 NBA Season.2021–22February 16, 2022Brooklyn NetsNew York KnicksKnicks led61–33Nets won111–106The Brooklyn Nets overcame a 28-point deficit against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden, ultimately winning 111–106. Nets rookie Cam Thomas scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, including a 29-foot three with 6.8 seconds left to seal the win for the Nets.2018–19April 10, 2019Portland Trail BlazersSacramento KingsKings led81–53Trail Blazers won136–131The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings from a 28-point deficit on April 10, 2019 at home court. The Kings led by 28 points with 30 seconds left in the first half. 136–131 was the final score.2018–19March 19, 2019Brooklyn NetsSacramento KingsKings led81–53Nets won123–121The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Sacramento Kings from a 28-point deficit on March 19, 2019 at the Golden1 Center. D'Angelo Russell scored 27 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Nets to win. Russell set a new career-high of 44 points in the game.2018–19February 9, 2019Los Angeles ClippersBoston CelticsCeltics led94–66Clippers won123–112The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Boston Celtics on February 9, 2019 to overcome a 28-point deficit at the TD Garden. Montrezl Harell led the Clippers in scoring with 21 points in the comeback effort. Kyrie Irving sprained his ankle with 4:09 left in the 2nd quarter and exited the game with 2:28 left in the quarter.27 points2022–23February 26, 2023Los Angeles LakersDallas MavericksMavericks led45–18Lakers won111–108At American Airlines Center, the Lakers were trailing by a score of 18–45 5 minutes into the 2nd Quarter. Vanderbilt sparked the comeback and had a great defensive game with 17 rebounds. At halftime they were down 47–61, 13 points less. Anthony Davis led the comeback with 30 points and 15 rebounds. A late foul call led to Dennis Schröder making a free throw and sealing the comeback as the Lakers won 111–108.2013–14December 3, 2013Golden State WarriorsToronto RaptorsRaptors led75–48Warriors won112–103At Oracle Arena in Oakland, the Toronto Raptors held a 75–48 advantage over the Golden State Warriors with just over 9 minutes remaining in the third quarter. Led by Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors outscored Toronto 64–28 in the final 21:20 by means of tremendous 3-point shooting to come away with a 112–103 win at home.2012–13March 20, 2013Miami HeatCleveland CavaliersCavaliers led67–40Heat won98–95At Quicken Loans Arena, the Miami Heat overcame at the time league high 27-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98–95 and extend their winning streak to 24 games. This was the largest comeback in the franchise's history.22 points(fourth quarter)2023–24January 16, 2024Phoenix SunsSacramento KingsKings led109–87Suns won119–117At the Footprint Center, the Phoenix Suns overcame a 22-point deficit with just 8 minutes remaining in the game. Kevin Durant led the comeback with 15 points in the 4th quarter, finishing the game with 27. This was the first time an NBA team made a 22-point comeback in the 4th quarter since the 2019-2020 season.
Post-season