The 2023 NBA Playoffs have been nothing short of spectacular. There are already numerous shocking and surprising events in the past month, and it’s not even the NBA Finals yet. In the history of the NBA playoffs, there have been 150 teams who went on a 0-3 deficit in the postseason. However, none of them ever had the chance to win. Out of the 150, only three teams managed to take the series to seven games. With Boston Celtics becoming the fourth team after winning game 6 against the Miami Heat, here’s a ranking of the other three teams that ever forced a game 7 after being down 3-0.
Reminder 👀 pic.twitter.com/NBaVckc6VR
— ESPN (@espn) May 28, 2023
4. New York Knicks against the Rochester Royals (1951)
More than 70 years ago, we were in a similar predicament in the NBA playoffs. A team that was down 3-0, forcing a game 7 and almost made history. In 1951, the New York Knicks fell behind 0-3 in the NBA Finals against the Rochester Royals (now the Sacramento Kings), losing the first two games by a combined 42 points. The series was almost over, and the Royals could have made a sweep if it wasn’t for Harry Gallatin’s 22-point performance in game 4.
Bob Davies, "The Harrisburg Houdini", el "inventor" del dribling por detrás de la espalda. Cousy antes de Cousy. Sus mejores años fueron en la NBL (tÃtulo del 46, MVP`47). Lideró la NBA en asis (`49). 1 de los jugadores más influyentes en la evolución hacia el baloncesto moderno pic.twitter.com/loEPkyng7d
— erabaloncesto (@erabaloncesto) April 17, 2020
After winning the next three games (tying the series 3-3), the Knicks force a game 7. It was a very different game back then, but it was the same exciting challenge between two championship-hungry teams. But in Game 7, a thrilling 17-15 fourth quarter gave the Rochester Royals the title, led by Hall of Famers Arnie “Stilts” Risen and the “Harrisburg Houdini”, Bob Davies, who made the behind-the-back dribble a thing in the ’50s.
3. Portland Trailblazers against the Dallas Mavericks (2003)
20 years before the Boston Celtics forced a game 7 after being down 3-0 in this year’s playoffs, the Portland Trailblazers had the same outing. Despite an amazing roster, the Trailblazers could only secure the 6th seed in the West. Going into the first round, they had to go head-to-head with Nowitzki’s Mavericks.
The Blazers had a pretty solid team from the late ’90s to the early 2000s. They were a team that consisted of Rasheed Wallace, Bonzi Wells, Arvydas Sabonis, Scottie Pippen, and a sophomore Zach Randolph. On the other hand, the Dallas Mavericks featured the talented duo of Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki alongside Nick Van Excel and Michael Finley.
In the first three games, Dallas proved that they are definitely the better team. Nash and Nowitzki heralded the team to a 3-0 lead in the first round. However, things began to go south after a rising star, Zach Randolph, carried the team and slowly took over. They even forced a game 7, but we all knew what happened next. Dirk Nowitzki was too much for Portland in game 7, putting an end to the Blazers’ fantastic run.
2. Denver Nuggets against the Utah Jazz (1994)
When Michael Jordan retired for the first time in 1993, the NBA championship was up for grabs to all other teams. Obviously, many contenders had the chance to run the league without MJ in the scene. But one of the most underrated and surprising teams during that era was the Denver Nuggets.
In a very talented Western Conference, the Nuggets only managed to finish as the eighth seed. But, as they secured a playoff spot, they made it an interesting run for Denver Nuggets fans during the 1994 NBA playoffs. Led by the small but terrible Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, a young Dikembe Mutombo, and the veteran scorer Reggie Williams, this well-rounded squad upset the first-seeded Seattle Supersonics in the first round. Advancing to the semifinals, they eventually had to run through Utah Jazz which had Karl Malone, John Stockton, Jeff Hornacek, and others.
In that matchup, who would reach the Western Conference Finals was already evident. The Jazz immediately gained momentum as they led the series 3-0, putting the Nuggets on the brink of elimination. But Reggie Williams’s heroics in game 4 kept the team alive. Even though the odds were already against this team from day 1, they pushed the series to game 7. Eventually, their luck ran out, and Jazz escaped from a possible 3-0 collapse from the eighth-seeded Nuggets.
1. Boston Celtics (2023)
This year, the Boston Celtics made history by becoming the fourth team in NBA history to force a game 7 after being down 3-0 in the playoffs. Amongst all other teams who went on the same path, the Celtics are the only higher-seeded team and the more favored one to advance. Going into the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics had a 97% chance of winning compared to the Miami Heat‘s 3%. However, the Heat was on fire after taking the first three games and leading the series 3-0.
Teams that have forced Game 7 after being down 3-0:
– 2023 Celtics
– 2003 Trail Blazers
– 1994 Nuggets
– 1951 KnicksThey're the first team ever with a chance to win Game 7 at home after trailing 3-0. pic.twitter.com/S0MvIo7ZrA
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 28, 2023
But, the Boston Celtics have turned the tide after a close win in game 6 and forcing a game 7. The Celtics in 7 chants, are back, and Jayson Tatum could lead this team to another Finals appearance. Further, they’re the first team to play a game 7 at home after trailing 3-0. The ball is round right now, and either team could win the next game. Who would rise to the occasion and come out alive?
Do you think the Boston Celtics will become the first team to ever come back from 3-0? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. For more content, stay with us here at Spiel Times. Make sure you subscribe to our push notifications and never miss an update. You can also follow us on Spiel Anime, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Until next time!
