The Year of the NBA Playoff Comeback: 20-Point Rallies Keep Shaking Up the Postseason
This NBA playoff season has seen a remarkable trend: teams mounting dramatic comebacks from 20-point deficits to win. It’s happening so frequently, it’s almost becoming routine. Over the past few days, the NBA witnessed three back-to-back games where the trailing team clawed its way back from a 20-point deficit to steal the win.
For the first time since play-by-play tracking began in 1997, there have been three consecutive days in which a playoff team came from at least 20 points down to secure the victory. The New York Knicks did it on Monday and Wednesday against the Boston Celtics, while the Indiana Pacers pulled off a thrilling comeback on Tuesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Add to that a 29-point rally from Oklahoma City in the first round, and we’re up to five 20-point comebacks in this postseason — a new record for the digital play-by-play era.
Here’s a breakdown of how these incredible rallies unfolded:
April 24: Oklahoma City Turns a 29-Point Deficit Into a Win
- The Big Lead: Memphis 69, Oklahoma City 40 (3:07 left in the 1st half)
- Final Score: Oklahoma City 114, Memphis 108
How it happened: Memphis looked poised to dominate after taking a massive 29-point lead. But everything changed when Memphis’ star, Ja Morant, left the game after the Grizzlies hit their peak. The Thunder capitalized on the injury, outscoring Memphis 74-39 in the second half. Chet Holmgren played a pivotal role, contributing 23 points during the comeback. Memphis, meanwhile, struggled to find the basket, missing 30 of their final 41 shots.
April 29: Indiana Overcomes a 20-Point Deficit to Shock the Bucks
- The Big Lead: Milwaukee 33, Indiana 13 (11:26 left in the 1st half)
- Final Score: Indiana 119, Milwaukee 118 (Overtime)
How it happened: The Pacers cut the lead to six by halftime, setting up an exciting second half. With just 40 seconds left in overtime, the Bucks led by seven, but Indiana surged back with an 8-0 run, capped by Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning layup with just 1.4 seconds remaining. The Pacers’ gritty performance allowed them to steal the win, giving them a 2-0 series lead.
Monday: Knicks Rally from 20 Down to Stun Boston in Overtime
- The Big Lead: Boston 75, New York 55 (5:47 left in the 3rd quarter)
- Final Score: New York 108, Boston 105 (Overtime)
How it happened: After Boston opened up a 20-point lead, they couldn’t sustain their momentum. The Celtics’ shooting faltered as they made just 23% of their shots (9 for 39) and struggled with the three-pointer (6 for 28). The Knicks, led by OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson, kept fighting and outscored Boston 39-30 during the comeback. The game went into overtime, but neither team scored for the last 1:16 of play. Eventually, the Knicks finished strong and pulled off the victory.
Tuesday: Indiana Rallies from 20 Down Again, This Time to Defeat Cleveland
- The Big Lead: Cleveland 81, Indiana 61 (6:51 left in the 3rd quarter)
- Final Score: Indiana 120, Cleveland 119
How it happened: The Pacers’ chances seemed slim as they trailed by 20 in the third quarter. But Indiana fought back, outscoring Cleveland 59-38 in the final stretch. With just 1.1 seconds left, Tyrese Haliburton sank a clutch three-pointer to cap an 8-0 run, securing the victory. Remarkably, Indiana led for only a fraction of the game’s final moments — but it was enough to claim a pivotal 2-0 series lead.
Wednesday: Knicks Complete Another 20-Point Comeback, Lead Series 2-0
- The Big Lead: Boston 73, New York 53 (2:19 left in the 3rd quarter)
- Final Score: New York 91, Boston 90
How it happened: The Celtics, just like in Game 1, had a commanding 20-point lead but couldn’t seal the deal. The Knicks turned the tide, outscoring Boston 38-17 in the final 14 minutes. The Celtics missed 20 of their last 25 shots, including a dreadful 2 for 12 from beyond the arc. Jayson Tatum’s last-ditch attempt to win the game was blocked, allowing the Knicks to finish strong and take a 2-0 lead in the series.
These remarkable comebacks have kept fans on the edge of their seats and show that anything can happen in the NBA playoffs. Teams that seem to be out of the game are proving that it’s never over until the final buzzer. With these jaw-dropping rallies continuing to set records, this postseason is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.
Stay tuned for more updates on these thrilling NBA playoff comebacks!
Source: AP News – The year of the NBA playoff comeback continues. A look at how these 20-point rallies keep happening
