In the 2023 NBA playoffs, the Western and Eastern Conference Finals are turning out to be one-sided series so far. The Denver Nuggets hold a 3-0 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers in the West, while the Miami Heat hold the same lead over the Boston Celtics in the East.
Evidently, fans are anticipating a sweep in both series. Well, why wouldn’t they? After all, the teams that have trailed 3-0 in an NBA series are 0-149. In simple terms, no team in NBA history has erased a 3-0 deficit to win the series.
As of now, 91 teams have lost in Game 4, 44 teams in Game 5, 11 teams in Game 6, and three teams have lost in Game 7. With that being said, since 2000, here are the seven teams that managed to force a Game 6 after going down 0-3 in a series:
2000 NBA Playoffs: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Indiana Pacers 2-4 (Eastern Conference Semifinals)
2007 NBA Playoffs: Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons 2-4 (Eastern Conference Semifinals)
2010 NBA Playoffs: Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics 2-4 (Eastern Conference Finals)
2013 NBA Playoffs: Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks 2-4 (Eastern Conference First Round)
2013 NBA Playoffs: Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 2-4 (Western Conference First Round)
2015 NBA Playoffs: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls 2-4 (Eastern Conference First Round)
2022 NBA Playoffs: Toronto Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers 2-4 (Eastern Conference First Round)
It’s evident that pushing a series to six games after going down 0-3 is a rare accomplishment. And every team that has done it since 2000 has failed to win the series.
On the other hand, forcing a Game 7 is even harder. Here are the only three teams in NBA history that have gone to Game 7 after losing the first three games in a series:
1951 NBA Playoffs: New York Knicks vs. Rochester Royals 3-4 (NBA Finals)
1994 NBA Playoffs: Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz 3-4 (Western Conference Semifinals)
2003 NBA Playoffs: Portland Trail Blazers vs. Dallas Mavericks 3-4 (Western Conference First Round)
While three teams have almost pulled off winning the series after going down 0-3, none could complete the job. It just goes to say how hard it is to win four straight games in the playoffs after losing the first three.
Can The Los Angeles Lakers Or The Boston Celtics Make A Comeback After Going Down 0-3?
The Lakers and Celtics are two of the most iconic NBA franchises in the league. Both organizations have 17 NBA Championships each but have their backs against the walls right now.
Despite that, each team is yet to truly give up. LeBron James shared his mindset ahead of the crucial Game 4 vs. the Denver Nuggets. He believes the Lakers just need to get one win to start a comeback in the series.
On the other hand, Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics has a similar mentality. Tatum wants the Celtics to have some pride and bounce back in the series.
While it’s great to see both teams having superstars who want their teams to advance to the NBA Finals, it will take a miracle for either to achieve it.
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